FOR WEDNESDAY, I WROTE THE FIRST PART of a two-part column exploring cheap Halloween costume ideas for those people, like me, who have been either too lazy or too thrifty to pick up a Halloween costume.

Unfortunately, writing the first part of that column hasn̢۪t done much for me in terms of acting as some kind of catalyst to transform my laziness or my thriftiness. So, still, even today on the morning of Halloween, I don̢۪t have any kind of dress planned for tonight.

But, I am still looking.

I turned to the Internet again, looking in particular for a cheap and fast way to throw together a costume that would make me look like Pixar’s adorable star of “Ratatouille,â€Â Remy.

I guess I was a year too late. The industrial-sized box called for in the variousWALL-E outfits I found is probably cheaper anyway.

Since I wasn̢۪t completely happy with the results that I̢۪ve been getting in this search, I decided that it might be time to try my hand at coming up with costume ideas for myself.

So here̢۪s one option: show up at whatever Halloween party you̢۪re planning on frequenting dressed in street clothes.

Act casual — don’t show any sign of shame or embarrassment when three of your buddies dressed as the Joker give you funny looks for your apparent lack of effort and inspiration.

When somebody finally turns and asks, condescendingly, the inevitable question — “What are you supposed to be?â€Â — give that smug sap a death glare; you mean business.

Wait two beats before responding, and then, quietly and gently, tell them. “I’m a serial killer.â€Â

Creepy.

In keeping with my interests in wearing clothes you probably already have (and, really, in rejecting the normative traditions of Halloween costumes), I have a second proposal: dress in business attire.

Throw on your nicest skirt and blouse, or a suit and tie. Shine those shoes. Press the outfit if you have time.

When you show up at wherever you’re planning on showing up — if, indeed, you have plans to show up in any place at all — you probably won’t get the same strange looks as with my previous suggestion.

Just act confused and keep muttering under your breath, “I thought so-and-so meant something else when they told me to come dressed up.â€Â

Here̢۪s my last suggestion, though not exclusively mine: Get some foil and dress like a burrito.

It̢۪s cheap and you̢۪ll get free food at Chipotle.

A net gain, in the end.