How To Save Money On Prom Night

Prom can be a magical night for teenagers -- with tuxes, gowns and limos -- but it can also be very costly.

As many teenagers and their parents struggle to cope with the declining U.S. economy, spending money on the high school dance might not be in the budget.

But for those who still want to partake in the high school ritual, there are ways to attend the dance in style with breaking their -- or their parents' -- wallets.

Attire

For most girls, prom is all about the dress. Formal gowns can be pricey, but many stores and organizations are offering discounted to free dresses for teens this year.

One site, www.donatemydress.org, offers tips for where to find previously worn gowns. The site lists locations by state where people can drop off old gowns and where girls looking for dresses can then pick one up at a discounted price -- or even free in some cases.

One location that helps girls in need find a dress is the Fairy Dust Project in Florida. The organization collects dress donations and hosts Boutique Day during prom season for girls to shop for their gowns. According to the organization's Web site, each shopper must bring a student ID and sign up for an appointment, which they are allowed to attend with one female guest. Each girl is then assigned a "Fairy Dust Godmother," or a personal shopper, that will help then sort through the dresses. Once each girl finds the right gown she will then be able to select accessories to wear with it. The dress and all accessories are free.

Chicago's Glass Slipper Project also offers free gowns to girls. According to the organization's Web site, the Glass Slipper Project has helped more than 10,000 girls attend prom. Like the Fairy Dust Project, the Glass Slipper Project gives girls a free dress and accessories. It holds several boutiques throughout prom season during which Chicago high school students can select their attire.

There is also help for boys wanting to attend the prom. Many formal wear stores offer discounts on tuxedo rentals throughout the prom season, and one organization -- the Prince Charming project in Manatee County in Florida -- offers free tux rentals to students.

Hair

To save money on getting their hair done on prom night, high school girls could opt for a beauty school instead of a salon.

Salon services chain Ulta charges around $50 for a formal style, but going to a beauty school could cut that cost in half. The Aveda Institute charges about $30 for an up-do, and the Paul Mitchell schools charge about $27 for a formal style.

Flowers

When buying your prom date flowers for the big dance, consider other options before stopping at your local florist.

First, look at home. If there's a garden in your yard, consider snipping off a few blossoms for a corsage, boutonniere or small bouquet. Wild flowers could also make a nice bouquet.

If you want something professionally done, you might be able to stumble across a deal online. Otherwise, if you do go to a florist, try to select the cheaper flowers -- such as carnations -- when choosing your corsage or bouquet.

Transportation

To cut back costs on transportation, students should consider other options for rides aside from a limo.

One option is to have the students drive themselves. However, if they don't want to worry about parking and want the convenience of having someone else drive, they could get a parent to drop them off at the big dance, or consider getting a friend or relative to be their driver for the evening.

Dinner

One way to save money on dinner is to eat at home. The parents of one of the students in the prom party could host a dinner, either by themselves or with other students' parents donating dishes in a potluck fashion.

A progressive dinner would also get more parents involved, with students traveling to different houses for different courses of the meal.

Virginia newspaper Newport News also suggested getting take-out. A high school senior told the newspaper said she and her friends chipped in for an Olive Garden take-out meal, which cost about $5 per person.