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Although the holidays are often a very fun and rewarding time, they can also be very stressful, especially financially. In addition to gifts, cards, decorations, and other purchases, you may need to spend money on outfits for special events and occasions coming up during the holidays. If your budget is very small, though, you can often reduce your holiday wardrobe spending significantly and still get great outfits by:

1) Writing on paper. Sit down with a pen and paper and write down all the events that you will be attending in the upcoming weeks. Note whether each event is formal, casual, or semiformal. This will allow you to see what sorts of outfits you will need to plan for.

2) Considering your current clothes. Remove everything from your closets that may be in any way appropriate to wear to holiday events. Be sure to look in the back of your closet and in storage areas where rarely worn items may be lurking. Many people have more than enough items they need for holiday parties, with just a little ingenuity.

3) Trying on your clothes in new ways. Play around for while with the new items you have found, trying different combinations until you find some unique outfits that work. Don’t forget to try various accessories with your outfits well. Sometimes, about a necklace or different shoes can really transform a dress you were quite unsure about. Start noting down which outfit you can wear to what event and note what events you still need outfits for (if any).

4) Finding low-cost dress alternatives. Once you know what you own, make a list of what you still need in order to make it through the events that are coming up. See whether you can borrow, rent, or buy the pieces for very little and start looking at consignment stores and through sales racks to find what you need. Focus on the events that are coming up soonest.

When you’re flush, selecting evening wear can be a breeze – just whip out the plastic and pay for what you like. When times are tough, budgeting for formal dresses and special evenings out becomes more difficult. You may not even be feeling very festive if you are worried about money. While you may not be able to buy anything you like, you can still look fabulous on a shoestring budget. Here’s how:

1) Shop in your own closet. Start pulling out clothes from your closet and try them on in new ways. Pay special attention to clothes that are classic – the little black dress, for example, or that classic cocktail dress. What sorts of accessories can you use to transform these dresses into something great? A shawl or long coat can make your dress into something new and can save you a bundle. Look at dresses you haven’t worn in a while and see whether there is something you can do with the dress to give it new life.

2) Have a clothes swap. Trade clothes with your friends for new-for-you clothes or use online sites to swap for clothes you like. It’s free and good for the environment.

3) Shop smart. Look for discounts, shop consignment or check out online bargains to save considerably off retail prices. You can easily buy a simple formal dress for under $100 and jazz it up into something special. It does mean extra work, though, so shop early.

In most places, the snow isn’t even flying yet, but this is actually the perfect time to think about spring – or at least some of the fun things you will want to do during spring. If you are heading to the prom in the spring, now is the perfect time to shop if you want to buy perfect cheap prom dresses. There are plenty of good reasons for this:

1) You’re shopping off-season by shopping right now. Stores want to create room for mittens, holiday wear, holiday gifts, hats, and other winter clothing. That often means that if you are shopping for clothes that are not part of the winter season, stores are often willing to give you a big discount.

2) You have lots of selection at consignment shops. No one is shopping for prom dresses right now, so formal cheap prom dresses are bound to be plentiful at consignment shops and second-hand stores, if you want to shop previously worn dresses.

3) Designers are already thinking ahead and planning fashions for seasons to come. Magazines plan their issues about six months in advance, which means that fashion magazines are now talking about what will be hot in Spring 2009. Check out British fashion predictions now – they tend to be spot-on and fashion forward.

4) You can take advantage of a good selection of classy evening dresses right now. Many stores are selling dresses for holiday parties right now. Selection of these gowns – which tend to be more glam than many actual prom dresses – is at its height right now. Check out the dresses you love and keep an eye on them into the New Year. During January, these holiday dresses will be discounted heavily.

5) You can start your plan. If you need to save money to buy your dream dress in the spring, now is the time to start putting money aside. If you want a custom-made dress, now is the time to select fabrics and a tailor.