Prom season gets teenagers excited but fills their parents with worries. Between the clothing they wear, the food they eat before the dance and everything else they need, those expenses can definitely add up. This can leave you looking at your budget and crunching the numbers to determine what you can afford and what your teens will need to skip. Before your kids flip out over what their friends get that they don’t, you can look at some tips on how to best save money on all those expenses.
Party at Home
Many couples and groups head to fancy restaurants for dinner before prom, which can easily cost $100 or more. Most teenagers will want to head to an after party sponsored by the school that costs extra too. An easy way to save on costs is with parties that you host in your own home. Offer your teen’s friends the chance to come to your house for an elegant dinner before the big dance, and host an after party that starts when the dance ends. Other parents in the same financial boat as you will appreciate your offer.
Split Costs
The chances are good that other parents in your kid’s friend group feel the same way you do about the costs of going to prom. Get together with those parents to talk about how you can split some of the costs. If the teens want to rent a premier Chicago limousine to get to the dance, find out how much the total cost of the rental is and divide that cost among each couple or individual. You and some other parents can even split the cost of flowers and make your own corsages and boutonnieres for the guys and gals.
Save on Clothing
Paying for a brand new dress for your teen daughter can cost quite a bit of money, but there are a few ways you can save on the clothing your teen needs. If you live in a bigger city, you may have a company that rents formal wear. Renting a tuxedo or a dress that a teen will wear only once is much more affordable than buying a new outfit. You can also look for organizations that sell affordable formal wear and organizations that give away clothing to those in need. Using these tips lets your teen have an amazing evening that will not break the bank.
