Hannah Montana hangs out here, and Bob the Builder, too - both sharing space with brides and hippies, rock stars and tourists, doctors and nurses. They’re all a dime a dozen on the racks of Goodwill stores.

“October is our busiest month at Goodwill stores,” said Lauren Lawson, representative of Goodwill Industries International. Not only do the stores carry new, packaged costumes for around $13, the rows and rows of clothing, shoes and boots, hats, belts, bags, linens and kiddie stuff need nothing but a bit of creativity to turn them into the coolest costumes on the street.

“With the economy this year, the state it’s in, no one wants to go out and spend $40 or $50 on something they’re going to wear exactly once,” said Juli Lundberg, a regional Goodwill representative. Plus, you’ll give to Goodwill’s good cause: job training programs for those who need help.

Need ideas? Try a few of these:

• Old prom gown? Make a gold cardboard Oscar statuette, pile your hair on top of your head and go as a red carpet winner. Or cut the dress down for a little girl’s princess costume.
• Argyle vest? White button-down shirt? Go prep!

• Hawaiian shirt? Straw hat? Find a pair of khakis or white pants, hang a camera around your neck and you’re a tourist, snapping photos all night of people like they were tourist attractions.
• A man’s black suit? Tiny black tie? Look for a hat, draw on that funny little mustache, brush up on your Charades and go as Charlie Chaplin.
• Fancy tablecloth? Glue it onto a square piece of cardboard, cut a head-size hole in the middle, attach some fake apples from the craft store at odd angles and go as a Cezanne still life
• Football jersey? Stuff those shoulders and go as a quarterback.
• Scrubs? Get a set that fits you, borrow a clipboard from the office and head to the toy store for a fake stethoscope.

• A million unmatched socks? Wear a gray pair of sweats, safety-pin socks all over yourself, and go as static electricity.
• Got a little Ninja at home? Find him or her an all-black outfit, and then tie red ties around appropriate places for a not-at-all mutant look.
• You found an old tie-dyed Grateful Dead shirt? You rock! Braid your hair the day before to get that fabulous ‘70s frizz, wear cool shades and you’re the very definition of groovy. Sequined mini? If you’re a stiletto girl, we dare you to muss up your hair and go as Tina.

It’s all there if you keep your eyes open when you’re wandering the aisles: everything you need to make Harry Potter, Sarah Palin or McDreamy come to life. (Most clothes range from 99 cents to a few dollars at most thrift stores.)

You can locate the nearest Goodwill at their Web site.

Oh, did we promise Hannah Montana? Grab a wig at one of the discount stores, and then look at Goodwill for a sparkly top or cami, a little jeans jacket thrown over the top, skinny jeans, a metallic belt looped around your waist a time or two, and a bunch of dangly silver stuff around your neck. It’s showtime.

All photos from Central Texas Goodwill.