How to Save Money on Prom Expenses: From Your Dress to the Limo

Prom can quickly add up to be a very expensive night for high school students! Learn how to save money on prom expenses with cost-cutting tips for prom dresses, tuxedos, accessories, his and her flowers, shoes, hairdos, makeup, nails, limo rentals and dinner.

Save Money on Prom Night by Involving Extended Family Members
(12 months in advance)

A new prom dress is costly, and even a rental tuxedo is not far behind. The same holds true for prom shoes. Save money on a prom dress (or tux) by getting grandparents, aunts and uncles to help with the expenses.

Plan out the budget early on and then actively pursue lawn mowing, painting and household chores at the various family members' homes in return for cash. Put the money into an interest-bearing account until it is time to buy the prom dress and shoes or rent the tux.

Save Money on Prom Limo Rentals
(3 weeks in advance)

High school kids travel in packs, and there is no reason why a group of them could not rent a limo. Spreading the rental expense between three couples makes the limo rental much more affordable.

Save Money on Prom Accessories, His and Her Flowers
(3 days in advance)

Check the dollar stores. They frequently carry flower arrangements and even though these bouquets may look like they're on their last legs, there are always some spectacular blooms to cull from them.

In the alternative, go to Costco with a couple of your friends and buy a nice, big and healthy-looking bouquet. Make a number of corsages from the blooms. Bill Ellis offers great tips in the article "How to Make a Corsage for Prom." Raid older siblings' or friends' leftover accessories and see if you can cobble together something stylish for this year's trends.

Save Money on Prom Hairdos, Makeup and Nails
(6 hours in advance)

Do you feel lucky? If so, why not head over to the local barber college or beauty school for a haircut and a manicure. In the alternative, there is always one of your friends' moms who is a whiz with hair and makeup. Don't be shy and don't be proud; looking great does not have to be expensive.

Save Money on Prom Dinner
(3 hours in advance)

Connect with other couples, pool funds, order in and set up a nice spread. A sit-down dinner at a restaurant is costly and doing it on the cheap has you sitting at Denny's in your finery. Instead, order in Subway or any other tasty food and have it delivered to one of the friends' homes. Decorate the home - enlist parental time and help - and have a fun prom dinner that won't break the bank.