Homecoming on a Budget
BY JULIANNA STEEN
H omecoming is a big deal… from the wacky dress up days like “Senior Citizen Day” and “80s Day” and the endless pomping and sticky fingers from float decorating to the Friday night lights at the big football game and the HOCO dance (with 1,000 pictures taken beforehand, by a professional photographer, of course). There are what feels like five million events that all require their own costume, lest your teen appear to have no school spirit—and it all adds up fast. Homecoming can quickly become positively overwhelming, not to mention overwhelmingly expensive, but it needn’t be. Make your teen’s homecoming special with these tips and tricks to make the most of homecoming without busting the bank.
THE WIN Growing up, it’s not uncommon for kids to have a dress-up box filled with costumes: grandpa’s old Hawaiian shirts, previous years’ Halloween cowboy getups, princess dresses, and more. Along the way, however, they grew out of playing pretend (or simply grew out of the clothes), and the costume bucket got tossed to make room for other things. Well, it’s time to rebuild! Before you purchase anything for your teen’s dress up days, go through your closet to see if you have anything that works. Don’t forget to check grandma’s house, too, in the closet where she kept old homecoming and bridesmaid dresses. Then head to Hobby Lobby to get crafty. You wouldn’t believe what a little paint or ribbon can do to spice up an outfit! Make sure to keep the costumes—they’ll need one in college, trust me! You can also thrift for costumes—Goodwill is filled with Hawaiian shirts and iconic ’fits from decades past. Amazon can also come in clutch for securing one or two small items that can make a big difference, like colorful wigs, an eye patch, or a bald cap. SNAPS WITHOUT THE SPLURGE Mom snapping shots on her phone just doesn’t cut it anymore—anything less than a professional photographer is not acceptable (at least, according to your
it clear that there is a cap, and if they want to go over that, they’re more than welcome to use their money. (It’s amazing how much they decide they don’t actually need when it’s their own money they’re spending!) BE THRIFTY: “DRESS” FOR SUCCESS You’d be surprised at the gold mine of formalwear you can find at the secondhand shop located just down the road. Will you have to sift through the mud to find it? Likely. But good news! The hobby “thrifting” is trendy (which you can remind your teen when they roll their eyes at your suggestion). Thrift your teen’s dress at consignment shops, antique stores, or even your local Goodwill. You don’t even have to leave your house if you don’t want to—shop online on sites like Poshmark, Mercari, ThredUp, and Facebook groups. My sister has found dozens of gorgeous, unique dresses for HOCO dances and even for when she was on homecoming court at little mom-and-pop consignment stores or online. Remember, no one can see the tag inside… it doesn’t need to be “designer” to look nice. Not a “thrifter”? Never fear: You can still save by shopping sales, buying dresses in the off-season (hello, after-Christmas and New Year’s sales, it’s me again!), and renting dresses on sites like RentTheRunway or Nuuly. GET CRAFTY: COSTUME BUCKET FOR
BUDGET PLANNING: START WITH A CAP
16 SEPTEMBER 2025 | NOLAFAMILY.COM all actually costs. Feel free to let them decide how they want to divvy it all up— they can pick their priorities. Just make It may feel cruel to set a limit on how much your teen can spend on their homecoming week, but it’s actually a kindness because you’re teaching them how to strategically manage money. Sit down with your child and let them know how much you’re willing to shell out for their costumes, formalwear, pictures, and more. Don’t be surprised if they look at you bug-eyed, shocked at how much it
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