So you have about a week until Halloween, and you still have no idea what you are going to be. Sure, you can go to the local party store or Spirit Halloween, but let’s be honest. We are all on a college budget and spending $50 dollars on a costume that won’t even cover half of your body is definitely not a smart decision. So where else should you look? Use your imagination, and check out the following places to find the perfect Halloween costume!
Goodwill is the perfect place to look for random pieces that could potentially be made into a Halloween costume. I was just there the other day, and the two girls I was with found faux-leather booty shorts and a leopard print skirt and matching top. If you look hard enough, you will find items that you can turn into almost anything. And don’t just look in the women’s section. Check out the men’s section to try and find something unique and different that you could cut up to create a unique costume. The Goodwill near UCF gives a discount to students. Just make sure you have your ID!Â
Google thrift stores and a ton of options will show up in the UCF area. A lot of them are located in Winter Park, a little bit of a drive from campus, but it can be totally worth it if you look hard enough. Unlike Goodwill, thrift stores will usually have better quality items. I found a fantastic vintage WWII Air Force jacket for $20 at a thrift store, which I will be wearing this Halloween. But be warned. Depending on the store, thrift shopping can sometimes get pricey. I’ve been to thrift stores that have charged up to seventy dollars for a shirt. But even if you don’t buy anything, thrift stores can be an excellent place to get inspiration for the perfect Halloween costume!
If wearing other people’s clothes isn’t necessarily your thing, check out your own closet for items that you could use for a costume! My friend Alyssa was going through her closet the other day and found at least five pieces she could wear as a costume. Those leather leggings you bought but then realized you were never going to wear? Perfect for Halloween! That one odd dress you are a little embarrassed to say you own? Pull it out and create a one-of-kind costume! You’d be surprised what you could pull together by just scavenging through your own closet.
Skip the cliché costumes and spend way less by searching for the perfect costume at Goodwill. Find a unique vintage piece at your local thrift store, or just pull something together from your own closet! Wherever it comes from, take pride in knowing you spent way less than all those other girls at the club and that you had enough creativity to put together the perfect costume!