[wenchman]

I really need to find a job, especially since I'm going over my head with some of my cosplays...

/too ambitious

oh how awkward first post on the page

This post has been edited by wenchman: 24 July 2011 - 10:55 AM

[Dark Kanine]

I'm going as Ellis from Left 4 Dead 2 and I'm spending over $100 on it :/

[Se Ga Hikui]

I am spending so so so much more than I planned on my Shuichi costume! It is a kind of dream cosplay though, so I knew it would not be cheap. Originally, I planned on hashing out $150. Now I am looking at $270. Thing is, I already spent $210! I mean, it looks awesome but... I may just have to sell my limbs if I keep up at this rate!

[Friskies]

Sometimes I feel like I'm spending too much, but maybe it's because I'll wait a while, then go buy things in bulk rather than spreading it out. Even if it's the same amount of money, it makes me feel better spreading it out so it doesn't seem that much.

[RezFIRE]

I'm spending a lot, but not overspending. I spen $320 on material for about 10 cosplays. I think that's good.

[ravenfinch]

yes my dream cos-play torakaka alone is 350 not to mention wolf-wood with that cross or the priest form the movie and my o/c Elena from trigun then I'm doing a photo shoot and I'm zartara from MLP so I'm spending like 400-600 on my cos-plays my period better fn stay away sigh

[The Forumcat]

RezFIRE, on 20 December 2011 - 09:17 PM, said:

I'm spending a lot, but not overspending. I spen $320 on material for about 10 cosplays. I think that's good.

TELL ME YOUR SECRET!
Seriously!

I'm looking at that for like... two! And a half!

[Keans]

So I bought a curtain at a thrift store for like 3 dollars, the same material would have cost about $10 or more a yard at a fabric store. Its super big too, like 3 or 4 yards worth. I try to buy as much as possible from thrift stores since their prices as SO MUCH cheaper. And I just suck at finding all the good discounts and such.

I feel uncomfortable just spending more than $100 on any one cosplay. So far I know I have spent more than that but I'm currently working on 4 different outfits so that's not as bad.

[KusanagiRobin]

This year, more than ever, I'm trying to save money on my cosplays. For a bonus, we've been moving house the past couple of weeks, and I've already found/rediscovered a couple of things that'll ease the budget. I also did a complete inventory of the supplies I've collected over the past four years, and this is what I found:

-white ribbon for my friend's Sode no Shirayuki
-a chain for my other friend's Suzumebachi
-old plastic flowers I might be able to use for my Senbonzakura (I need to make them a little pinker)
-repurposing a suit for Alan Gabriel
-reusing a robe I used for a Temari cosplay for Byakuya (needs longer sleeves)
-an improvised 'guitar strap' for Yumi (the strap on my old violin case)
-flip-flops (I'll use as a base for Byakuya's sandals...yes, I'm making faux-straw sandals)
-white fabric paint
-white face powder for Alan
-white elastic rope/piping for the detailing on Byakuya's hand guards
-wood for making swords (found on a porch of an abandoned house!)
-leftover clay
-lots of glue (at least 3 different types)
-jewelry wire
-red lipstick for Alan (hey, he has that bright red bottom lip)
-a glove I can use to make Alan Gabriel's android hand
-a crapload of styrofoam, for Yumi's electric guitar
-lots of acrylic paints, among them black, white, pink and purple
-elastic string to use as guitar strings
-mp3 player and minispeaker so my guitar can play Puffy AmiYumi songs

What I also did is that I subscribed to various mailing lists, namely Hobby Lobby, Michael's and Jo-Ann's. That way I can stay on top of the latest weekly sales and get up-to-date coupons, as well as any special coupons (right now I'm sitting on a 50% off coupon that doesn't expire until February, whoo!)

This post has been edited by KusanagiRobin: 09 January 2012 - 01:57 PM

[C2Queen]

Good quality cosplays are NEVER cheap. Since when don't we overspend for cosplay? Unless making it ourselves. But even then -- without a lot of sewing experience, craft making skills, etc in general you usually don't get an over the top cosplay. If you do, you still spend quite a bit of time and money on the cosplays anyways x.x I've had some of my cosplays made before by friends, etc but I feel the safest with buying my cosplay now from professional companies. (Especially when people have their own cosplays to make and can procrastinate)

But being so picky with the quality of cosplay, the maker (and if trustworthy) and someone with fast shipping can be such a hassle. I've wasted many long days alone just looking over quality, comparing prices, reading reviews. I'm definitely overspending this year. But that's because there's so many things I want to jump into doing. Cosplaying is like getting tattoo's. Once you get your first -- you can never have enough! Its just making the money for your cosplays that gets hard (especially if you want to go over the top) Budgeting for con expenses should go first -- but I'm sure many of you find yourselves buying cosplay before saving up for hotel costs, food, gas, etc. I'm sure.

[ravenfinch]

330 dollars , priest 30 dollars

[zuka_versailles]

*raises hand*

I am spending a lot of money on my cosplay due to the fabrics I have to use and all of the detail.

[Aphex]

I'm working on my Will of the Abyss/Alyss cosplay from Pandora Hearts right now. I was thinking of buying it online (cosplay magic or hello cosplay) since it looked so pretty. It was way to expensive and I'm trying to save my money for college right now so I ended up making the costume which wasn't so bad. I spended $60.00 on white fabric $3.00 on black thread and $6.00 on flowers. I will have to buy extension for my wig which cost $13.00 ish from Arda Wig since they are in the Chicago area and they are a very good wig store from what I've been hearing. For my bunny plush (my prop), I used a old pillow case and found some blue fabric I didn't need. I got some buttons from my grandma (I love my grandma. She knows that I sew and she sews so she understands what I do as a hobby) and I just need to paint some areas and I'm done.

If you have some old fabric you don't want to use, please reuse it in which it can be very handy for your future projects!

[aprilxeternal]

Oh my goodness, overspending like crazy. But I guess not really since it's all for the best quality

[GITS SAC Motoko]

Now that I know I am for sure going to cosplay as Lucy, I know it's not going to be SUPER expensive but I REALLY want to make her helmet perfect. I have a feeling it's going to be probably maybe 60 bucks in total (guesstimate) if I want to use really nice material and all that I'm still investigating. It should be a cheaper though since I don't have tons of time or the funds to do an elaborate cosplay.

[KusanagiRobin]

Currently in the middle of making my friend's Sode no Shirayuki...and I haven't spent a darn cent.

[Darko]

So far spent about 120 bucks on stuff so far still need 150$ more worth of LEDs and some other cosmetic supplies

[KeySmash]

130+ just for the wigs TT^TT

[yoshioayumi]

I guess I do too, my new Yocchan outfit is being commissioned (cause I have no sewing skills) by V3 Cosplay Syndicate, Its costing like $625 total. thats just the main fabric pieces, not accessories!! XD

[basili1250]

I will be spending a crap ton on resin process resources from the molding materials to the resin chemicals itself.

[ravenfinch]

man well I'm now getting my torakaka for 250 with shipping and with quality so I'm happy about that

[basili1250]

And it looks like the final cost for my Father Cornello is going to be about $25 since I am making the costume by hand. Bam.

[NinjaJedi007]

^ I wish my stuff was easy to make. I'm getting pieces one by one over time and have already spent a decent amount of money. I could get away with not getting certain things but I'm going the distance. It's going to be LEGIT. So much left still though...

[basili1250]

NinjaJedi007, on 06 February 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

^ I wish my stuff was easy to make. I'm getting pieces one by one over time and have already spent a decent amount of money. I could get away with not getting certain things but I'm going the distance. It's going to be LEGIT. So much left still though...

None which you could make?

[NinjaJedi007]

The outfit is mainly armor (military) so I don't have the materials and certainly don't have the know how to construct such things. If only I did then I would just make a business out of making costumes. That could be sweet!

[KusanagiRobin]

Just went on a power shopping trip yesterday. *sighs happily*

--black fabric paint
--white EVA foam sheets
--barrette clips
--some white fabric
--clear jewelry string
--red dress shirt
--white tie
--black skirt
--white buttons
--purple T-shirt
--purple wig (yay)
--silver clay
--faux leather strips

Excluding what I got for my friend's Sode no Shirayuki (polyester resin, pearl powder, 2 pounds of clay, and some bells), I spent approximately $60, and that was partly because I got most of the fabric items/clothes at the Salvation Army (girls, don't be afraid to shop in the men's section!), and the wig was almost $20 on its own.

[Nikku]

wow, and i've already hit 200 and still got more to go? girls are bitching over 60?

[Darko]

Im currently 200$ over on this -.-

[KusanagiRobin]

I'm actually PROUD of hitting my target. In past years prop costs have hit me in the wallet harder than fabric costs, usually because I underestimate/overestimate the amount of whatever I need at the time. This year I'm just nervous because I don't know how my friend's Sode no Shirayuki is going to come out. It may not be my money (doing it on commission), but that's even MORE of a reason not to screw it up. -__-

[Akushou]

I spend waaaay too much on cosplays (usually because I screw up on something and have to buy more fabric). Every costume I've made has been over $100, with my most expensive (Sesshoumaru) being around $250. And I'm not even done with him X.x. I haven't even started on my Irisviel dress, but already I can tell it'll be around $150 with the fabric, wig, contact lenses, and gold trim...