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March 2, 2010
Amanda Nava
With prom around the corner, everyone is worrying so much about getting a date that they forget dresses and boutonnieres don’t fall from the sky. The prices of required items are easily overlooked until the last moment. Some students go all out in the event, while others are thriftier.
Going all out means buying a new dress, new shoes, and getting hair and nails primped by a professional. This is what junior Dylan Francisco did for the past two years she attended prom.
“Last year, I spent $100 on my hair, $50 on nails, about $70 to $80 on my dress, $40 on shoes, $25 on my boyfriend’s boutonnieres, $70 for the limo I shared with my friends and $20 for flowers that were weaved into my hair,” Francisco said.
Francisco’s corsage cost around $25 to $30 dollars because it was decorated with jeweled designs and made with orchids. Choosing a different flower, like a rose and excluding the jewels on the corsage can cut the price down $10.
This brings the total amount of money Francisco spent to $350, not including the ticket that her date purchased.
People who want to go all out on prom should expect to pay around $300 to $400. Hair can range from $30 to over $100 depending on the hair style chosen and the place you go to. Manicures range from $20, if you get a simple French manicure, to $70, if you want intricate designs. Dresses and shoes vary depending on the style and the store. The prices on both items can be as drastic as $10 to $100. Suits can be $500 at specialty stores. Limos charge by the hour so if a limo company charges $80 an hour and you’re gone for four hours, then you have to pay $320 for a limo that you’re not even using the entire time.
There’s no need to get intimidated by the numbers. There are cheaper ways to obtain prom necessities. Some stores offer specials right before prom allowing students to buy everything they need without spending a large amount of money on attire alone. If you’re unsure if the store offers any prom specials or sales, just ask!
“I got [my tux and tie] from Sears,” senior Robert Schafhirt said. “There’s a deal at Sears that you get the whole thing for $35.”
Other ways to save money on prom is to do your own hair and makeup. If you know a beautician or one that is in training, they can practice makeup and hair techniques on you. Make sure that they practice before prom so you can see whether or not you like it.
The real trick to saving money on prom is to look at several places before purchasing something. Even if you like a corsage at one shop, you may find that you love a different corsage at a different shop for $10 cheaper. This requires you to look for prom items early on so you don’t feel pressured to buy the first thing that you see in order to have the essentials on time for prom.
Some purchase more than one item and pick the one that feels right to wear the day of prom. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you do buy duplicate items, a simple way to get your money back is to return them. Otherwise, they will most likely reside in your closet forgotten and unworn. Keep your receipts so that you are able to return the things that you didn’t use. It may make you feel frugal, but when you get back hundreds of dollars, saving receipts won’t seem like a waste of time anymore.
