October 16, 2026

Hello Friends,

Is it me or has Halloween Costumes gotten outrageously expensive?

I admit I don't go to too many parties but this year I am going to a neighborhood one and I got a case of sticker shock when I went to Spirit Halloween.

I decided to have some fun and went to the local thrifty shop with no idea of what I was looking for. I just started pulling pieces that looked fun and a little ridiculous off the racks. A bright sequin blazer. A feather boa. An honest to goodness bowler hat.

Turns out "no plan" might be my best costume strategy yet.

Forty minutes and a few bins later, I walked out with pieces for two full costume ideas. Total cost, $14.

It felt less like costume shopping and more like a scavenger hunt, digging through racks instead of the same five costumes that seem to be everywhere. I ended up with something nobody else at the party will be wearing, and I'm already picturing what I'll dig up next year.

Be Well,

Anisa

Please add anisa@gophercentral.com to your address book or visit here.

Why Thrifting Your Halloween Costume Matters

Photo: A quick thrift store detour turned into a full Halloween costume for under $15, proof that the best costume ideas aren't always the store-bought ones.

Costume prices have crept up right along with everything else. The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend about $4.4 billion on costumes this year alone, and a single store-bought outfit, wig and accessories included, routinely runs $35 to $70 for one night of wear before it gets stuffed in a closet or tossed.

Thrift stores flip that math completely. You're buying real clothing built to actually last, usually for a few dollars a piece, and you can mix and match pieces into a costume now and keep wearing half of them as regular clothes long after Halloween is over.

How To Do It

1. Shop for pieces, not a costume.
Walk in thinking in categories, a blazer, a bold pattern, a specific color, rather than a finished costume. It's much easier to find three interesting pieces than one perfect outfit.

2. Start at the accessories bin.
Hats, scarves, jewelry, and bags often run a dollar or two and can make or break a costume's identity faster than the clothes themselves.

3. Check the men's and kids' racks too.
Oversized blazers, novelty ties, and bold prints show up there just as often, sometimes cheaper, regardless of your own section.

4. Try everything on before you buy.
Thrift store sizing is all over the place, so a quick fitting room check saves you a return trip.

5. Grab a basic sewing kit or fabric shears for quick fixes.
A missing button or a hem that needs trimming shouldn't be a dealbreaker on a great find.

6. Build the full look at home.
Lay everything out together before the big night so you can spot what's missing while you still have time to go back.

It's a Small Thrift Trip With Big Savings

Skipping the costume aisle for a thrift store run can easily save you $30 to $50 on a single costume, and that's before you count the pieces you'll keep wearing well past October 31st. It takes one trip and an open mind about what counts as a costume.

That's what living thrifty is all about, finding the fun in making something work instead of automatically reaching for your wallet.

Got a tip of your own? Reply back to me, I love reading your tips and ideas!

GopherCentral & PulseTV
2328 E Lincoln Hwy #358
New Lenox, IL 60451

Whitelist anisaa@gophercentral.com