It is that time of year again, and thanks to the Gregorian calendar, Halloween has finally fallen on a Friday. That means there is absolutely no excuse for not dressing up.

Choosing to purchase a costume for Halloween also means that you have to fork over some cash. On a college budget, however, it is hard to justify spending money on a costume. Luckily, with a plethora of thrift shops around every New York City borough, it is easy to find a costume, even at the last minute.

No Relation Vintage

Talk about an enlarged version of your grandmother’s closet, No Relation Vintage boasts a massive inventory, with pieces including workman’s overalls, ’60s mod dresses and shell suits. Although it looks as if it is right out of the Midwest, No Relation is conveniently located in the East Village and boasts cheap prices, making this a one-stop shop you cannot miss.

204 First Ave.

Urban Jungle

If you are feeling adventurous, take a trip across the East River to Urban Jungle in Williamsburg. You will walk in to find skateboards and toboggans hanging from the ceiling, but do not let that distract you from the numerous camouflage jackets, basketball jerseys and various hats, including sombreros. You can assemble a complete costume with items from here for roughly $30 or less. 

118 Knickerbocker Ave.

Beacon’s Closet

With locations in Greenpoint, Manhattan, Bushwick and Park Slope, Beacon’s Closet offers a variety of items in each location because of the diverse crowd that flocks there to sell clothes. You will experience the thrill of the find when shopping for a Halloween costume there as you scour the racks to find a $5 Harley Davidson T-shirt next to a vintage pair of Prada slingbacks.

Manhattan Location: 10 W. 13th St.

Housing Works

Housing Works never disappoints when it comes to finding a costume for a themed occasion. There is at least one in every neighborhood, and the clothes, shoes and accessories range from brands like Ann Taylor to Louis Vuitton. You can find a great Halloween costume at an extremely discounted price, and when you shop at Housing Works, you also help a great charity that benefits the city’s homeless as well as those affected by HIV and AIDS. 

245 West 10th St.

All of these thrift stores have great inventory, but choosing an outfit can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some easy tips to best utilize your thrifting skills.

Margot Tenenbaum: Search at No Relation Vintage and Urban Jungle for options for this look. All you need to replicate Gwyneth Paltrow’s famous look from “The Royal Tenenbaums” is a polo dress (even a men’s extra-large T-shirt will do the trick), a red barrette, loafers, a pair of pink gloves (you can cut one of the fingers off yourself) and a faux-fur jacket. Grab your bag and a cigarette and you are ready to head out — Richie Tenenbaum, her father, not included.

Freudian Slip: Stop by Beacon’s Closet for some vintage slip dresses, if you do not already have one. All you need to do is make a sign with string attached that reads “Freudian Slip” and wear it over your newly purchased slip dress. Pair it with any pair of heels and you have a witty costume at little or not cost.

Foxxy Cleopatra: If you are a fan of the ’70s trends that are making a comeback, you might opt for purchasing a pair of bell-bottoms and a gold bralette or shirt that can tie to emulate Queen Bey in her role as Foxxy Cleopatra Brown in “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” A store like Housing Works will definitely have items like these, as well as the jewelry and shoes to match. Big hoops and platform heels have never been more fun to wear, especially as a Halloween homage to the queen herself.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Oct. 29 print edition. Email Francesca Conlin at [email protected],