It’s that time of year: pumpkins on porches, animal ears in store windows and Halloween costume tutorials all over social media. Everyone is talking about their favorite characters, planning their outfits and going in search of the perfect clothes to portray whatever they’ve chosen to go as this year. But buying new outfits can be costly and have unintended effects on our environment. Here’s why thrifting your Halloween costume is a much better idea.

For one, thrifting is a much more cost-effective option. As a high school student who is much too busy to find a well-paying job, I understand how difficult it can be to scrape together enough money for a whole new outfit, not to mention the many accessories that the more complicated costumes require. While prices range based on the curation of a thrift store’s items, you’re usually able to find high-quality, cute options for a much lower price than in store. There’s also the potential of finding items that are vintage or no longer on sale, making the selection much wider and much more distinctive.

Another thing to consider is that thrifting is much better for our world as a whole. Many less expensive brands have shifted towards “fast fashion,” employing people in countries with little labor protection to make cheap, low-quality clothing. These clothes often end up in landfills, and factories pollute the surrounding areas and contribute to climate change. Although it can be unavoidable at times to shop from these sorts of brands, thrifting cuts down significantly on waste and allows us to reuse rather than simply making more.

While thrifting can be a bit of a time commitment with no real guarantee that you’ll find what you’re looking for, it’s also a fun activity that goes beyond necessary shopping. Making a day of it can be a great way to spend time with friends and get out of the house, while continuing to save money and do your part for the planet. Plus, being a little flexible and DIYing some aspects of the costume is a fun way to get creative and end up with a truly unique outfit.

Some great thrift stores to try out around Robinson are Sunshine Thrift, Plato’s Closet, Avalon and Label Swap. If you’re willing to drive a little further, Tampa Thrift also usually has some good, cheap options. These range in price, quality and variety, but with this many options, you can surely find something useful and much less pricey.

So this year, when looking for clothing to portray whatever character, animal or spooky creature you’ve chosen, don’t head online or to your local mall. Instead, grab a pumpkin spice latte and head to the nearest thrift store for a cute, sustainable costume.