written by Bryce McGillivray 

 Prom can be one of the most important events in your high school experience — a special night to look forward to for months beforehand. For some people, though, prom can seem like just another reason to worry and feel stressed out. Even people who are looking forward to it can feel anxious.

The expenses of prom seem to overwhelm not just females but males as well. Females are expected to have their hair done, a new dress, new shoes, etc. but how far can you take prom until your pockets are empty. The average cost for a dress is anywhere from $50 to $400.

At what point does the cost get to outrageous?

 On the contrary, males who attend prom get off a bit easier and are most likely to spend at most $100 to rent a tux. But there are some ingenious ways to trim the budget, while ending up with a night that no one will know is inexpensive or any different than those who spend thousands.

“You spend the money because you simply have to,” senior Matt Levalley said. “If you want your prom to be in a nice place you have to pay more.”

Limos are often priced around $600 for the night, averaging about each person to pay $38. The form of transportation becomes a competition along with everyone’s attire. Who came to the prom in what limo is often topic of discussion throughout the night.

However, the pressures of prom don’t end at the costs. Tanning, working out and making sure you look your best becomes a common fad. Girls are binge eating to fit in a dress that’s a size too small. Parents are ending up dishing hundreds of dollars out to pacify their kids.

            Department stores are the most common locations for females to purchase their dresses. However, this can cause the chance of having the same dress as another one of your classmates. Other prom boutiques take a different type of stab in their business to draw buyers in. A sign out sheet is what has worked for the Newport prom shop, Just for You and many other Rhode Island shops. Stefania’s in Cranston however has one dress of every kind so no dress is copied.

 “Every girl deserves to have that special night, according to the owner of Sonya’s Boutique in Cranston, when there is two of one dress at the event, it ruins the night for both girls”