Matric Farewell on a Budget

Matric farewell season is fast approaching. This is a time for matriculants to bid farewell to their schooling career. It has been 12 years of school and this is the final stretch in your primary and secondary education.

For many, matric farewells signify the end to their childhood and provide a platform for them to be groomed into adults.

Matric farewells however don’t come cheap. There are a lot of things to consider with regard to the perfect dress, the perfect suit, a car for the day and also the convoy that picks up the matriculant, if that’s a tradition at your school.

YouthPaper shares a few tips on having a matric farewell on a budget that could save you and your parents/guardians money.

“Teenagers nowadays demand lavish and exquisite treatment for that one night. I will cut down on costs and start saving way in advance and try to avoid last minute spending,” Nduno Kamunguma, a mother of one, said.

• Buy instead of renting. While it may seem like it should be the other way around, a suit or dress can be an investment – and can actually be more affordable than hiring! If you want to have a matric farewell on a budget and have a dress or suit you can wear for years to come, be sensible and think classic instead of edgy.

Taimi Ndunugadulu, a Grade 12 pupil, says she will ensure she has a set budget for her matric farewell and will stick to it. “I will buy my dress because it is cheaper to buy than it is to have it tailor-made because it requires labour and material.”

• Shop around. Gather as much information about prices for material, tailors, dresses or suits before going shopping. Don’t wait on the last minute to do your shopping when it’s ‘peak demand season’. Remember, demand results in escalation of prices.

• Shop out of season. Don’t hit the shops during the height of matric farewell season. If your matric farewell is in August, for example, start shopping early, like in April or May. Look out for fabulous bargains on dresses or menswear by shopping around. Don’t wait on the final week to start looking for the perfect dress.

Fashion designer Lydia Iita advises pupils to plan well ahead of time. “Save up and give your parents an estimate of what you would like. Some designs are complicated and therefore will be far more expensive than others. From what I have seen, most pupils don’t like to look alike that is why they prefer having matric farewell outfits tailor-made. Try and get quotations from different tailors on your design, that way you cost analyse. Tailoring is often cheaper, depending on where you go, however it can also be cheaper to buy a dress at a boutique, if you buy it early enough,” she said.

• Borrow from friends/family. Try to borrow a suit or dress from an older sibling or relative, as it saves you a great deal. You can also take an old dress and get a tailor to customise for you to make it fashionable and in tune with the latest trends.

For mom of four Yvonne English, putting away money every month to accommodate the matric farewell is essential. “It really comes in handy. Save and arrange with your son/daughter so you all know from the onset what she/he plans on wearing. Get quotations and have a budget for the dress/suit, shoes and nails. Have a separate bank account for all this. Don’t over budget. Put in that extra effort to make them feel appreciated by going the extra mile for them,” she said.

• Save money on make-up by getting your make-up done by professionals at a make-up counter in a mall. Retail shops like Edgars and Foschini usually do make-up trials on people prior to buying the make-up and charge a smaller cheaper fee in comparison to a professional make-up artist. Remember to keep the look elegant and classic, but still young and fresh.

Also visit beauty schools, there are always students who are willing to do hair and make-up at a discount.

• While some schools make a big deal of arriving in a fancy car, the moment you spend in it is fleeting and rather quickly forgotten. Rather spend money on your outfit and fun activities afterwards than using up a big chunk of your budget to hire a car.

However, if you’re set on arriving at your matric farewell in style, ask around. Perhaps a friend’s parents or a family member has a really nice car you can borrow.

But remember: It is only for one night and your entrance won’t make that much of a difference. The night is about you and not a car.

• Accessorize! You can always dress up a simple, affordable dress with a pretty necklace, dangly earrings, a belt or even pretty heels.

• Keep your hair simple. You don’t need 30-inch Brazilians to look good. A cheap weave or your natural hair can look just as good with the perfect styling. The N$3 000 for the weave you plan to spend for one night is the equivalent of university registration, rather save that instead of spending money unnecessarily.

• Rent your suit, it’s a lot cheaper than buying one, plus, chances are you won’t be wearing the suit any time soon again.

• If you want to get your date flowers, visit the florist in advance to avoid spending more later. (Like dresses, flowers tend to be more expensive during matric dance ‘season’.) Better yet, ask around for someone who has beautiful roses growing in their garden and get your date flowers for free.

• Pick a look that is simple and sauve rather than bold to ensure that you can wear your suit (if you’re buying it), shoes and accessories again.

• Remember, those extra costs can be used to save for a rainy day and can also be used in preparation for life outside of school, for example university, vocational centres and also as start up capital for venturing into a business.

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