Graduation is one of the biggest milestones in life, which is why so many find it to be one of the most expensive times. From getting your cap and gown to planning the perfect party, there’s a lot of spending to be done. This can sometimes seem impossible with the looming fear of student loans and not knowing where life is going to take you next. There’s a few ways to combat the graduation blues though, which will ensure your milestones is a joyous time rather than one filled with stress over money. With these simple tips you’ll be on your way to life’s next adventure without the cost of graduation following you around for the next few months. So, whether you’re a parent sending your child off to college or a recent college graduate, you can find bliss in the new moment of success without tying the bill to accomplishment.

1. Order Gown in Advance
With all of the hustle of studying for finals, putting in your final paperwork and absorbing the fact that this stage in life is almost over, you may forget to order your cap and gown. This can be a huge financial burden, so try to make sure you get your gown order in as soon as the paper work to do so is available. Usually, the price of the cap and gown start off much lower and gradually increases in price. If you find yourself without the order forms in and graduation weeks away you could be looking at paying a lot more for something that shouldn’t cost a whole lot. You may also be looking at late fees, which also add up and make the bill ridiculously higher. The best thing about ordering your cap and gown early is you can still choose the rent options over the purchase option. Renting cost so much less and you won’t have to find a place to store the gown when graduation is over, which can be a huge burden for graduates moving into smaller spaces.

2. Skip the Ring
By the time the second term of the year rolls around, chances are the ring booths are out trying to coax seniors into buying the ring that will supposedly help them remember the biggest year of their lives. Chances are though, the ring will be worn for a few months and then will make its way into a jewelry box for the rest of its days. Sure, senior rings are great. They’re shiny, have your name and birthstone and some even have personal designs. The thing is, once you leave school you’re going to have so much more going on in your life that you’re going to be ready to step away from your school days and the big ring that’s meant to remind you of them. Whether you’re heading to college, graduate school, or the work force, the ring is going to be triumphed by the new things going on, so you will get very little use out of it. So, instead of spending hundreds on something like this you can easily take the money and apply it to something that will actually be useful in the future.

3. Print Out Invites
There’s a lot of companies that will claim to offer you great deals on invitations for your graduation. Although some may be tempting, nothing will save you as much money as printing out your own personal graduation invitations. You can easily find a simple template to work with that can help you provide all of the information needed so people will know when and where the big event is happening. The best thing about printing out your own invites is you can add a whole lot of customization to make the invitation suit your personality. Most templates easily allow you to add photographs, which is the perfect way to show off your new graduation photos. You can also add what you majored in, future goals, GPA, your clubs and interest and any other information you want to share with the world. When you’re satisfied you can email the invites to save even more money. However, if you want a tangible copy then you can print on high gloss paper or send them to your local department store to printed for way less than you’d pay a company.

4. Graduation Photography
One of the biggest expenditures for graduation is certainly the photography session. Most high schools will have a session prepared during the school hours. However, even though this is provided by the school, ordering your photos can be a ridiculously high price. Some schools will force you to bring your photos in too, which hiring a professional could also mean you’re going to end up paying way too much for photos. It doesn’t matter if you’re finishing up high school or graduate school as the photos for this occasion will help you remember just where you were when you met the accomplishment. This is why you should always try to hire someone you trust for the photos. You can easily pick a student willing to do the photography at a low cost. This won’t just help you, but will give them job experience they need. You may even ask a family member to do the photos for you if you have a good camera. These options will save you the most money on your senior photos, but if you have to go professional make sure to call around and ask about discounts, pricing and the smallest package you can order. After all, you can always get copy of the pictures to share later on.

5. Home Celebration
It is pretty tempting to want to put a lot of money into a congratulation party, especially if you’re a parent celebrating your child’s success. Big parties can be a huge financial burden though. Instead, try to invite close family and friends to a celebration at your own home. This will allow everyone to relax in a comfortable environment so you can actually enjoy one another’s company. This is also a great way to send off the student to college, as the student might not have another chance to see a lot of the people before moving out. You can easily create a few appetizers and drinks at a decent price or have people bring in their own potluck dishes to help save on money. You can also decorate the home for a party inexpensively as there are many party stores that sell graduation banners and other décor items at a remarkably cheap price.

6. Go Casual
A lot of people might be tempted to buy an expensive dress or suit to wear underneath their robes. This can really run you a lot of money for absolutely no reason at all. Most of the gowns will show very little of your clothing so there is no reason to find something expensive to wear to an event. Usually, you can only see a small portion of your legs in the robes so a suitable pair of pants of a dress is perfectly fine to wear underneath the robes. Of course, you’re going to be sitting for a very long time, especially if you go to a larger school, so make sure you choose something that is going to be comfortable to wear for a few hours. You may also want to consider the temperature when you choose what to wear. If your graduation is outdoor then it might be wise to wear light clothing with short sleeves. You may even be able to get away with a t-shirt and shorts depending on the guidelines of the school and how much the robe actually covers. The best thing you can do is decide what to wear after you try on your gown.

7. Forget Pricey Frames
If you’re graduation from college then chances are your school probably wants to you to spend some money to get your degree framed. A lot of schools will send out paperwork with this option as soon as you submit the request for graduation. Paying for the pricey frame can be way out of the budget though and a lot of times well over priced. There’s a lot of framing companies that can do the same job for a whole lot less, so it is important you shop around before you sign off on any framework through the school. Of course, when it comes to a degree you could always opt for a simple frame. This will allow you to switch the frame whenever you change décor and it shouldn’t cost you more than $50 to get the item framed. One of the best things about waiting for the framing is you get a bit more control over how the degree is framed. You can even choose the special mats that accent your degree, so it is more appealing to the eye.

8. Host a Party with Friends
It’s fairly common to want to throw a party to celebrate your success, but having the money to throw the shindig of your dreams isn’t always easy to come by. Of course, if you have friends who have also graduated then you may want to split up the cost to throw the party you want. The more friends you have to share the cost, the more money you’ll end up saving on the party, which might come in handy when you have to pay bills. Make sure you know the friends are reliable and that you consider their wants too when planning. This will leave to an epic party that will last in your memories for years to come. Planning a party with friends also means you won’t have to schedule parties around each other, which is just an added bonus.

9. Tickets
Graduates tend to be given a few seats for their family at graduation, however if you plan on having a lot of people you’ll end up paying extra for the seats. Instead of buying your tickets ahead of time you may want to simply buy for the immediate family first. This will ensure they get their seats at a good price. A lot of the time when students buy tickets in bulk relatives tend not to make it to the ceremony for one reason or another. This leaves extra tickets that won’t get used, so the money is entirely wasted. The best thing to do is to send out a low invite list as this will save on money entirely and will guarantee the seats to other graduates family and friends.

10. Look for Sales
You might not believe it but shopping for graduation sales can save on this expenditure. You should be able to find a discount for everything from the cap and gown to the restaurant you choose to celebrate at. The key is to call around and ask people for deals, as they may not be in the papers or even listed on the site. This might take a little extra work, but when you find the perfect restaurant at a discount and your cap and gown for a shocking low price, you’ll know it all paid off. You can even work to find the perfect party supplies at a graduates discount. So, use you shopping skills to find the best deals!

Graduation is an exciting filled with uncertainties. The last thing you need to worry about is how to fund your achievement. With these ten tips you should be well on your way to feeling the beauty of your success while getting the celebration you deserve. Now, you can concentrate on what the future will bring next, rather than the bill for your graduation supplies.