WHO KNEW there are so many easy, fun, and inexpensive ways to find great Halloween costumes while also being kind to our earth?

Every year, once October 31st has passed, huge quantities of used Halloween costumes, mostly in great shape, wind up in our landfills. Unfortunately clothing and textiles including those old Halloween costumes currently make up 7% or more of our landfills. But there are easy, fun, and inexpensive things we can do to make sure this year’s Halloween’s costumes don’t add to the textile load in our landfill.

Currently the LISTEN on Mechanic street has great costumes ON SALE. On a trip through the store a week ago there were racks (12 or more) packed full of costumes and I mean FULL. They stretched all the way from the cashiers by the entryway to the far walls of the changing rooms with lots of tables in and around that area also filled with costumes and then even more in the children’s room. Pre-made, costumes are great for some, but for others it’s fun to put odd types of clothes together, a sort of putting one’s own touch on things: scarves, hats, strange looking pants, bazaar blouses, maybe even funny shoes (stuffed with socks or maybe tie them on with string if the are too large).

Once, years ago, I found a very short faux rabbit fur jacket at LISTEN for $25 (a great bargain), added sequins to my hair, and a long dress... the best costume ever. Look around. You’ll find interestingthings and you’ll have time to make interesting changes to them. When you’ve factored in what you’ve spent on a costume or two, you’ll likely find you’ve saved a lot and had fun while searching for just the right things.

My sons never did like wearing commercial costumes. They borrowed things from friends, bought a cowboy hat from Dan and Whit’s, or painted a large piece of cardboard to look like an Ace of Spades playing card. Once, green PJs, an old pillowcase dyed green and stapled into the shape of a tail, a green beanie, and an egg carton sliced down the side and painted green with white teeth and held on with string made up a silly looking dinosaur for happy kid.

If stumped for ideas, use your computer's search engine. Google showed me a bunch of sites with all kinds of really exciting ideas of how to put things together.

Remember, when you are done with your costume this year, please Do Not throw it into the landfill. Take it back to LISTEN next year or pass it along to a friend (who will likely be happy to have it). Let’s enjoy Halloween and be kind to our earth.

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