Did you know? Halloween racks at Goodwill NCW start appearing mid-August! If I’m being honest with you, (which I always am,) I’m not a huge fan of the holiday. But, when I see the first orange and black signs roll out onto the floor, I get a little giddy. Actually, I’m a lot giddy! One of my secrets to shopping Goodwill is hidden in these racks. There are so many hidden treasures to shop for within these racks than just Halloween costumes! Sprinkled between ghosts, goblins, football players, cheerleaders, dinosaurs and princesses, you will find Christmas gifts, cozy comfies, glitz, glam, vintage and so much more!

Do you have a little one at home who loves to play dress up? Now is the time to stock up on all the dress up clothes without breaking the bank. Your kid will tell you, (heck, even I will tell you,) playing dress up is not a once-a-year thing. Buying new costumes can cost quite a bit, but you can get them at a fraction of the price by shopping Goodwill NCW! And the best time to find these are…. you guessed it, during Halloween. One year for Christmas, my husband made a dress up bin for my daughter, (you could also use a big basket or container). I collected as many dress up pieces as I could to fill her bin. Then, we gifted it to her on Christmas morning. You should have seen our little four-year-old’s big green eyes light up! The fun she had with those pieces lasted years. I wish I had known our plan the previous Halloween! Oh well…you live and learn right?! You can thank me later when your child has the best Christmas ever and years of imaginative play.

Buy dress up costumes for a fraction of new, during Halloween

Another item that is not just for Halloween, but you will find plenty of on the Halloween racks at Goodwill NCW, is character footie/hoodie pajamas. My kids love these cozy, comfortable pajamas for the cold Wisconsin winter months. There are onesies for every size from toddler to adult. If you appreciate more bang for your buck, you can buy the pajamas as a Halloween costume knowing this will not just be a one-and-done but will likely be loved to shreds.

Speaking of one-time pieces, who else has a tough time spending a lot of money on apparel that is only meant for special occasions? (I can see all your hands going up in my head as I type.) We try convincing ourselves that we will wear it again, but that never happens. Have a special occasion this year? A wedding, homecoming or prom? You will find beautiful, unique (let’s be honest, one-time- wear) special occasion dresses in the Halloween section at Goodwill NCW. I found this gorgeous Alice and Olivia dress for $5.99! If only I had shopped the orange and black signs for my wedding dress! It’s too late for me, but it may not be for you!

My favorite finds while shopping the Halloween racks are the vintage ones. You will not believe all the vintage there is to be found! In fact, I have now declared the day the Halloween racks roll out onto the Goodwill floor to be called “Vintageween”. There are blazers, dresses, sweaters, skirts, you name it, it’s there! If you’re like me, and you have a special spot in your heart for unique, well-made, timeless pieces, I suggest you run (don’t walk) to your nearest Goodwill NCW store.

Style tip: Never forget the accessories! The best part about shopping the accessories in the Halloween section is that they are unique. You’ll find studded leather belts, colorful sunhats and wide-brimmed felt hats that are perfect for fall. The western style has been in style for a while now and I don’t see it going anywhere soon. So, pick up a pair of boots (there’s always a collection on these racks) and a fun vest!