When one of my four daughters says the word Prom, it strikes dread into my heart. I dislike proms for a number of reasons but the one that I will concentrate on here is the cost. A small fortune is spent every year by teenagers across the nation to go to the prom. A 2001 study done in North Dakota says the average cost of proms were $600 per couple. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/money/news/2002%20spring.pdf I have to admit that completely baffles me and makes me nauseous.
Prom costs more for the girls than the boys. The dress alone runs over $100. So, what is a girl and a very annoyed parent to do??? Below are some suggestions for lowering the costs.
First, the dress.
Free options: The Elkton United Methodist Church is running a free Prom boutique. The boutique is open from 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays in room 29 on the upper level of the church off Main Street. Donations are being accepted too.
The other free option is to borrow a dress from someone else. May as well give the dress more than one night of life.
Next best option: Check the Elkton Goodwill and local consignment shops. You may find a cheap gown and just need cleaning costs. Here is my article and it may help to locate the shops:
http://fltayg.blogspot.com/2009/02/thrift-and-consignment-shops-in-and.html
Next is shop a week or two before the event. That is when the sales happen. My daughter found a $190 dress on sale for $106 a week before her prom two years ago.
Or shop at Fancy Formal Boutique, 117 Ryan Dr Rising Sun, Phone: 658-5477. They have many gowns in the latest fashions for a lower price than you will find in the regular department stores.
Nails and hair can be done at a local beauty school for a much smaller price than a salon.
Schilling Douglas School of Beauty in Newark does updoes without a shampoo for $14. http://www.schillingdouglas.com/
The Delaware Academy, Paul Mitchell Partnership school, is located in Newark also.
http://www.thedelawareacademy.com/html/index.cfm
IBS is in Bel Air
http://www.ibs-belair.com/
(Disclaimer: I haven’t tried any of these and this is not a recommendation on the quality of the school.)
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