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Prom can be a pricey endeavor. From limos to dresses, from shoes to tickets, it can cost a pretty penny to get everything ready for the big night.
That said, there is definitely a way that you can do prom on the cheap and still have things be as glamorous as ever. It usually just takes a little bit of work and patience to hunt for sales and get everything squared away while sticking to your budget during your prom preparation.
But let’s be honest, us lazy girls want immediate satisfaction and zero effort. Well, there are still definitely ways to do prom on a low-budget… like, a very low budget. While I can’t promise the same results as a plan that’s been put in place for weeks and weeks leading up until prom, here are ten ways to have the effortless and cheap prom of your dreams.
Achieve Big Hair
Big hair is a fun look for prom, so instead of spending hours with the curling iron and emptying cans of hairspray, just quit washing your hair in those two weeks up to prom. Not only will you save money on your usual shampoo and conditioner, but as it becomes more of a tangled, gnarly mess, you'll basically have the big beehive (or is it birds nest?) hair you've always wanted for prom without salon prices. Source: Shutterstock.comDelicious Makeup
Makeup can be pricey, but really what is it more than just adding a little decoration to your face? For a low-cost option, just don't be so picky when you're eating pre-prom. That blue cake frosting will totally make your eyes pop and that juice lingering around your mouth will make for wonderful lipstick. You get to be a messy eater and have a colorfully adorned face in one? Nailed it. Source: Shutterstock.comGet Social Media Savvy
So there's this trend of people posting their prom dress pictures online so nobody wears the same dress, right? Well once your friend buys her non-refundable gown, casually mention how you think you saw someone from school post that exact same one. Okay, you may need to create a fake profile to "prove" this is a "true" story, but when she goes out to buy a brand-new prom, she surely won't let that "duplicate" dress go to waste. Oh, did you want a free prom dress for being such a good friend? Why sure! Source: Shutterstock.comDIY Glitter Everywhere
You could delicately glue individual sequins onto a dress for DIY glam, but let's speed up the process. Just totally dunk a plain dress you have lying around into a big vat of glue, then roll it into a big pile of glitter. That's basically how glitter clothes get made, right? Make sure you time it perfectly so you're not completely drenched in glue when you put on the dress, but it also hasn't dried in a hard slab of fabric that rains glitter everywhere and has no arm holes any more. Sources: Shutterstock.com (Glue & Glitter)The Art Of Draping
Pull a Maria von Trapp, and use the fabric you have hung up as your curtains as ready-to-go dress fabric. If I've learned anything from Project Runway, it's that draping is very elegant, so just figure out a way to envelope yourself in that fabric (maybe shake out the dust first) and you'll surely have a very elegant, no-sew prom dress. Be like Maria and then make outfits for eight of your friends, too! Source: Shutterstock.comA Chauffeur Alternative
Can't afford a limo for prom? That doesn't mean you still can't have a driver! Conveniently forget to put gas in the car and realize you need to call a tow truck in order to get to prom. It's basically like having a chauffeur, without needing to book that limo in advance! Source: Shutterstock.comCorsage Chic
Corsages and boutonnieres are deceptively expensive. While we have a fabulous tutorial for a DIY corsage, you can make things even cheaper by just getting creative with your greens. Cauliflower sort of looks like a blooming flower, so just stick last night's leftovers on your wrist for a low-cost corsage. Pull a dandelion up at the roots to pin on as a guy's boutonniere - I mean, a little dirt won't hurt! All free. Source: Shutterstock.comRock Some Rocks
Definitely brag about all the "rocks" you'll be wearing to prom. Sure, people might think you mean giant, blinged-out gems, but no, just really bring some literal rocks. They are way cheaper (just grab a few in your driveway), plus you'll look totally unique. Glue a couple to a chain and you have a glam necklace and I bet nobody will be able to tell the difference between your rocks and your friend's giant diamond earrings. Source: Shutterstock.comGlide In Style
Why buy shoes for prom if they'll be hidden under a long dress? The solution is to rock those old inline skates you have laying your basement. They're free, you'll get the same height as your heels and it minimizes how much you'll have to move your feet around on the dance floor (hooray for laziness!). Plus, you'll literally look like you are gliding across the room and that's pretty much the ultimate goal in pageantry. Such an elegant, low-cost choice. Source: Shutterstock.comBe A Trendsetter
Just skip all the fanfare and wear your regular digs to prom. That cuts down on your time spent prepping (time is money, people!) and people will probably see you as an avant-garde trendsetter. Plus, if you went for a real cheap prom and didn't even buy a ticket, it'll be easy to stealthily get into the dance if you're wearing regular clothes and not a poofy dress. Source: Shutterstock.comHow much money are you planning to spend on prom? Want are some real ways that you think you can save money on prom this year? Tell us in the comments!
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