Five tips to find or create unique Halloween costumes

Halloween is around the corner, which means it's time to find the perfect costume. Don't fall short on creativity this year and be like all the other ghosts, goblins and witches on the block. Highlight your unique personality, and be the hit of the night by personalizing your costume.

To get your creative juices flowing, try one or all of the tips below from Bing's lifestyle expert, Karin Muskopf, when you are hunting for your costume.

* Don't forget the "we" in Halloween: Whether you're looking for a couple's costume, dressing up as the cast of "True Blood" with your friends, or doing your own thing, it can be helpful to get feedback on your ideas. One easy way to do this is to use Bing Shopping, as it allows you to share shopping lists with friends via email and Facebook to get their advice, all within a couple of clicks. Not only will your friends help you pick the right outfit, but you'll feel confident you're one of the best dressed for this ghoulish day.

* Think outside the coffin: Nobody wants to show up as the fourth witch at a party, so get into the spooky spirit of things and explore options that are outside the norm. To start, look around your house for creative inspirations and accessories. You never know if your next idea comes from something you see in your fridge or junk drawer. Also, consider creating a mash-up Halloween costume that combines two ordinary ideas into one extraordinary masterpiece. Think "Werezombie," or perhaps "Ronald McDonald Trump" - a painted clown face with a dark suit and an impressive comb-over. The beauty of dressing up is that the possibilities are endless and there's no such thing as being too creative.

* Don't be "tricked" into spending tons of money. Instead, "treat" yourself to the best deals in town. To find unique costumes and accessories, check out local discount stores, The Salvation Army and thrift stores. Also, try to find new materials by going to garage sales in your neighborhood. Not only will you protect the cash in your cauldron, you'll be more likely to find materials and accessories that others won't have. Halloween is the perfect time to prove how someone else's trash can become your terrifyingly terrific treasure.

* Think it through: While customization is important, it's never fun to go to a party with an uncomfortable costume that you have to change out of after an hour. Sky-high stilettos might look great with your Marilyn Monroe get-up, but will leave you with aching arches that'll scare you more than that haunted party you're attending. Make sure you think about how your entire costume - including shoes and makeup - will fit and feel at the events you plan to attend. If you know you're going to be in a cold location, going as Tarzan in a loin cloth is probably not the best idea.

* Start planning now: If you plan on purchasing a ready-made costume to suite your personal style, start checking out stores early to make sure you are picking from a wide range of styles and sizes. To add personality to your ready-made costume, consider adding fabric glitter, fake blood or tulle. It's a quick and easy way to make your costume go from frightful to fang-tastic. Look at websites such as BingHalloween.com to get ideas and find your signature look.