Proms and Dances on a Budget 2011

Prom shopping is that time of year when a stay-at-home dad may feel a bit out of his element. No matter what your daughter tries to tell you, prom is important to her and she wants to look her best. Shopping for prom dresses, accessories and shoes can break a budget in less than an hour. She wants to look beautiful, but that does not mean breaking the bank. Stay at home dads can shop for prom with a budget in mind and allow her to make beautiful choices with a few helpful tips.

Shopping at Discount, Thrift, and Second Hand Stores

For a fraction of the retail cost, stay at home dads can help her choose a dress far outside of the budget by shopping second hand goods. There is a negativity that surrounds second hand shopping, but one that is slowly changing. If she knows the dress will be cleaned and pressed before the dance she may feel better about second hand shopping for prom. In addition, stay at home dads can reassure her about the choice by offering a new pair of shoes and fabulous accessories to go along with the thrift store prom find.

Shop Off-Season

Prom dress prices sharply increase from April until late May. Instead of breaking the bank with a new dress during the most popular prom shopping season, why not take her shopping for a prom dress in the beginning of the year, or the summer before her senior year. Classic dress styles never go out of style and clearance prices on stylish dresses will allow her to find a deal for less money than she would any other time of year.

Order Online Prom Dresses Direct

Several companies offer one-of-a-kind prom dresses for rock bottom prices. VPonsale.com, for instance, specializes in bridesmaids and wedding dresses, but prom style dresses are available as well. This website takes orders for dresses based on body size and thus each dress is created to perfectly fit the prom diva. Stay at home dads can then take her out to shop for matching shoes and accessories after the dress arrives.

Borrowing from a Friend

Too many girls buy dresses for prom and wear them only once. Stay at home dads can talk with other at home parents about borrowing prom dresses. A borrowed prom dress cuts out the new dress cost and allows her more time to pick the best accessories. If the dress is a bit plain, a local seamstress may be able to cut a little her and take up a little there to create a completely new dress (with the friend's permission of course).

This year, when prom rolls around, stay at home dads can help her shop for the best dress and save a little money in the process. The idea is to give her the freedom she needs to feel great while saving a little money on the bottom line. Prom is important, but it is only one night.