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The high school prom, which is held for juniors and seniors, can be an exciting yet expensive event. While there are some prom expense items that you can save money on, some of the items you can't control the price of. Prom tickets, for example vary according to the location that the event is being held at. A simple prom could be held at your high school gym while fancier proms are held in a hotel ballroom or local nightclub.

LIMO AND DINNER

Limo rentals can be pricey too. Call a few companies in your area to get quotes as to how much they charge. If you rent a limo with one or more other couples you will save a significant amount of money of that prom expense. It is traditional to have dinner prior to enjoying the prom festivities. Most proms don't include dinner in the ticket price so you will have to figure in that cost into your total expense for the evening. Look for a nice, but not overly expensive restaurant to take your date to. A fast food restaurant is definitely not an option on this night when you are dressed in your finest fashion ensemble.

There are a number of areas where girls can save a lot of money on their prom expenses.

HAIR-MAKEUP-NAILS

Doin g your own hair, nails and makeup will save you a lot of money as opposed to going to separate businesses to get all these items taken care of. If you are a bit apprehensive about doing it all by yourself, you can get a friend or family member to help out. A compromise would be to do your own nails and makeup and splurge a little bit more on going to the salon to get your hair done.

PROM DRESS

Unfortunately, unlike tuxedo rentals for the boys, you can't rent a prom dress . Start your prom dress search a few weeks or months in advance of the event. You may be able to find a suitable dress on sale at the mall, department store or your favorite boutique.

If anyone in your family knows how to sew you can enlist their help in getting an unique, one-of-a-kind dress made just for you. Vogue, Butterick, Simplicity and McCall's all make a variety of lovely prom dress patterns. Check your local fabric store, such as JoAnn's Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics or So-Fro Fabrics, for a wonderful selection of prom dress patterns, fabrics and trims. A homemade dress will be an exact fit just for you and will be unlike any of the other prom dresses that the other girls will be wearing.

If you like funky, vintage designs, check out the thrift stores and consignment shops for gently used dresses. Often times a like-new bridesmaid dress can be altered into an unique design. Try altering the length of the hem, adding or subtracting trim/ribbon/lace, or even cutting off the sleeves, etc.

Utilizing one or more of these money saving tips will help your prom experience stay on budget.

Learn more about this author, Lynn Smythe.
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