For many high schoolers, looking good at homecoming is just as important as having a good time. Lots of students find ways to have a memorable time without spending too much. Many girls and guys have found ways around an expensive outfit by shopping secondhand at places such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Plato’s Closet. Although others find it okay to spend more for this special night.

Dresses – According to a poll taken on Twitter, 23% of Johnston students plan to spend over $150 on the outfit itself. “The most I’ve ever spent was sophomore year,” Caroline Ginsberg ‘19 said. “My mom bought it for me, it’s this blue Sherri Hill dress and it was $500.” Sherri Hill is a red carpet designer that specializes in prom and homecoming dresses, with prices ranging from $200 to $1000 dollars.

Discounted- In contrast, 43% of students are planning on spending less than $50. They are doing this by wearing an old dress, borrowing from a relative or a friend, and thrifting. Serienity Gladney 21′ is one of these students. “I got my dress from Fashion Nova for about $32,” Gladney said. “Because it’s my first year I think it’s okay to splurge a bit, but $80 is the maximum I would spend any year.”

Tux- Tuxedos don’t usually come to mind as an expensive item for homecoming, but a tux rental for one night can cost up to $100, depending on the type and where the rental is from. It’s not uncommon for guys to skip the tuxedo and go for a button down shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. Ethan Ung ‘20 has bought a new outfit in the past for homecoming, but chose not to this year. “If you were to buy every item brand new, the price would easily go over $100. Even for a good dress shirt, the price is usually $80.” Ung said.

Makeup- For many girls, makeup is a necessity for school dances. Some girls are happy to do it at home, but others prefer to spend the extra money and have it done by a professional. At an average M.A.C. or Bobbi Brown counter, makeup usually costs $50 for a full face.

Discounted- Makeup-savvy students have found ways to profit from this cost by charging less for the same service, such as Ginsberg. “I always do my own makeup, I also do friends’ makeup sometimes.” Ginsberg said. “I can make a couple $20 here and there from doing that.”

Accessories- Spending money on brand new jewelry, clutches, and shoes can be avoided by using something already owned, though some students are fine with that extra cost. . Shoes on average for guys and girls can cost anywhere from $30-$80, while jewelry from a place such as Francesca’s can cost over $40. Ties range from $20 to $30 dollars, depending on the place.

Discounted- The smaller expenses can add up fast. The solution to this is to borrow from someone else, re-wear, or purchase secondhand. The items might not be as liked as something that could have been purchased brand new for more, but they work for one night.

Dinner/Transport- Homecoming dinner is a given for most. A reservation for a group is made two or three weeks in advance. Dinner for one varies from place to place, at a more expensive place dinner can be $50 for one person, otherwise at different places dinner can be relatively cheap. If a guy chooses to pay for his date’s food, this increases the cost for him as well.

Transportation isn’t as much of an expense as other aspects of homecoming. Some students go all out and rent a party bus or a limo, while others are perfectly fine with driving their own car. Uber and Lyft now offer less expensive alternatives, however, Uber and Lyft can rack up some money as well. For an Uber XL, a trip from Jordan Creek to JHS costs $25. Where as a party bus can cost $200 to $500 per hour.

Looking at the general cost of each Homecoming category, it is easy to see that this can burn up someones budget quick. If a student doesn’t have the extravagant amounts of money to spend on other items, there are opportunities to spend less for the same thing. Although, in the end the photos and dancing of the night makes up for this seemingly extensive spending.