Choosing an offensive or culturally insensitive costume can have long-term consequences. As the weather cools off and the leaves change color in some parts of the U.S., college students start to brainstorm ideas for their individual or group Halloween costumes.

Find these last-minute costumes in your closet or piece them together with simple products you can find online.

As I’m sure Amazon and Shein are tirelessly working to fulfill all their Halloween costume orders, sometimes a great Halloween costume can be made without breaking the bank. Below, I’ve compiled a list of Halloween costume ideas that don’t require any (or very little) purchases and can be customized from the wardrobe you already have (or a quick trip to Plato’s!

Boo! Did the spooky season sneak up on you like a ghost in the night? Don’t let your procrastination turn into a real-life horror story. We’ve brewed up a cauldron of the best last-minute Halloween costumes for 2024 that’ll have you ready for a killer Halloween party or trick-or-treating in no time.