Crush Prom on a Budget – 5 Ways to Save
No prom-goer wants to arrive at the dance wearing the same dress as someone else, so alternative options like consignment shops, Etsy.com, and eBay.com offer more unusual styles at an affordable price. Of course, shopping online requires extra time for shipping and consignment shopping can be hit or miss, so these strategies also require extra lead time.
Allow ample time for dress shopping. Jane Behre, a high school junior in New Hope, Penn., bought her prom outfit for just under $80. It included a $50 long black dress on sale at jcpenney and a pair of Christian Siriano shoes at Payless for $29.
If you opt to buy a dress instead of renting, recoup some of that investment by reselling it on eBay or at a consignment shop. When Foss’ daughter moved away to college, the pair sifted through her formal dresses and earned about $2,200 by consigning them.
Friends and family members can be a huge help in prepping for prom. Behre’s younger sister has a knack for makeup, so she’ll likely have her makeup done at home instead of going to the cosmetics counter at a department store. For transportation, car-pooling or sharing the costs of a limo or party bus help ease the financial load.
If your teen insists on dining out, Foss suggests using credit-card rewards points to pay for the restaurant tab. Alternately, he or she could pay for the meal out of savings from babysitting or a part-time job, which is what Ingram will suggest if her daughter wants to splurge on a fancy dinner or a limo.
If you opt to buy a dress instead of renting, recoup some of that investment by reselling it on eBay or at a consignment shop. Instead of reselling it after the dance, she’ll have it shortened so she can wear it for less-formal occasions and get more mileage out of the dress.
Behre has other plans for her long black dress. Instead of reselling it after the dance, she’ll have it shortened so she can wear it for less-formal occasions and get more mileage out of the dress. Swapping dresses with a friend for a future dance is another cost-cutting option.
Digital cameras and camera phones have made professional prom photos all but obsolete for many people. Rather than posing against a cheesy sunset or curtain backdrop, prom-goers can snap photos of each other on the dance floor, in front of the school mascot, or at a park or other setting before the dance.
Shortly, high schoolers throughout the country will don tuxes or bejeweled dresses for this classic rite of passage. Those fancy outfits and the flowers that accompany them don’t come cheap. Visa’s 2011 Prom Spending Survey found that families spent an average of $807 on prom costs, including attire, flowers, transportation, and tickets.
Shortly, high schoolers throughout the country will don tuxes or bejeweled dresses for this classic rite of passage. No prom-goer wants to arrive at the dance wearing the same dress as someone else, so alternative options like consignment shops, Etsy.com, and eBay.com offer more unusual styles at an affordable price. Some brick-and-mortar boutiques also offer dress rentals for a fraction of the full retail cost.
Instead of dining at a fancy restaurant before the dance, consider hosting a pre-prom gathering at home. Several years ago, when Barb Freda’s teenage son attended prom in Louisville, Ky., a group of parents and teens gathered at one family’s house for a pre-prom potluck dinner.
If that number has you clutching your wallet in panic, here’s how to keep costs down without ruining the fun.
Of course, if your high schooler has a flair for creating the perfect smoky eye or stylish updo, those skills could prove profitable this time of year. Behre’s mom, Leah Ingram, a frugal living blogger, says her younger daughter has gotten so many complements on her makeup skill that she’s encouraging her to market herself to students at other schools.
Nowadays, guys aren’t the only ones who can rent prom attire. Foss suggests sites like RenttheRunway.com, a Netflix-like service that rents designer dresses and accessories for as little as $50. Some brick-and-mortar boutiques also offer dress rentals for a fraction of the full retail cost.
Have a Great Night!
Frank, DJ Otto
www.DJOtto.com
(724) 417-4567