The flier handed out to James River High School students read: “Disappointed with prom expectations?“ Apparently, a few students at the Chesterfield County school are, and it all started with homecoming. Senior Courtney Zamparallo said the fall dance was a bust. A lot of students left early because “it was very restricted,“ she said, recalling how administrators stood on a platform near the disc-jockey stand with a spotlight to zero in on students who were dancing inappropriately. They marked students’ hands for the first offense and asked them after the second offense.

A white limousine and red roses or your dad’s car and carnations? Prom season will soon be in full swing yet an uncertain economy and growing lines at the unemployment office mean teens are making tough choices about the prom and sorting out their feelings about what it really takes to have fun on the big night. While many students are spending as usual on designer gowns, spa treatments and five-star dinners, others are rearranging their priorities and spending accordingly. They might be cutting out an expensive dinner in order to rent a limousine, or making a dress rather than buying one.

Prom expenses add up quickly. A good estimate is roughly $500 for a couple, if you consider the cost of a moderately-priced gown and tux rental, a nice meal, a traditional limousine, flowers, tickets and pictures. But if you think you have to spend big bucks to have fun on prom night, think again. A little creativity goes a long way. Tradition: Spend hundreds of dollars on a designer-label dress you’ll only wear once.