We get it. Unless you haven’t outgrown that “too-cool” high school phase of yours, there’s only one thing holding you back from going all out on the spookiest day of the year, and that’s your shameful college budget. But who says you can’t celebrate without falling into massive debt? We Bears take pride in our creativity and resourcefulness, which is why our very own campus retail locations are the perfect places to shop for this year’s Halloween costume. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of eerie costumes that are bound to scare your peers.
Costume: A slimy monster
Materials: Alba Botanica Hawaiian shampoo and conditioner
Cost: 18.40-23.90 meal points
Directions: Slather yourself with a generous amount of shower products, and you’ll look just like some gooey extraterrestrial form in no time! Plus, you’ll smell great all night (crucial if you’re trying to avoid smelling like BO on the dance floor).
Costume: A student’s worst nightmare
Materials: Blue Books, Scantrons
Cost: 0.50-2.50 meal points
Directions: Borrow a roll of tape from your roommate if you don’t already own one (seriously, though, are you even a college student?), and secure these exam tools all over your body. The petrified reactions you’ll receive are proof that this is, in fact, one of the most hardcore costumes meal points can buy.
Costume: Spiderman
Materials: Honey
Cost: 7.95 meal points
Directions: There’s nothing like a classic Marvel superhero to spice up the night. Just soak your hands and feet in Billy Bee’s honey, and take an unexpected leap every now and then. Rest assured — the sticky substance will allow you to adhere to any surface. Get ready to shake your head “no” in response to people confusing you with the real Spiderman.
Costume: Trash
Materials: A variety of candy, including Sour Patch Kids, Twix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Cost: 1.95-3.50 meal points per bar
Directions: Make a powerful statement and boast just how much you care about the environment with this sweet costume. Once you’ve consumed all the candy, the sugar high should be enough to help you put together the ultimate presentation using only used wrappers. Show people what our world will look like if we don’t remember to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Costume: Frozen
Materials: Frozen food products
Cost: 5.50 – 7.85 meal points per item
Directions: Make your own rendition of this popular Disney movie using empty boxes of cheese tortellini and veggie burgers handpicked from the Bear Market frozen food section. Get ready to blow people away with your originality.
Costume: A crazy square
Materials: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cost: 6.95 meal points per box
Directions: You can’t go wrong when you’re dressing up as this beloved, crispy breakfast cereal. Stuff your clothes with sugary goodness, and make sure your peers can really taste those crazy squares.
Costume: Granola
Materials: Granola chosen from a selection of Love Crunch, Bear Naked and Thoughtful Food brands
Cost: 6.25-10 meal points
Directions: Cover yourself head to toe with this healthy snack, and rock the Nature Valley look all night. For maximum granola-ness, pair it with your Birkenstocks.
Costume: Hydrated
Materials: Water bottles
Cost: 1.50 – 2.30 meal points per bottle
Directions: This one is both impressive and beneficial for your health. Buy a handful of water bottles and down that H2O before you leave your room. When people ask you what you are, just tell them you’re hydrated, and show them the receipt for proof.
Costume: Mummy
Materials: GBC napkins
Cost: Free!
Directions: Using napkins as a substitute for toilet paper, you can put together a mean mummy costume at — you heard it right — zero cost. Though this won’t cost you any meal points, make sure to bring your Cal 1 card in case anyone’s suspicious of your excessive napkin needs and wants to verify that you’re a UC Berkeley student.
Bid farewell to the lame excuses you’ve been offering people when they ask what you’re dressed as. Just rack up your meal points, engage in a little on-campus shopping and dazzle the entire student body with your spunk and innovation.