When I was a child, my mother would say to my sister and I at the end of the summer, “Girls, start thinking about what you want to be for Halloween so I can start sewing.” And by September we usually made our decision. Thus began my love affair with Halloween. We always had elaborate costumes growing up. Of course, there was a lull during the teenage years when I thought I was too old to dress up, but by my 20s I was ready to get decked out for Halloween again. It’s still one of my favorite holidays.

I’ve heard of too many people not fully enjoying Halloween because they put off choosing a costume or complain they just don’t have the money. Another big excuse I hear is “But I don’t have place to wear my costume.” Bah! Lies. If you dress up, the Halloween parties will come to you. It’s the truth. I’m pretty sure physics has something to do with it. My point is it’s all about the costume. I’ve got plenty of tips to help you get it together in time for Halloween. Here are some questions to get you started…

• Is there anything you’ve always wanted to go as? Most people say they don’t know what they want to be, but as soon as you unleash that question, there’s a hesitation followed by, “Well, now that you mention it, I have thought about going as…” Don’t hold back, people. What have you always wanted to be? What character in a movie are you fascinated with?

• If you’re still unsure, ask yourself these questions: What type of theme do you want? Sexy? Silly? Scary? Funny? Original? That can help narrow things down. For example, if you want to go as something scary, you can eliminate the sexy cop outfit. It’s all about narrowing down your choices until you find a costume that will make you smile.

• Don’t worry so much about if people will “get it.” Maybe you’re going as a character from some small cult classic and you’re not sure people will know who you are. Who cares! You and your friends will know. Plus, if you’re dressed as something kind of obscure, you’ll soon discover that the people who do recognize your costume will think you’re a genius.

• Very important: Budget. How much are you willing to spend realistically? $10? $100? Knowing your costume budget will save you from disappointment later down the road. But don’t write off your costume just because you’re low on cash. I once put together a Holly Golightly costume for under $10, and it was one of my favorites. It can by done. How? I’m glad you asked.

Tips for putting together a costume without spending a lot of money:

• Borrow, borrow, borrow. Put those social networking sites to good use. Use your Facebook status update to ask everyone you know if they have a purple wig. You might be surprised what people have stashed in their closets.

• First stop, the dollar store. Start with the cheapest stores you know and work your way up. If you don’t find a piece of your costume at the dollar store, move on to some thrift shops. Then on to Walmart, Target etc. You get the idea. This way you can get the best deals out there. Do not forget about eBay! Most likely someone is selling what you’re looking for.

• Don’t have the time to get creative with your outfit? Swing by a Halloween store and pick up a pre-packaged costume. They usually cost anywhere from $25 to $75. You can also order costumes online from various online costume stores, but I always prefer checking out the actual merchandise before buying. Make sure to find out the store’s return policy in case it doesn’t fit.

• Don’t forget to hit up Halloween stores and other major chains for mega sales on costumes the week after Halloween. The sooner you get in the store, the better the costumes. Store it away for next year and you’ll be way ahead of the game! It’s never too early to start looking for your Halloween costume, I always say.

• Keep your costume in good condition so you can sell it on eBay next year. Keep up with that habit and you may never have to pay for a Halloween costume again. Your old ones will fund the new ones!

If you have a Halloween costume, a party will soon follow, and by then you’ll be dying to show off your creative flare. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even win the costume contest this year. Check with friends to see who’s throwing a bash or Google local Halloween events in your area. If you still find nothing (which I highly doubt), gather your friends together, put on your costumes and go out to a bar or sing some karaoke. Put that costume to good use and take lots of pictures. Have a happy and safe Halloween!