How a Billings Thrift Store Trip Turned Into a Halloween Surprise

We sent our son off on a fall retreat with our church, and for the first time in a decade (yes, I’m so embarrassed to admit that), my husband and I found ourselves completely alone for a whole weekend. It felt strange after so many years of having a third person in the mix, so we decided to treat it like the gift it was and started by taking ourselves out to dinner.

Billings Kid-Free Weekend Turns Into a Bedroom Purge

After dinner, we got to work on our son’s room. We gutted it and organized it from top to bottom, and by the time we finished, we had a serious pile to donate. So we made a run to the thrift store.

I’ll admit that dropping off a donation and then wandering the aisles is a little silly. Nothing says purging like buying more stuff to purge. But we were already there, so we decided to take a peek.

Thrift Store Has a Halloween Costume Surprise

That’s where we found it: the most amazing and affordable Halloween costume I have seen in a long time, a squirrel.

Our son already had his Halloween plans figured out. He wanted to be Chewbacca in a business suit, and he'd tracked down a talking Chewbacca mask to wear with a suit. It’s a great idea, and we weren’t trying to talk him out of it. We just couldn’t walk away from the costume sitting right in front of us.

My husband tried it on in the middle of the store, a little sheepishly, while people waiting in line watched and giggled. That settled it. There was no way we were leaving without it. Even if our son hated it, which we doubted because he loves all animals, we figured it would be a tight fit for my husband, but we could make it work.

Squirrel Costume Gets a Chipmunk Nickname

Here’s what makes the costume even funnier to us. We know it’s supposed to be a squirrel, but we’re calling it a chipmunk, and there’s a reason.

Years ago, when our son was much younger, our church interviewed him for a fun Mother’s Day video. He was asked to finish the sentence “My mother is as cute as a...” and he joyfully blurted out, “CHIPMUNK!” To be fair, I am short and round, and I have big cheeks. What kid compares his mom to a chipmunk? Mine, that’s who.

Billings Boy Reacts to His Surprise Halloween Costume

We picked our boy up Sunday afternoon, and as soon as we got home, he made a beeline for his room. I wish you could have seen the joy on his face when he saw the costume. He dropped everything, put it on right then, and couldn’t stop smiling.

READ MORE: Money is Tight: 15 Thrift Stores to Check Out in Billings

Family Halloween Traditions Change as Kids Get Older

Halloween is a big deal in our house. We’ve always dressed up as a family and made our own costumes, and we’ve had such a blast doing it every year.

I don’t know how much longer our son will want to trick-or-treat, and that hurts my heart. He still loves us, but he’s also discovering who he is, and he doesn’t want us matching all the time anymore. I understand that, but for now, I’m grateful he still lights up over a surprise like this.

Thrift Store Donor Gets a Thank You for This Costume

To whoever donated this costume: thank you. We’re a frugal family, and we looked up the original price when we got home. There is no way we would ever have bought it new. Because you gave it a second life, a little boy in Billings got a Halloween surprise that made his whole season.

We’ll take excellent care of it, and when our son is done with it, we’ll make sure it goes to another happy new home.

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Billings Thrift Stores for Cheap Halloween Costumes

With Halloween coming up, this is a good reminder that you don’t have to spend a fortune to find something fun. Billings has some fantastic thrift stores, and the costume racks can hold real surprises if you take the time to look.

Not sure where to start? My friend Michael recently highlighted some stores in our area, and his list is a good place to start your search.