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| The Basics | Prom night for less
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Some couples will spend $1,000 on the basics -- fancy duds, a nice dinner and a white limousine. But your prom souvenir shouldn't be a credit card bill.
By Liz Pulliam Weston
High school junior Silver Feldman is on board with her parents' plans to contain the cost of her prom. Pretty much, anyway.
Silver, 16, knows some of her fellow students at La Canada High School in Southern California go way overboard when it comes to the annual formal. A limo isn't good enough; they spring for a stretch Hummer. A pedicure and manicure won't do; they pay for daylong spa and beauty sessions. Some of the girls spend more on their dresses than their mothers did on wedding gowns.
Silver's parents, Beverly and Tom, are into the voluntary simplicity movement that urges people to reduce unnecessary consumption. They've encouraged her to have a girlfriend over so they can do each other's hair and makeup, which Silver thinks will be fun. She's also willing to track down inexpensive accessories or borrow her mother's jewelry.
But she's thumbs down on the idea of borrowing a prom dress from another girl or using the one purchased for a previous dance.
"I don't know anyone who would have the right dress or have my size," Silver says. "The dress has got to be right not extravagant, more elegant."
It can be a $1,000 night
Figuring out where to scrimp -- and where to splurge -- is the key to a memorable prom night that doesn't bankrupt yourself or your parents. But teen-agers face daunting costs when they're trying to come up with a budget.
It's not just the clothes, and the primping, and the ride. The tickets alone can be more than $100 a couple. Then there's dinner and flowers and photos -- plus the after-party to think about. It's a lot of money for a single night.
"We're all for being appropriate to the occasion and having a great time," said Silver's mom Beverly, who runs a teleprompting service. "What we're trying to avoid is the wretched excess."
How much the typical prom costs depends on how you define "typical." A researcher at North Dakota State University found couples in that Midwestern state spent an average $509 on the prom in 2004, with girls shouldering $296 and boys $213. Parents footed all the bills for more than a quarter of prom-goers, research found.
Want to see how quickly costs can add up? See our prom interactive here.
Your Prom magazine said its poll of national readers, which includes teens in pricier places, found the average price tag was over $1,000, with boys spending $545 and girls $530.
Here are the major categories of prom-night spending, along with suggestions about keeping costs in line:
The clothes
Guys aren't the only ones who can rent their clothes for the evening; some of the shops that provide bridal and prom wear also have rentals.
Whether you rent or buy, start shopping early so you won't be rushed into an expensive, last-minute choice. Check the sale rack at bridal stores and consider online outlets. Don't rule out a custom-made dress. Depending on the style and material, you might be able to get a one-of-a-kind creation for less than you'd spend off the rack.
Make sure to budget for everything, including shoes, jewelry (cufflinks, guys?), lingerie and accessories.
When money's really tight: Some communities have prom dress exchanges, where cash-strapped girls can choose from a selection of donated gowns. (Chicago and Sacramento, for example, both have exchanges called Cinderella's Closet; in Philadelphia, it's called Fairy Godmothers Inc.) If there's no such option in your community, consider asking friends, neighbors or high school counselors for leads on gently used gowns you might be able to borrow.
Buff and fluff
It's common at many schools for girls to pop for several weeks of tanning sessions before the prom. That's an expensive choice that's lousy for the skin, as well. If you're after more than a healthy glow, consider a spray-on tan either at home or using one of the salon systems, like Mystic Tan.
For nails and hair, beauty schools are a cheap, well-supervised alternative to a regular salon's high prices.
When money's really tight: Host a manicure/pedicure party at home and keep your hair simple. "Up-do's" don't look that great on everyone, anyway.
Flowers
Girls might be able to get away with a rose from the garden (their own or a neighbor's) to use as a boutonniere, but corsages are trickier to assemble so -- sorry guys -- you'll probably have to make that trip to the florist. You can keep the cost down by sticking with locally-grown, in-season flowers.
When money's really tight: Carnations are an inexpensive and very traditional choice.
Is getting there half the fun?
It's possible to spend more on a ride to the prom than on anything else; an evening's rental runs $300 to $400, plus tip.
Actually, a lot of teen-agers have the right idea: Rent a limo together and split the cost. It isn't cheap, but it's not as stunningly expensive as a four-hour rental for one couple.
"Ten kids will pile in, and that gets the cost down to $30 to $50 per kid," said Lynne Nolan, dean of student activity for Naperville Central High School in Illinois.
When money's really tight: Really, any car will get you there.
The fancy restaurant
If dinner isn't included in your ticket price, think of alternatives to the white-linen mausoleums that make everybody nervous -- and a lot poorer. A barbecue at home or a picnic at the beach would be a refreshing alternative (provided you get rid of the sauce stains or the sand before the dance).
If you decide to go the traditional restaurant route, skip the mocktails and the dessert to keep the bill down. You can have the limo stop at Baskin-Robbins afterward if you really need your sugar fix.
When money's really tight: Go with a big group of friends to the cheesiest fast food place you can find.
The memories
Professional prom photos are pricey, but you don't need to go for the most expensive package. You really only need two to four of the larger-size photos, plus maybe some wallet shots. If your relatives want their mantelpieces adorned, your mother can make copies of the pictures she took of you and your date at the bottom of the stairs.
When money's really tight: Skip the formal photos altogether. The most memorable photos won't be the formal posed ones, anyway; they'll be the candids you and your friends take with your own cameras.
The after-party
The bash continues in a hotel room or at somebody's parent's house. Kids in the Chicago area often make a weekend of it, Nolan said, heading to an amusement park or a lakeshore cabin. A locale you don't have to rent will be the thriftiest option; you also won't end up paying for a bunch of party-crashers, which is almost inevitable when people hear you've got a hotel room set aside.
When money's really tight: A romantic walk by the lake is always an option, and so are co-ed sleepovers at somebody's house. Another option: simply going home. Your mom and dad will thank you.
Liz Pulliam Weston's column appears every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions in the Your Money message board.
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