How do you make money to pay for your cosplays?

[Tanuki19]

Cosplays can be very expensive, buying them or making them yourself. How do you come up with the money to help pay for the rising cost of cosplays?

[~boogiepop~]

I work 3 jobs :\ I quit them all this quarter though so I could have relaxing fun times, some which will be making cosplay. I will start them again next quarter though.

[Kallika]

I save up birthday/Christmas money and do odd jobs for the rest (once I'm legally old enough to work I'll get a job though)

But so far my cosplays haven't cost very much since my Grandma is so creative and we used a sheet and a curtain to sew my Kim cosplay

[Tanuki19]

yeah, i never get any money for my birthday or christmas, i dont have a job [but i desperately need one], and i dont have any family members with amazing sewing skills. i need to learn to sew though.

[tas110]

I get my mom and dads hep t and if its a TON of money (jack sparrow) they i have to use it for years and years to get my use out of it

[meep]

working, mooching, saving, watching your money and smart shopping.

[chelseahavoc]

yardsales, and my job... but now i have to start slowing down... (which many know is way past due) and saveing money is a must....

[Konan-ChanX3]

I sell my manga and Doujinshi at cons and the like.

[MiriaRose]

I do well in school- I get paid for my grades.

I also do chores sometimes, if I'm desperate.

[Man of the Public]

I have my sources. That's all I will say.

[Saberchan]

I work two jobs...Try buying second hand stuff at Good Will and piece your costume together! Modify what you find. That's what my aunt and I did when she made my costume for me xD Depending on what you're able to find, it can keep the price down somewhat... (I need to find armor for my costume...massively expensive on ebay...so my aunt suggested I find old Halloween costume armor and modify it!)

[NARUNIK]

I mow THIS HUGE lawn for like 50 bucks...About 4 times during the summer.

[Tanuki19]

i used to watch my next door neighbor's dogs for 20 bucks but then he moved and my money went away. XD

[Vexenification]

What I do for money:
• Beg for birthday money instead of that button maker you really wanted.
• Wash your mom's car... every other two weeks.
• Vacuum your neighbor's house, for an hour.
• Lemonade and Blackberry stand with your fellow cosplayers.
• Dig into the couch cushions, your family members pockets while doing laundry, and steam clean the house's carpet.
I don't have a job yet, (I wouldn't trust me at this age either.) and so I'm stuck doing the weirdest jobs around my house. Everything from steam cleaning to scrubbing the bathroom tiles. (My house hasn't looked this good is years. ^^)

[Felix]

Be a miser.
I rarely buy anything, and my mother gives me money for food so I can save my personal money. I can't remember how I accumulated it over the years, but it's there because I think before I buy. Is it something I really need, or can I do without it? A lot of times you can talk yourself out of buying things you don't need by taking a moment to really think about it.
Specifically relating to costuming, save scraps from previous projects. You never know when they will be useful.
I sold artwork at the con, which covered the expenses of going and it was probably enough to cover the cost of my costume as well, since I ended up only making one.

Basically, find something you're good at that people are willing to pay for. Everyone has some talents and skills they can use. If you're good at playing an instrument, stand on a street corner in a shopping district and play. Offer to do odd jobs for your neighbours. Be sure to be realistic about your abilities, though.

[Cyprus]

I work a ton of hours at my job...really not much more than that honestly. My job pays very well so it's not too hard to aim for 1 new cosplay per con.

[TideWalker]

I am getting a job over the summer. I need monies to fuel my new found addiction... it's so much fun. I needed a hobby other than pokemon... dressing up and cosplaying sound like fun with great expense. No one wants to let me borrow their expensive props though... lol...

[superjaz]

I Work at a 24 hour group home for adults with developmental disabilities , the clients love to go to uwajimaiyas so i am literally paid to shop there some times I do the grocery shopping so i do my best to clip coupons and sales to save as much as I can I usually save around 25$ a trip and that helps to be able to buy my fabric needs

[Trumby]

I work 40+ hours every week and my job pays well

[Chibiorochimaru]

I see disgusting fating fast food to equally fat people who should look over a salad now and then >>;;;; ugh

[Kurohime]

Does that pay well? 

Really it's just about working enough hours to make up for the cost of materials/commissions. 

[Kimiski]

I save and save and save seriously all year
Christmas money/birthday money/other holidays, etc
Sometimes babysitting or selling a bit of artwork here and there

I haven't bought anime in years and I only buy manga for cheap at the con cause I save spending money, but even last year I decided since I knew my cosplay this coming year was going to be expensive, I would buy one thing and then save the rest for my cosplay, which turned out to be a good thing. I had $100 to spend at the con this year but if I didn't save it back then I wouldn't be able to afford the cosplay I wanted this year.

Hopefully this will change when I get a job. I can just devote a paycheck to Kumoricon and then not have to save up everything for an entire year just to go to the con and my cosplay

[Chibiorochimaru]

Gotta Agree a job does help waaaaaaaay alot. freakin expensive hobby....

[hieis_girl1]

Working during school breaks (and hopefully during school soon) and selling homemade crafts.

[nekovamp13]

I babysit as much as possible. And will hopefully be getting a part time job this summer, which will help!
And also selling my clay charms.

[Tanuki19]

i would get a job this summer but then what if you had to end up working during Kcon? and you couldnt get the days off?

[nekovamp13]

^ suddenly quit.....

[Tanuki19]

makes sense! XD

[Vexenification]

^ suddenly quit.....

Words of someone wiser than their years ^^ 

[Man of the Public]

i would get a job this summer but then what if you had to end up working during Kcon? and you couldnt get the days off?

Call in sick, have someone trade shifts with you, there's plenty that can be done without just quitting.

[Kimiski]

I worked the state fair once and then during the last three days I "got sick"  lol
Right off the bat they ask you if you can make sure to work labor day weekend since it's the busiest fair time, and I was like, "Of course!"

[Tanuki19]

did they actually fall for it? XD

[Kimiski]

did they actually fall for it? XD

Dunno if they believed me or not
But alot of people don't work labor day, I didn't get in trouble though
And that was in 2006, when I re-applied in 2009 to work, they still remembered me so I must have done something right, I was hired on the spot. But I figured I'd rather have a good reference for a real job then blow what they thought about me by doing it again. So if you do, do something like that there's always a possibility of something like that.

[Cyprus]

i would get a job this summer but then what if you had to end up working during Kcon? and you couldnt get the days off?

It might not work with some employers but it has for so many here that I know of...when you apply & have your interview or get hired(situational), mention that you are available at all times for work with the exception of a few days that you already paid for(Kumoricon dates applied here ) room & fees. This has worked for a lot of people I know...but all employers are going to be different.

[Kurohime]

I've been on the receiving end of people flaking off their jobs, and it blows.  Don't do it.  And a lot of employers will hire you if you tell them right away that you need certain days off because of existing plans. 

[Kimiski]

Multiple different people/groups or whatever hire for the state fair.
When I applied to work for a different group of people I just told them I couldn't work those dates. My friend did the same thing and when they hired her they let her have Kumoricon off.

[Vexenification]

I've been on the receiving end of people flaking off their jobs, and it blows.  Don't do it.  And a lot of employers will hire you if you tell them right away that you need certain days off because of existing plans. 

Thanks for the advise for when I get my job next year ^^

[TideWalker]

I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

[lover-of-the-pepsi]

man of the public, can i just say that i caught myself watching your transmorphing profile pic for a good 1-2 minutes?

[Vexenification]

I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

[Tanuki19]

I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

[The_Geek]

I'm going to find a lawnmower (One of those push-powered ones) and I will take care of my big brothers property all summer.
I will take care of my neighbors' pets/plants while they are away.
But most of all I will be building a garage and setting up for a wedding. Neither of which I actually get paid for.

[Vexenification]

I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

Will you be playing near the max lines? Or, maybe near Saturday Market? 70 degrees on like, thursday!

[beastychan]

I sing at oldfolks homes, and I do it pretty good apparently cos I made like a hundred smackers last oldfolkshome I went to lol

I WANT TO LEARN TO PLAY THE WHATCHAMACALL
bagpipe-harmonica thing

what's it called again?

umm

italians play it and

umm
ACCORDION
that's it

[Raveen92]

I dive for every coin i can find. . . I have collected 50$ in two months. . . But I had to spend some on a band fine. XP

[Tanuki19]

I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

Will you be playing near the max lines? Or, maybe near Saturday Market? 70 degrees on like, thursday!

what?

[Vexenification]

I think I am going to try and do the whole "Play blues on the street and throw munnies in muh hat" gig. I hear it's nice this time of year.

The weather has been rather nice ^^

that it has

Will you be playing near the max lines? Or, maybe near Saturday Market? 70 degrees on like, thursday!

what?

It's a joke =3

[superjaz]

starting this week my co worker went on vaction I picked up some of her shifts so starting monday at 6am and ending at thursday at 10pm I will be working 50 hours , but Ot is nice I just wish I had more then 8 hours between shifts

[KogaRyu]

I work 2 jobs aswell as babysitting 2-3 times a month.

[Tanuki19]

i need to find a job crazy quick because i'm in dire need of money and something to take up my free time.