Graduation is one of the biggest stages in a person’s life, whether you are finishing up school with a PhD, making that adult leap with a high school diploma, or joining the ranks of grade school with your kindergarten certificate. This day should certainly be about celebration more than a stressful occasion that makes you dwell on money. With these ten tips you will have your graduation planned out at half of the price of your original estimation. Not only will you be able to walk across the stage for less, but can celebrate in style with your loved ones who have seen you through your biggest struggles and helped you to earn your success.

1. Photos
Photographs play a huge role in the graduation tradition, especially for high school seniors. Many seniors tend to spend hundreds of dollars for photos that they could have done for much cheaper though. One way to take care of your senior photos is to ask a photo savvy friend to help you. If you have friends who love photography and have a nice camera then they might have a lot of fun taking your photos for you. Of course, if you don’t know anyone that is interested in photography try looking on message boards for college students that are looking to gain some experience for their portfolio. If you are into the whole staged photo production then go through your candid photos and find a few that you think define your time spent in high school. You will want to make sure they are good quality and appropriate for display, but these photos can add a fun twist to your graduation packet.

2.Invitations
Invitations are a big deal for any graduation and although most schools will offer you a packet to order invitation through them this is typically not the best deal. If you’ve already had graduation photographs taken then use these as a basis for your invitation. Upload the photos to an online department store that allows you to order invitations as bulk. You can add custom print to your favorite senior photos for a low cost invitations that your friends and family will want to hold onto for years. If you want to be in control of a lot of the design work try working up your own invitation in photoshop. You can include your favorite photos, quotes and graduation information for a unique invitation that screams you. For a really cheap option print the invitations yourself and mail or hand them out to everyone you want to come and support you. Of course, if you are feeling really frugal then trying finding an appropriate e-vite than gives out all the important details of your big day.

3. After Party
The after party is a great way for everyone to get together and relax after your big day, but it is also one of the biggest cost of the entire event. So, try to plan an after party that works well for you home, a loved one’s home or a park that is cheap to secure for the day. This will help you keep your cost down substantially while still allowing you to create a fun environment for anyone that wants to come congratulate you. When setting up for the party try to avoid buying items that are customized for your graduation year. Although you might think they look great, they can actually double your price on supplies and they end up in the garbage the same as the cheaper plates do. Instead of giving out party favors at the party distribute your graduation photos. This will ensure that everyone gets the copy they were meant to and saves you on shipping cost. If you really want to be frugal set out a jar for donations so your guest can help you pay for the party or help a bit with your college fund.

4. Decorations
You don’t have to go to extreme measures to decorate for your party either. There are many festive decorations that look amazing that can be homemade. For instance, you could have your friends and family sign a graduation banner for you. You can easily make the banner out of cheap paper and will make an amazing memento for you to keep after the party. You can also make great posterboard memory boards to place around the room. Pull out your favorite childhood photos as well as find a great set for a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year poster board that everyone will love to comment on during the party.

5. Entertainment
Keeping your guest entertained can be one of the cheapest and easiest feats for the entire graduation period. For starters, create a slide show of your growth through school or string videos together to make a cool video that will leave your loved ones crying. If you want an entirely personal party have you friends and family make speeches, this will keep everyone laughing and crying for hours. One of the best things about graduation time is it usually encompasses warmer weather so you can send your guest outdoors to play with water guns and water balloons, as well as swim, dance compete and races and so much more. If you have a friend that is part of a band then ask them to play for you guest entertainment, which will gain them exposure and help you keep the music going for free at your party.

6. Food
Choosing food for the after party can be tough as most people tend to go the expensive way out and order items like pizza and snacks. Purchasing junk food for a party can run you a lot of money and the food rarely goes far, so try cooking food on your own. With the warmer weather it is always best to go light, so a wide variety of salads can actually keep your guest pretty pleased with the food. For a dessert menu try making several pies out of seasonal fruits like strawberries and apples, this will have everyone coming back for seconds while keeping your budget in check. If you want to do smaller courses then try cooking a few of your graduates favorite meals, but keep them low portion as kids will love trying sampler plates. The dinner can go really far if you ask your friends and family to make it a potluck, this way there is plenty of food to go around and the burden isn’t all on you. Jell-o is another cheap treat that most kids will love to eat. Try cutting different flavors into squares for a variety plate. As far as beverages go, make water available and serve items such as punch as they are easy to make for cheap!

7. Rewards
A lot of people end up spending lots of money on items that represent their success in school. A school ring is one of those items that cost you a fortune and you rarely end up wearing it past the first semester of college. Instead of purchasing a ring for yourself, or parents for your children, give you student something that they need. For instance, kids heading off to college will be in need of a laptop, clothes, bedding and other essential items that will make their first semester of college a bit more comfortable. If you have a student who has just graduated college try to aim for things that will help them in their career, such as new work clothing and desk items. If you want to give you student a memorable gift then make them a photo book that they can take with them and look at whenever they are feeling homesick. The ultimate gift, of course, is money for them to spend while at school or to help with their tuition and book fees. This alone can relax a student a bit more and will help then do better in their studies.

8. Thank You Notes
Thank you cards can run a lot of money in stores and if you plan on thanking everyone that attended your graduation and party as well as those that sent cards and gifts then you are looking at spending at least a hundred dollars on cards alone. Instead of shopping for cards have your child sit down and write a letter that includes what the future holds as well as thanking each and every person for attending and congratulating them. This task can be completed in one large typed out letter or your child can add a little custom note to each one. For a more personal touch add a graduation photo. If you aren’t looking to spend a lot of time on the thank you cards try looking online for a bulk service. This will allow you to get a card to everyone without having to sacrifice the personalization.

9. Robes and Attire
Your graduation robes can be pretty expensive, especially if you want to purchase a new set. Before doing this you should consider the options though, as most robes end up stuck in the back of a closet after graduation. If you can try renting the robes from the school or a nearby specialty shop. You can also look around online for a graduation store that sales the robes for cheap, but make sure that they suit your school’s specification. Of course, you will also want something nice to wear after you walk across the stage. Graduations are typically a formal occasion, so you if you really want to show off your style then try shopping in the prom clearance bins. Typically these suits and dresses are knocked down a lot in price so you can get a nice tux or dress for fairly cheap. You can also shop online at your favorite stores and try to find something you love in the sales bins. If you really want to go cheap though, try pulling out an outfit you haven’t worn in awhile from your already abundant wardrobe.

10. Framing
When you get your degree or diploma most schools tend to include a little flier that allows you to get your important document framed. These fliers tend to offer over priced services though and you will find if you shop around there are a lot better deal available. If you are looking give your diploma a fancy makeover then you might want to shop around online for stores that specialize in engraving. You might be able to find one that can actually give you a custom engraving for a few dollars at the most. There are also many hobby shops around that can give you amazing deals on custom matting or just mats that you can cut yourself. Finally, try using a frame you already own, or if you really want a new frame then shop the deals section of any department store and you will be surprised at the beautiful frames you might find.

Graduation is a huge accomplishment, so of course you want to celebrate it the right way. With these ten tips you will find a nice balance that still gives you the party your friends and family will remember for decades, while cutting down the huge budget for you. These tips can give you a stylish look, highlight your achievement and send you on to the next step of your life in the right way. Afterall, you’ve just completed a major portion of your life, so of course you deserve to end the stage in style without having the charges follow you to the next stage.

Author: Chelsey McQuitty