Halloween is that special time of year when gaggles of children, exasperated parents, and young adults don their favorite costumes and become someone (or something) for the night. In college, it’s not out of the ordinary to see herds of students wandering the streets, on their way to a party, and dressed in extravagant ensembles. I myself have been a victim of venturing into the dark, cold night in search of the nearest gathering. However, there is one issue that often blocks students from fully enjoying the holiday: the pricing of costumes from popular retailers. Just yesterday, I wandered into Spirit Halloween in hopes of locating a last-minute costume for this upcoming Halloweekend, yet when I saw the price tags, I felt every hope of locating an outfit from that store flee my body. There was absolutely no way I was about to pay $70 for a poorly made, polyester nightmare that would likely come apart with a few washes. Now, if you’re looking for an “authentic” and complex costume based on a popular figure in media, you might want to try your luck with these retailers or Amazon, unless you’re ready to learn how to sew. Feeling vaguely nauseous, with a giant smartly dressed skeleton screeching at my back, I left the store feeling defeated and impoverished. However, I was struck with the realization that I didn’t need to purchase a costume from a popular retailer; everything I needed could be found in much cheaper, much more reliable locations. Unfortunately, unless you already have every item, you’re going to have to spend money regardless. Hopefully, with this list in mind, you’ll be able to save a couple of bucks when searching for your desired costume! You may be wondering…

Where can I find clothing?

If you’re already someone who values saving money when you can, then you’re well aware of the beauty and splendor a thrift store can offer you. Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, and many similar companies all have a wide variety of clothing that can be utilized this Halloween. If you’re looking to be a specific character with a relatively simple outfit, there is a high probability of finding individual pieces that can be combined to create your desired look. Thrift stores often have items that are not only cheap but also come from a variety of different locations and different eras. If you’re looking for vintage pieces to complement your costume, there’s simply no better place to look than at a thrift store. Not only does shopping at these establishments save you money, but it also provides you with clothing that’s going to stand the test of time and all the shenanigans you get up to on Halloween night. Most thrifted clothing is solid, well-crafted, and made to last. However, if you’re not into putting together your own costume, you can often find secondhand costumes within these stores as well, although the sizing is unpredictable.

What if I need specialized pieces?

There are many characters and entities that require more specific, unique, and specialized items to be recognizable. For example, you can’t be Mario without his iconic red hat; to do so would be a disservice to the character. The bad news is, if you don’t have access to a sewing kit, the knowledge of how to use one, and the time to do so, recreating these unique pieces can be a true challenge. On the other hand, if you have basic knowledge of arts and crafts, you can often closely recreate these items. Materials like felt, cloth, hot glue guns, sewing kits, paint, dye, clay, and essentially any crafting material you can think of can be found at stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and local small fabric businesses. If these stores are out of your budget, many of the crafting tools and items can be found at Dollar General as well. Although this method may take more time, it’s worth it overall, as it gives you the opportunity to make your costume the way you want it, instead of whatever version major retailers have mass-produced. I would suggest gathering the materials at least a week before Halloween to give yourself ample time to create your masterpiece.

What about makeup and special effects?

Unfortunately, anything coming into contact with your skin that can’t be washed must come from a well-known retailer. Because of the nature of thrift stores, any available makeup is often secondhand and thus possibly contaminated with unknown bacteria. I wouldn’t recommend buying makeup from thrift stores, even if it is sealed, due to the risk of expiration. Of course, if this is a non-issue for you and you don’t mind the risks, this is a cheaper option. However, I will say that oftentimes thrift stores price their makeup around the same price as a chain store would charge for it. So, that brings us to the question: where can you find cheap makeup? Disappointingly, I have to recommend stores such as Walmart, Target, or even…Ulta. Scary, I know, but when it comes to sanitation and safety, sometimes we have to splurge. The good news is, if the products you purchased didn’t work for you, these locations regularly take returns within at least 30 days. Dollar General also has a selection of makeup products that could work fantastically if you’re just looking for basics, although they often lack any “themed” or seasonal makeup.

Overall, it’s up to you to do your Halloween your way, but I hope these tips are helpful to struggling students like me who need to save money any way we can.