8 Ways to Save Money on Your Prom

I was probably not like many other girls in my class. I did not want to go to our prom. I wasn't dating anyone at the time, so I didn't think it would be too much fun and couldn't justify wasting money on something I didn't want to do in the first place. As I watched my mother's eyes well up with tears at the thought her only daughter would miss the prom, I reluctantly agreed to go, but only on MY terms, which meant spending as little money as possible. I managed to do it for less than $20 and so I'd like to share my tips with you.

1. Find a way to get a discounted ticket. If you are truly in a financial crunch, that $50-$100 ticket can be a big blow to your savings. Sometimes schools will allow discounts for group tickets purchased, so see if you can rally up with some other friends. If this is not an option, try talking to one of your favorite teachers or principal to see if they would consider waiving the fees for students who can't afford to go. Some prom committees will factor this in their budget. Another option is to take a collection up at school from the students or teachers for helping lower the prices of prom tickets or helping others who can't afford to get in. You could also offer to work for a neighbor or teacher at the school for the amount of a ticket if all other options fail.

2. Find your dress at the thrift store. I paid $4 for a gorgeous, long, silky, and dare I say sexy, red dress at our local Goodwill store. I had never worn a red dress before, and I know it wasn't in style at the time of my prom. But I looked good in it, it was formal, and I couldn't beat the price. The night of prom I attracted a lot of attention with that dress, getting compliments from people I never even talked to before! Only my best friend and I knew it was a $4 dress! Other girls probably paid nearly $200 on theirs!

3. Get your shoes at a big box retailer. I spent the most on shoes, for a $12 pair from Wal-Mart. They were sleek and no one even noticed them, let alone worried about how much I spent for them or where I got them!

4. Borrow your accessories. To accentuate my dress, I wore a pearl necklace that was my grandmother's. My friend lent me some hair clips that matched nicely with the pearls. Ask your friends and relatives if you can dig through their jewelry to find the right accessories. If they are worried about you losing them or forgetting to return them, offer one of your most prized possessions as collateral.

5. Have a Friend Do Your Hair. While your regular everyday hair do might be fine, if you want to look extra special for the big night, see if one of your friends can do your hair for you. Borrow a book from the library and practice doing different hairstyles on each other a few weeks in advance. This will save you $40 from having to go to the salon.

6. Forget the Limo. Many schools now provide bus transportation to and from prom to promote safety. If your school doesn't offer this, try seeing if you can persuade someone to drive you there and back instead. Some of my friends drove in a fancy classic Cadillac for the big night. I ended up driving myself with some friends - this was a lot less than the $60 it would cost to chip in for a limo!

7. Bring your own camera. The prom photographer can charge some hefty package rates on pictures. Bringing your own camera and capturing the moments yourself can save you another $35 on the big night.

8. Make your own corsage. If you can get flowers from your own backyard or a neighbor's garden, you can make your own corsage and save money and hassle from going to a florist. Alternatively, you can make your corsage from tissue paper, doing it for a fraction of the cost of live flowers.

I ended up having a great time at prom despite my initial reluctance. I saw many friends spend hundreds of dollars on the big night. By shopping carefully, making do with what you have, and not being afraid to go with your own style, you can do it for much less!