101 Cosplay Saving Tips

Here, I will continue to update this post/list this any and all cost cutting and time saving tips and tricks I come across throughout my time as a cosplayer.

1. Recycle Large Pieces of Excess Fabric and Foam The amount of times I've had heaps of spare fabric and debated throwing it out or keeping it and being called a hoarder. Well let me tell you, in the middle of con-crunch, at 2am in the morning when fabric stores aren't open and you just need a colour close enough to finish an armour piece or cosplay, you will thank yourself for saving that fabric or foam more then you will ever realise.

2. Use Wire as a framing material Many tutorials on Youtube will suggest using plyboard or another forms of wood as a framing material of different props, but if you're looking for an easier and cheaper option that doesn't require a laser cutter, a $3 roll of wire will go a long way.

3. Use PVA Glue to Prime A highly experienced cosplay friend of mine gave me the advice of using PVA glue to prime foam pieces, and it works miracles. Heaps cheaper than Plasti Dip and for any beginner cosplayers, one layer of PVA before painting will take you props and armour to the next level. 4. Create a Budget It may sound stupid, but if you've ever found your money flying away during a project. Try keeping track of your money and setting a max spending limit. You may not notice you buy less, but you'll craft smarter and it will save you a lot of money in the long run. 5. Create a Storage System Even as someone as new to cosplay as me, I've been faced by some hell like untidiness, both in and out of con season. But the one thing that has honestly made my cosplay experience so much easier was just the purchasing of small storage boxes. Just keep one cosplay in its own box and label it, and trust me, you're not about to lose a cosplay element the night before a con.

6. Look inside your wardrobe Many of us have heaps of clothes we're never going to wear again but hold onto just because... have a look through those garments, you might find something you could repurpose.

7. Create a Timeline/Plan I personally can't complete a cosplay unless I'm under extreme pressure (eg. 2 days for a fabric build or 1.5 weeks for an armour build), and I create a plan using the app "Cosplanner" to set tasks and reminders to make sure I do get everything done on time.