These are tough economic times we are living in, my friends. Which means recyling old stuff, like old clothes, is very cool.

Plus it makes for cheap and easy Halloween costumes.

Are you trying to figure out a good Halloween costume that won't break the bank and will still be fun - Cool, even?

With a little creativity and quick rummaging through your parent's closet (make sure you get their permission, of course), and a trip to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army store, you can create a fun costume to wear at this year's parties and maybe even trick-or-treating!

These are only a few suggestions. The best way to find a costume that is uniquely you and is still quick and easy and I have to say that word 'cheap' again is to think about a favorite character you saw in a movie, or things you find on the internet and then figure out what it would take to make a costume out of it.

After Halloween, re-recycle your stuff at Goodwill, or keep it for another costume next year. Here are some suggestions.

The Joker (The Cool Heath Ledger One)

YES, he's still cool.

Raid your dad's, mom's, or even sister's closet and visit the Goodwill stores for these items:

• green vest
• grey shirt
• grey tie
• long purple coat or jacket (a similar color will work)
• leather gloves
• some black boots or leather shoes

• purple jeans (or similar color)

Next, visit your local discount store or drug store and get some white face paint. Borrow some red lipstick and black eyeliner from your mom or sister. Smear the white facepaint all over your face (not too neatly), then add some big smudges of black eyeliner or eyeshadow around your eyes, and smear red lipstick on your mouth to create Heath Ledger's scary smile.

Now, mess up your hair and add some gel to it and arrange it so that it looks sinister and falls in your eyes. If you don't have longish hair, get a cheap $5.00 wig from the store and put gel on it to make it all stringy. For added effect, put a Joker playing card in your jacket pocket so that it sticks out just a little bit.

Girls will think you're groovy and guys will think you're cool with this costume!

Your Facebook Page

Go to an office supply store or discount store and get a cardboard display board used for science fair projects. Make sure you get one with a white backdrop. These cost about $5.00 or so.

Grab a box of big markers (make sure it has blue in it). Draw your Facebook profile on the cardboard in pencil, trying to make it look like a real Facebook page, including the banner. Next, draw a big square where your face will go.

Cut out a square near the top where your face will go. Now just color it in with your blue pens, and even add comments to your wall if you want.

Finally, borrow one long bunjee cord from dad's garage. Make one small hole in each side of the cardboard and hook the bunjee cord to the cardboard and presto! You're a Facebook page! (Also works for Myspace and Twitter.)

You can skip the bunjee cord step altogether if you want - Just hold your costume all night.

This costume works for both girls and guys.

The Mac and PC Guys

For the PC guy, snag an old frumpy suit from your dad's closet, or find one at Goodwill. You could also just use a jacket paired with a pair of slacks. No one will notice if they don't exactly match. Actually, the tackier you can look, the better.

You should be able to find a jacket or pair of slacks for $10.00 or so.

Get an old pair of sunglasses with big frames and pop the lenses out. Add a plain white shirt and a plain, monochromatic tie and you're good to go.

For the Mac guy, just sift through your closet for a dark hoody. grey t-shirt, jeans and tennies, then just walk around looking cool and blasé.

Note: You will probably have to stick around the PC guy all night or people won't get it.

Juno (Non-Pregnant Version)

For this costume, find an orange hoody (or similar color), a hair tie or butterfly clip, some amber or brown sunglasses, a skirt from your closet, a pair of jeans and any running shoe you have.

If you don't have a striped t-shirt, snag one at Goodwill or other inexpensive store (don't pay more than $5.00 for it).

Borrow dad's pipe, or try to find one at Goodwill. Comb out your hair so that it hangs in your face. Tie it in back with the hair tie or butterfly clip, leaving the strands in front hanging in your face.

Put on the striped t-shirt and jeans, and slip the skirt over your jeans and put on your hoody. Finally, slip on your shades and put the pipe in your mouth and you will see Juno looking back at you! (Juno hamburger phone optional).

Ninjas Never Go Out of Stlyle

Most kids have these items in their own closets already.

First, put on a pair of black, snug-fitting jeans and some lightweight black shoes like Converse Chuck Taylor Mono in black.

Next, put on a long-sleeved plain black shirt. For added effect, get a cheap plastic $2.00 sword from the drug store, and fashion a Japanese character out of painter's tape from the garage and tape it to your shirt.

Finally, take another long-sleeved black shirt and slip it around your neck. Take the back of it and slip it over your head (from the back) so that it hangs over your forehead just below your eyebrows. Now grab the sleeves, pulling them out and cover your nose and mouth with them, and simply tie them together at the back of your head and there you go - You're a ninja!

Captain Jack Sparrow

Another character that never goes out of style is Captain Jack Sparrow, the formidable pirate and playful Lord of the Seas from Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" films (played by Johnny Depp).

His costume looks daunting, but you can make one. It will just require a little more time and effort, but the completed costume will be stunning.

First, go to the thrift shop and get a white, long-sleeved shirt. Try to find one with puffy sleeves (a bit of a ruffle is fine also). You might have luck in the blouse section. I have seen lots of shirts at Goodwill and other thrift shops starting at $1.00 and none going over $4.00.

Next, borrow or buy a vest. If you can find one made of suede, even better. A suit vest won't work - Too dressy. Since this is such a big focal point for your costume, I recommend scouting around for one - It will definitely be worth the trouble.

Some discount stores and thrift shops have fabric bins with assorted remnants of fabric. Look for a long reddish one (or even a faded scarf). You will need this to go around your head. Also, head over to the accessories section and grab a string of cheap beads. Try to pick some that resemble the ones Captain Sparrow wears on his bandana as shown in the picture.

All thrift shops have rows and rows of belts, so choose two wide black ones; each with a big buckle on it. One of them will go around your waist, and the longer one will go around your torso at an angle with the buckle in front.

While in the accesories aisle, grab a pair of black gloves. Cut off the fingers to the beginning of the top of your hand, then slip them on. Borrow your sister's small silvery twist bracelets or hair ties and string them around your hand over the gloves for an added Captain Sparrow feel.

Captain Sparrow From Head to Toe

For the belt around your torso, if it has a shiny buckle, paint over it with a permanent black marker so that it is the same color as your belt. You can leave the other buckle as is.

If you don't have boots, look around at the thrift shop for some. Every pirate has a pair of knee boots, so you should really try to find or borrow some. If worse comes to worst, you can just wear a pair of black jeans and some black shoes with squared toes, and pin some fake boot tops under your knees made of black felt (No sewing needed).

You can make a sash for Jack's waist out of table runners, found in the miscellaneous Home section. Most of these are fringed and come in dark colors, which would be perfect.They are displayed on hangers to make for easy browsing.

Just get one for a buck or two, then take it home and cut it in half lengtheiwse (or even fourths, depending on how wide it is), then wrap it around your waist in a jaunty manner.

One word - Accessorize

If you have long hair, just put in a few braids around your face. If you don't, buy a cheap long wig at the discount store and improvise. Try to Jack Sparrow it up a little, and get a fake goatee if you don't have one.

Then, using a picture of Jack Sparrow as your guide, take a black eye pencil and carefully rim your eyes with it - Don't be shy! When you have done that, take an eyeshadow sponge (or just your little finger) and smudge the pencil, making your eyes look as sinister and piratey as Jack's.

Finally, if you already have a long coat to wear over your outfit to complete the look, by all means, add it. You can't be overdressed for this costume. If you really feel you need a pirate's hat, visit your local party store and snag one, although these can cost around $20.00 or so. These two final items are not essential for your costume but are icing on the cake. If you want to add even more accessories, get a cheap plastic sword from the 99-cent store and a toy gun and holster to string on your hip to look more dangerous. Make sure everyone can tell it is a toy gun, however. Oh, and leave off the eye patch!

This costume will also work for girls - Just leave off the fake facial hair and bingo - You're a cool girl pirate!

Finally, if all else fails, just drag your old "Vote For Pedro" t-shirt out of mothballs and wear it with an old pair of jeans.

◊This article was written by cosette and published at hubpages.com. If you are not reading this article at hubpages.com, it is a stolen article.◊