The Cost of Living: Justifying Cosplay in the Great Recession

Times are hard for everyone. All across America people are losing jobs, struggling to find them, or fighting to keep those they have. Many of the coming generation are in school stacking up mountains of student loans they will eventually have to pay back. In times of economic hardship, how do those who take part in the art of cosplay justify a hobby that can cost easily hundreds of dollars. Many frown upon cosplayers for continuing to pursue a love for something where a single garment or prop can equal the cost of a full tank of gas upwards of a week’s worth of groceries. So how do cosplayers justify the sometimes ridiculous cost of their hobby?

Among the top answers were scouring thrift stores and sewing things by their own hands. When the times get tough, the cosplayers get tougher. Places such as Goodwill, Army Barracks, and other local thrift or military outlets give cosplayers a perfect place to start looking for their outfits. While it may not always be accurate, those who can sew find wonderful objects to serve as a base for their projects to modify later on. For those who were not blessed with sewing skills, either learning them through trial and error or asking friends for trades or commissions can help keep the cost of even the most elaborate costume to a minimum. Other methods include buying only what one needs to complete the costume. ” Back when I used to buy my cosplays I did end up buying things I really shouldn’t have as they weren’t really needed for it.” Cosplayer Jade explained, “Just because it looks cool, doesn’t make it okay.”

This is especially true for those who work multiple jobs or are still in college full-time, unable to squeeze a job into their already busy schedules. Many cosplayers interviewed tell tales of spending $50 to well over $300 for one costume, even under these tight circumstances. Cosplayer Griffin tells about his most expensive cosplay, which he considers to be his ‘Magnum Opus,’ or his greatest work, during a time when he really needed to be conservative on cash. ” When I cosplayed Rorschach I was not in a place to spend a lot of money. Just the Thermochromic paint and base cost me around 225 dollars. Overall, the costume cost somewhere between 500-600 dollars without factoring in Labor costs and suchforth.” As a full-time student with two jobs, he admits to the fiscal irresponsibility of this decision and others he refers to as a ‘bad habit.’ Many other cosplayers admit to buying things when they really should be saving or cutting back on spending.

Yet they still do it. Why, is the next question someone would ask them. Why continue keeping up with an utterly ridiculous hobby that can end up costing so much, depending on the costume chosen. What compels these hundreds, even thousands, of people to continue on with this strange way of life? “I don’t care if I’ve got an expensive hobby, it’s added more to my life that I can put into words.” was the answer of cosplayer Spica. “I’ve made some of the closest friends I’ve ever had – found a way to escape the hell hole I call a house, actually come out of my shell and stopped being such a damn recluse.” Without this hobby, many cosplayers would be lost.

This hobby is more than just some temporary amusement to kill time. It is a way of life. It is a way of bringing complete strangers together and promoting the lesson of living one’s life to its fullest. It is an escape for those you need it, from work, from home, from school. From one’s sense of self-doubt and worthlessness. “I truly enjoy cosplaying.” Cosplayer Sebastian described. “It gives me pride and happiness, and I meet the greatest people while doing it. I justify it based on my psychological condition that I was born with and how cosplaying helps me cope with everything I’ve been through.” There are worse things in the world to love, Jade returns to illustrate. “I think its a much better hobby for someone considering how many destructive hobbies there are that could cost much more.”

So after all this, would one give up cosplaying because of money? A resounding ‘no’ echoed across the interviewed. ” I would never ever stop cosplaying, it’s a part of who I am, it’s one of those things I think of almost everyday. Going to cons is such an amazing experience and a con is not the same when you don’t dress up for it.” says Cosplayer Alex Larson. They may go to less cons, reuse old costumes rather than make new ones, or halt the progress of their latest projects, but nothing, not even finances, could keep a cosplayer from their art and source of expression. Especially during this Great Recession, when one needs an escape now more than ever.