Is there anything more exciting for your children than their senior year of high school? They are leaving childhood and entering adulthood. All those years of studying and dreaming about the future are finally coming to fruition.
As a parent, you may feel the year is bittersweet. There are so many lasts—last school pictures, last school dance, last homecoming, etc. Yet, you’re likely excited to see your children explore independence and make their own way in the world.
One thing that you may not be prepared for are all of the expenses that come with the last year of high school. I’ve heard from some parents that they pay between $1,400 and $2,000 on senior year expenses. Yikes!
If you have a child in high school, now is the time to prepare for those expenses before your child is a senior. You’ll also want to have a frank discussion with your child well before senior year about how you plan to approach senior expenses.
Luckily, there are many ways you can cut costs and not have to pay $2,000.
Let Your Child Know What You Can Pay
Well before senior year, let your child know what you’ll be able to pay. You can either let your child know how much you have total to spend, and together you can decide what is and is not important, or you can state what things you will pay for such as you’ll pay for your child’s senior pictures, but you won’t pay for a senior class trip.
One friend of mine said that her daughter wanted a $300 prom dress. She told her daughter she had $150 to spend to buy the prom dress, but if the daughter wanted this particular dress, she’d have to pay the rest. Her daughter rapidly changed her mind when she realized she’d be responsible for paying the difference. In the end, she found a $130 prom dress that she loved (and didn’t have to pay for).
How to Save on Senior Pictures
Senior pictures typically run $150 to $400, but there are many ways to reduce this cost.
Call the Local College Photography Instructor
One way to save is to call the local college photography instructor and ask if she has any students just starting their own photography business. Chances are, if they’re new, they may offer a lower price for the photos. Or, they may offer you the photos for free if they can use your child’s photo as their model for sample photos or if you’re willing to praise the business on social media.
Ask Friends on Facebook
A word-of-mouth referral is priceless. We ended up finding the photographer who did my senior pictures through a friend of a friend. We got a great deal, and we loved the pictures.
Ask If the Photographer Will Sell You the CD
Some photographers, rather than printing photos and charging you for them, will sell you the CD of photos for a flat fee. Then you can print the ones you like, usually at a cheaper rate.
Cap and Gown
There’s generally not much you can do to save on ordering the cap and gown except making sure to order early so you avoid late fees.
Graduation Announcements
You can buy graduation announcements from the school, but they’re often expensive and stuffy. If you’d like a graduation announcement that will save you money and reflect your child’s personality, design and print your own. If money is very tight, send them digitally instead of in the mail.
Senior Trip
A senior trip is optional, so don’t feel that you must pay for this one. A friend of mine had her son skip the senior trip. Instead, he got to pick a destination he wanted to go to, and she took him as a graduation gift.
If your child really wants to go, he could either pay for a part of it or all of it, depending on your budget.
Graduation Party
Many families like to host a graduation open house for the new grad. Usually two to four hours long, family and friends can come to congratulate the graduate. Of course, you can have these events catered, but there are definitely cheaper ways to host.
Have an Afternoon Party
One way to save is to have your open house in the afternoon, say between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. Then you’re only responsible for light snacks and a drink, not an entire meal. You could have a table with fruit, chips, and other light snacks and then have a large punch bowl.
Host It at Home
Some people prefer to rent a hall, but you can always have it at home. My grad party was at home (and bad luck for us, it rained that day!), but my friend had hers in her backyard between two large shade trees, and it was a beautiful day.
If you can’t have it at home, see if a friend or family member would be willing to host if you clean up the mess afterward.
Have Simple Desserts
You can buy a full sheet cake from your local bakery or grocery store, but you can also consider alternative desserts like making your own cupcakes or cookies for the event.
If You Have a Meal. . .
If you decide to have a meal, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Consider something frugal yet tasty like a taco bar. Put chicken in one slow cooker with salsa and ground beef in another with taco seasoning. This can be a very economical way to feed everyone.
ACT/SAT Test Fees
Most colleges require that your child take either the ACT or the SAT, and if your child is applying for both in-state and out-of-state colleges, she may need to take both. The ACT runs approximately $50 without the writing portion or $65 with the writing portion, and the SAT runs about the same. Both tests have a $30 late registration fee, and if you need more than four copies of your scores, they are approximately $12 each. Keep in mind, if your child doesn’t achieve the score he wants, he’ll likely take the test more than once.
The most reasonable way to keep costs affordable is not to register late and not to change test locations because both are expensive. Planning, planning, planning will help you keep costs as low as possible. Also, if your child only applies to four colleges, you won’t have to pay for extra reports.
College Application Fees
Speaking of college applications, applying to colleges can cost you hundreds of dollars. You may want to talk to your child and set a limit for the number of college applications you will pay for. Four is a good number because your child can have a reach school (one she likely won’t get into) as well as several sure bet choices where she will likely be admitted.
Conclusions
The last year of high school is filled with many fun, social opportunities as well as obligations for college preparation. If you don’t set a budget prior to senior year, you may find yourself out thousands of dollars. Instead, decide your budget and have an open conversation with your child about what you are willing to pay for and what will be the child’s obligation. You don’t have to pay for it all.
