The “BER” months are finally upon us, and I couldn’t be happier! I’ll admit it. I’m a fall girl stereotype. Give me all the football, sweatshirts, fall movies, changing leaves, and pumpkins. So, what I’m about to say next might come as a shock and may even be borderline controversial, but…

I’m not always a huge fan of Halloween.

LISTEN, I KNOW. It’s not that I DON’T like it, and in fact there was a time that I loved it, but now it can be downright stressful! With three kids it always seems to sneak up on me a little bit. Just when we’ve settled into a new school year, October 1st hits and every conversation turns to what they’re “going to be” this year, (and it changes EVERY DAY) and before you know it, I’m flustered and unprepared. And sometimes that regrettably means that I grab a super overpriced pre-made costume that they’ll wear once, and I’ll regret it.

Luckily, whether you’re an “overwhelmed mom” like me, or someone that has it all together, Goodwill NCW is THE PLACE for your costume needs! Seriously, have you seen their Halloween selection lately? It’s HUGE and sure to have something for the whole family, no matter your budget or level of creativity. Here are some ways to create the perfect costume for any member of the family!

New/Pre-packaged Costumes

If you want to go the super simple route, have no fear – Goodwill NCW has brand new, prepackaged costumes as well! And they are way more affordable than most of what you will find online or at the Halloween stores. No need to piece together anything or have to hit up multiple stores – everything you need is right there!

Pre-packaged costumes make it easy to grab and go!

Accessorize

You don’t always have to start from scratch when coming up with a costume. Chances are, your family has a ton of pieces that are already perfect, and all they need are a few accessories to complete the look! Have black clothes? Goodwill has cat ears, and witch and steampunk hats. Does your little girl have a favorite dress? Grab some fairy wings and a wand and you’re good to go! Add a safety vest and a tool belt to your little guy’s jeans and t-shirt and you’ve got a construction worker. Goodwill also has a huge selection of new and previously loved wigs to elevate any look. Accessorizing is a great way to keep costs low and love things you already have!

Pre-loved Costumes

Another great way to get a big bang for your buck is by getting a pre-loved costume. Friends, I’m telling you, I was blown away by how many options there were! You will likely find princesses, superheroes, monsters, cowboys, Jedis, and everything in between. Many, if not most, of these options will have everything you need. If there’s a little extra something you need to add to your costume, chances are you’ll find that at Goodwill too! Pre-loved costumes are SUCH a great way to save both time and money!

DIY Costumes

If you’ve got the creativity, Goodwill NCW has the goods! The possibilities are truly endless. Whether you’re an 80s prom queen, a Golden Girl, a bomber pilot, or Cruella de Vil, your key piece is likely waiting for you.

Something for everyone at Goodwill NCW!

Family Costumes

Looking for a few costume ideas for the entire family? Here are a few super simple ones to try.

“Party Animals” – Start with the animal part. Grab a tail and/or some fuzzy ears, draw on some whiskers and maybe a cute nose, and wear brown/gray/black or whatever color your animal is. Or find an entire animal costume at Goodwill NCW. Then all you need to add are some party hats, beads, or noise makers and you’ll be a wild and crazy bunch!

Zombies

Seriously, one of the easiest and most fun costumes to create is a Zombie. I mean, let’s be real, ANYTHING can be a zombie. One of my favorite costumes I wore in college was a zombie bride. I found an old wedding dress (from Goodwill, actually!) and just DESTROYED it. My friend and I rubbed dirt all over it, tore the heck out of it, and put red food coloring down the front. I felt a little bad wrecking it, and hoped that it gave someone very happy memories, but man…that was FUN! Last year my son was a “zombie Packer.” We tore up an old shirt and pants that were already stained and on the verge of not fitting, and then he wore a Packer jersey over the top. All you really need to make this look work is some messy hair and ghoulish makeup, and you’ll be a family of zombies in no time!

And friends, if all else fails…make’em laugh. Just like this shirt, sometimes a clever one-liner is all you need to get Halloween ready.

Due to inflation, this is my Halloween costume.