I've never bought a costume and the (total) cost is easily comparable to an overseas trip of the same length. The people I meet who do buy costumes are either

I've never bought a costume and the (total) cost is easily comparable to an overseas trip of the same length. The people I meet who do buy costumes are either a) putting on a literal show, like clowns in an audience or b) doing fashion photography out there. Thing is, you can be the clown or the fashion model without the costume, but you can't be the clown or fashion model without the actions. The costume is a tool to improve that goal.