• I worked at Spirit Halloween for three years and saw many customers make the same mistakes. • I always encouraged shoppers to invest in high-quality pieces they can reuse year after year. • Many customers forgot to check Halloween makeup for irritants and allergens.

Halloween has always been more of a lifestyle than a holiday for me, much to the chagrin of my husband and family.

Although I worked at Spirit Halloween — the seasonal chain known for taking over empty storefronts — for three years, I've been a longtime customer and have even joked that the store was created just for me.

Here are nine mistakes I saw customers make while shopping for their costumes and seasonal decor at the popular Halloween chain.

Going straight for the lowest price instead of investing in quality pie

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