BLOOMINGTON - Cathy Tabor has transformed into a thrifty shopper. That's why the Normal woman hit Bloomington's Mission Mart and Normal's BroMenn Thrift Shop for her Halloween costume. While there, she also bought clothes, including a $4.99 two-piece suit.

"I won't say I'm buying less. I'm just buying less expensive stuff," Tabor said. "You just have to stretch your buck."

As national economic problems mount, many Central Illinois residents shop for bargains and even try their hand at selling. As a result, thrift stores, resale shops and consignment businesses have seen a boost from college students to more middle- and upper-income families.

Sales are up 20 percent from a year ago at Bloomington's Mission Mart, said store manager Karen Oshinski. Business at all Mission Mart stores - with locations in Bloomington, Lincoln and Clinton - is up 9 percent, said Sabrina Burkiewicz, vice president of marketing and retail operations for Home Sweet Home Ministries, which operates the stores.

"More people are looking for the better deal," Oshinski said.

Mission Mart extended its hours more than a year ago and hired two or three more employees for both the Bloomington retail store and the receiving center. The local store is so busy that staff stock shelves before and after hours, Oshinski said.

Fortunately, donations also have increased, Oshinski said.

That trend could be because more people had garage sales this summer and donated what didn't sell, Burkiewicz said.

Area thrift stores rely on gently used community donations and raise money for charitable groups. Resale and consignment shops have buying agreements with consigners and stricter requirements for name-brand items that meet trends.

Eureka Et Cetera Thrift Shop is the busiest it's ever been, said store manager Shirley Kennell.

Kennell doesn't know how much of that increase is because of the economy, but the spike began in mid-August, earlier than the typical jump in mid-October, she said.

Normal's Goodwill shop has taken a slight hit in donations as sales have slightly increased, said manager Kim Funk.

People are holding onto their belongings longer while tight money situations have sent more people, particularly more college students, to the thrift store, she said.

Sales are flat at Fairbury thrift store Frugality NFP, but owner Traci Hassett notices more traffic at her Fairbury resale shop Once 'n Again, where September sales were up 10 percent. Once 'n Again also has a Pontiac location that opened in March.

New consigners also come to the stores daily, Hassett said.

The economy has motivated many more people to clean out their closets to try to earn cash at Cute as a Button in Bloomington, said co-owner Deanne Ziemer.

Interested sellers have been waiting outside the business' doors for the past two to three months, Ziemer said. The quality of items is even better this year, a sign that more middle- to upper-class people want to supplement their incomes, she said.

The increase in consigners has led to a slight increase in sales, too, as sellers notice the available bargains, she said.

The fact that resale shops generally are a hotter trend also draws in new customers at Once 'n Again, while the slowing economy both helps and hurts business.

"People who wouldn't have tried resale in the past are going to try it now," Hassett said. "On the other hand, the people who always shop resale may spend a little less."

Dianne McNamara, owner of the Cedar Chest in Lexington, agrees people have become more responsible about the environment and recycling. That habit carries over to resale clothing, especially as people give more thought to their finances, McNamara said.

"It's just like antiquing. It's the thrill of the chase to find a really good bargain," she said.

The promise of a bargain draws Joyce Klein of Normal into the Mission Mart. Shopper Ronald Durbin of Normal also is sure he'll find what he wants.

"They have some real good values," Durbin said.