Halloween Budgets: UW-Madison Students Cap Outfit Spending at $100
Three students described how they use secondhand markets to avoid the $115 national average as retail forecasts project $13.5 billion in holiday sales.
By Thomas Obasi ·
Three University of Wisconsin-Madison students are limiting their Halloween costume spending to under $100 each. They plan to rely on secondhand sources rather than buying new garments from major retailers.
The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $13.5 billion on Halloween items this year. That figure works out to an average of $115.14 per person.
Senior Hadley Wendorff noted that campus social pressure often drives higher costs. She said friends who have elaborate outfits create an expectation for others to match that level of effort.
"If your friends have a great costume you wanna have a great costume too," Wendorff said. She observed that the culture on State Street encourages wearing multiple outfits over a single weekend.
Junior Lily Myhra sources her costumes from the app Depop. She estimates her total spending for the holiday will range from $50 to $100. Junior Matteo Rovera acknowledged that yearly fashion trends influence his choices.
"There's fads for the year," Rovera said. He planned to wear three different costumes this year, whereas he would normally limit himself to one.
The students aim to avoid fast fashion, a model that produces clothing quickly from inexpensive materials. Fashion production accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions. Additionally, 85% of textiles end up in dumps annually.
Students suggested shopping at thrift stores or using platforms like Depop, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace. They also recommended borrowing items from friends or digging through personal closets to find usable pieces.
