I love Halloween! Even as an adult I love dressing up and just getting to pretend to be someone else for the night. The only downside to Halloween costumes can be the cost. Growing up my mom always made my costumes so I was shocked as an adult to learn how much they cost. But there are ways around that my friends! How you say? Head to your local Goodwill store!

By following these simple tips, you can put together a great costume for a fraction of what you would pay for one at the store.

Have a Plan

Goodwill puts out a LOT of stuff at Halloween that can be used for costumes. They do sort things by costume idea, but it can still be a bit overwhelming. Going in with a plan will help with that! Having an idea or two of what you are looking for will help keep you going in the right direction.

If you are going for a family or group costume, make sure that you have everyone’s sizes with you. You never know what you may be able to find for others in your group.

Check out the Goodwill Halloween Lookbook

If you live in the Central Florida area, Goodwill has put together a fabulous Halloween Lookbook this year! It is full of great ideas for trendy costumes that you can put together at Goodwill. Each shop has a copy, probably attached to one of the Halloween racks, that you can check for ideas while you are in the store. And who knows, you might even see someone in there that you recognize.

Think Outside the Box

When I was putting together my Belle costume a couple of years ago I could not find a white apron to save my life. As I wandered up and down the aisle at my last stop it hit me – if I could find a white skirt I could make it LOOK like an apron. Thankfully I found a wonderful skirt and headed home to put my outfit together. If you can’t find exactly what you are looking for, try looking for something else that would work in its place. And don’t forget to look in all the sections of the store – you never know what you might find in the mens or kids department that would work.

Need a red skirt but can’t find one? Look for a white or light pink skirt that you can die red.

Looking for a certain color shoe but can’t find the right size or style? Find a pair in your size that you can paint or cover in glitter.

Look at the New Items

Most Goodwill shops get in a selection of new costume accessories each year. Don’t forget to take a look at those before you leave! You may be able to find that one piece that would finish off your costume perfectly.

Shop Your Own Closet

If at the end of the day you are still missing something for your costume, don’t forget to shop your own closet! There is a good chance that you may already have something at home that would be perfect for your costume.

So there you have it. A few simple tips that can help you put together a fabulous Halloween costume!