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How To Prom On A Budget

How can you save money on Prom this year?

Knya Dellit, Reporter • May 8, 2025

A teen boy adjusts his tie while he looks out into the distance. Many teenagers attend prom each year and it is looked forward to by many.

Let’s be honest, Prom can add up quickly: the dress, the shoes, dinner, tickets, and activities after prom. It can all be overwhelming and honestly exhausting, but as someone who has already gone to prom three times and is gearing up for her fourth time going, I am here to help you out.

Waterloo is a very diverse community, and with this comes very diverse financial situations; some people may be much more prepared for the costs of prom than others. But no matter what situation you’re in, we would all love to save a little money here and there. Saving money for larger events, especially prom, can be difficult. There are lots of expectations and standards that society has for people who attend prom, which can become costly very quickly.

According to a study done by VISA, the average prom attendee can spend up to 900 dollars on one individual. Cost is something that has only become more and more of a barrier for students in recent years. Due to these barriers, the number of students going to prom has decreased throughout high schools across the country. Thankfully, there are many ways to not only avoid this from happening here at West, but we can also take individual steps to help others and make sure everybody can go to prom.

How To Prom On A Budget?

An array of many different styles of prom dresses. Many people look forward to prom and spend hours upon hours trying to find the perfect outfit for the big day. (Mihaela Claudia Puscas)

Attire

Finding the perfect prom dress/suit is key; you want to find something that you feel confident in while also not spending too much on an overpriced outfit you may only wear once. Thankfully, there are so many stores even within Waterloo that can help you out with this. Sometimes thrift stores like Goodwill, Stuff Etc., and even some local thrift stores like One Vision and Square One have selections of prom dresses. Facebook Marketplace is also a good place to look. Usually, these selections are very small or picked through but if you go earlier than your peers, you may find a diamond in the rough.

Now, in-person shopping is not for everybody. Looking online in the sale sections of bigger department stores like Macy’s, Von Maur, and Dillards are great options to get a good-quality dress for a bargain price. There are also many online stores that have prom dresses for cheaper but shop these sites with discretion because many of these sites have been known to be scams, so shop wisely.

After you find the perfect dress, you need to make sure it fits just right with the help of alterations. There are lots of seamstresses’ within the Waterloo area that you can find through friends, family, or even by looking on Instagram and Facebook. If the adjustments are minor enough, you may even be able to just look up a tutorial on TikTok or YouTube and do it yourself for free!

Finally, everything is all in order, but you need to accessorize. Your first stop is going to be the closets of women within your family and close friends; sometimes these people will have leftover jewelry from their weddings, their proms, or other formal events. Now, this may not work for everybody, but stopping at thrift stores or other bargain places for jewelry, shoes, and bags can be a good choice too. Some good local places to check out are Ross: Dress For Less, TJ Maxx, local thrift stores, and Plato's Closet.
Eyeshadow sits alongside three makeup brushes under the sunlight. (geehairimages)

Beauty Services

Even though you may have saved on your prom outfit, the beauty services can add up very quickly as well. Finding people who will do this for you for free or for very little cost can be a good way as well. For example, maybe if a friend helped you do your makeup for prom, then you will buy them lunch or you could pay them a lower price than you would a professional.

Another chance to save money but also support our locals is by taking advantage of the businesses that students at West High may have. There are plenty of students who do hair, nails, makeup, and waxing services, and sometimes they even have prom discounts. Be sure to reach out to those students if you have questions about what services they provide or if you have trouble paying. Many of them are great people who would love to help a fellow student go to prom.

If you end up having to do these things yourself, opt for good-quality products at a lower price. This will ensure that your makeup and hair look cohesive and clean without spending too much money on overpriced products. You can find tutorials on how to do different types of hair and makeup on YouTube and TikTok. I would suggest doing a trial run a week or two before prom and then going light on the makeup and on the hair a week or so before prom to make sure that everything is planned out and you have a clean and healthy base to work with.
A group of friends sit down to eat a meal together.

Dinner

Whether you are attending with a date or a group of friends, it can be difficult to find a place that will accommodate larger groups at a fair price.

Many restaurants will automatically add a gratuity to your check, or may not have the availability for a large group of people. If going with many people, be sure to call ahead to have the best luck in having a good dinner before the prom.

Along with availability, cost can become an issue very quickly as well. In recent years, some students have opted for fast-food restaurants instead, like McDonald's or Chick-fil-A.

It can also be smart to opt for a potluck style meal, or eat at home for a cheaper price, you could even go to the park and have a picnic.
A teen boy adjusts his tie while he looks out into the distance. Many teenagers attend prom each year and it is looked forward to by many. (Michael’s Limosuine)

Miscellanous

A few other things to keep Prom less pricey would be:

Borrowing a camera from a family friend, or finding someone who is willing to help you out for free or at a very low price. Opting for fake flowers and simple props for photos will help this as well. Keeping your props minimal and intentional so that your personality can shine through in your pictures.

The last thing that may help out with the costliness of this event is carpooling. Not only is it more fun to hang out with friends and make memories driving together it can also save you a little money because you will save some gas.

Opting for just buying the prom tickets and hosting a function at someone's house can help with the cost as well.

Now that you have all the tools to not only make this the best prom ever but also make it the most cost-friendly prom as well. Prom is in the midst of May, one of those times of the year when it seems like everything is happening all at once. Taking routes that can save just a little bit of money can make all of our lives easier and make everyone happy in the end.

Saving money for prom looks different for everybody; some would rather splurge on a dress, while others may choose to rent out a car or plan an extensive after-prom activity. Thankfully, this is an experience that is fully customizable; there is no one-size-fits-all solution, which is where the beauty lies. Having friends and family help you throughout the getting-ready process and helping you make your arrangements for prom can lead to some pretty memorable moments, which you will learn to cherish and love later in life.

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About the Contributor

Knya Dellit, Reporter

(She/her) Knya Dellit is a Senior at West High and this is her first year on the Wahawk Insider staff. She is also involved in theater, band and choir. Outside of Wahawk Insider you can find her in the community advocating for foster kids, in a good book or listening to Harry Styles or Gracie Abrams.