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Economy

How much should you spend on a Halloween costume?

Kerry McCray - Modesto Bee

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October 24, 2011 03:23 PM

It used to be that an inexpensive Halloween costume was one that came out of your parents' closets.

Pull on your dad's old jeans, tie them with string and — voilá — instant hobo. Borrow your mom's skirt and blouse, perch some glasses on your nose, and you were an accountant.

Times have changed, and today buying a costume from a store or online is common. But how much should you spend?

"No more than like $20," said Josiah Parra of Modesto, shopping for costumes Sunday at Party City on McHenry Avenue.

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Josiah, 16, was buying a ladybug costume for his sister, 2-year-old Kaitlynn. The cost: about $17.

That's more than the family spent on Kaitlynn last year, when she went as Cinderella. The toddler wore a dress (bought by mom, who figured she could wear it on other occasions) and a tiara.

But as kids get older, they're needs — wants? — can be more elaborate. The child who was once happy with a hand-me-down cowboy costume now has his heart set on being a Willie Wonka, a zombie doctor, a crew member from Star Trek, etc.

Just ask Andrea Acosta of Modesto. She and her son, Lucas, 8, on Sunday were in search of a stormtrooper costume.

Read the complete story at modbee.com

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