CEDAR FALLS --- A refrigerator box, bungee cords and plenty of duct tape have kept Lori Kluber the life of the party for the past two decades.

Thanks to her award-winning tandem roller coaster suit, the Cedar Falls woman has pulled in more than $35,000 in costume contest money since she first crafted the ensemble in the '80s. The outfit's success is a credit to Kluber's ingenuity, and with Halloween just around the corner, she hopes her story inspires others to bypass the costume shop.

"If you have a vision, go for it," she said. "You normally see the same things every year, but if you make something yourself, people stand back and pay attention. They laugh."

Whether aiming for guffaws or gasps, the building blocks for a killer costume already may be tucked away in your closet. Pipe cleaners, bubble wrap --- even this newspaper --- can play a role in Halloween handiwork. If you still need inspiration, area thrift stores offer aisles of potential disguises at low prices.

"It's kind of like anarchy in our stores around now because you see guys walking around in wedding dresses and women in tuxedos," said Star Rupe, vice president of operations for Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa. "People put anything and everything together. If they can imagine it, we can put it together."

Mechanics' uniforms, fringe leather jackets, skinny ties, funny hats, wigs and polyester pants are popular items, she said. Props --- including toy swords, tiaras, jewelry and make up --- also are available. Goodwill features special Halloween racks and carries several used children's costumes, said Rupe, but she encourages shoppers to scan the whole store.

"We put out thousands of items every day," she said. "They are bound to find something."

Visits to dollar stores and craft outlets also can help revelers stretch their buck.

"It'll get a little busier the week before (Halloween)," said Lori Sliekers, who works in the fabric department of Waterloo's Crossroads Hobby Lobby. "They buy a lot of tulle, for the tutus, and muslin and cording, for the togas."

The resulting creations are cheaper, a selling point for many cash-strapped customers this scare season. According to a recent study by the National Retail Federation, Americans are planning to spend 15 percent less on Halloween this year as compared to 2008, with nearly 17 percent of those surveyed planning to make their own costumes.

No matter what the reason, Kluber is excited to welcome more crafters to the do-it-yourself club.

"A lot of times you have stuff just laying around the house, waiting to be used," she said. "You just need to bring the creativity."