Budget guide
By Karen Wang
03 June 2013
03 June 2013
This guide will help you budget your cosplay project and/or convention trip. It is divided into the following sections:
1. Sample cosplay budgets
2. Sample convention budget
3. Tips on saving money
1. Sample cosplay budgets
2. Sample convention budget
3. Tips on saving money
Sample cosplay budgets
Here is what a few sample cosplay budgets may look like:
Overhead costs
1. Sewing machine - $100
2. Sewing kit - $10
3. Seam ripper - $10
Total: $120
Here is what a few sample cosplay budgets may look like:
Overhead costs
1. Sewing machine - $100
2. Sewing kit - $10
3. Seam ripper - $10
Total: $120
Kamiki Izumo from Blue Exorcist
1. Long purple wig, eBay - $40 2. White shirt, already have - $0 3. Sweatshirt with emblem, eBay - $30 4. Green tie, already have - $0 5. Black socks - $5 6. Purple skirt, handmade - $10 7. Black leather loafers, already have - $0 Total: $85 (Optional: Red contacts - $20) |
Sample convention budget
Here’s what a typical convention trip budget looks like. Adjust it to your own needs as necessary:
1. Hotel, double room, 3 nights - $360. Split among 4 people - $90
2. Badge, pre-ordered online - $50
3. Food expenses per day - $30 x number of days 4 = $120
4. Spending money - $50
5. Transportation costs, bus fare to and from - $20
Total: $330
Tips on saving money
So, you might have noticed that cosplay and conventions aren’t cheap, and wondering how you’ll save money to budget for them. Adhere to these tips to save money and make your trip more affordable:
Badge and convention costs
Wi-fi
Food
Cosplay
So, you might have noticed that cosplay and conventions aren’t cheap, and wondering how you’ll save money to budget for them. Adhere to these tips to save money and make your trip more affordable:
Badge and convention costs
- Look for volunteer or staffing opportunities at your local convention to get a free or subsidized badge. Conventions are usually happy to enlist enthusiastic volunteers to help with events and logistics!
- Cut down on transportation costs by taking the bus or carpooling; cut down on hotel costs by commuting to the convention instead of staying overnight
Wi-fi
- Hotels may offer free wi-fi in the lobby, and conventions often have 24-hour programming. Forgo internet access in favor of these alternatives to save on wi-fi costs
Food
- Bring your own food to conventions: bread, instant noodles, energy bars, fresh and dried fruit, peanut butter can last for a few days in the open
- Check if your hotel room has a mini-fridge, which can be leveraged to store perishables such as yogurt and cheese
- Bring a rice cooker and some raw ingredients. You can use it to cook all manners of things, from rice to steamed vegetables to stew.
Cosplay
- Your cosplay only has to be as expensive as you want it be. A Luffy cosplay is just as recognizable as a Cloud Strife cosplay, but it is definitely cheaper and easier to pull together a Luffy than a Cloud.
- Set aside twenty dollars every month to go towards your convention budget. After a year, you should have a tidy $240 to fund your convention trip. Set aside an extra ten dollars every month for your cosplay project for a respectable budget of $120.