another question about expenses.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by danke shoen

Hello everyone!

I know that there are a lot of current threads about sorority expenses and dues. I have been reading the threads to get an idea about how much it would me next year. Our school's Panhellenic site has listed the range of sorority dues that we can expect to pay while part of the undergraduate chapter and later as part of the alumane chapter. The information says that "Most sororities include everything (all inclusive) from formals and semi-formals, meetings, lifetime subscription to Fraternity magazines, lifetime membership, and more!'. These seem like the basic expenses and I should be able to cover the range of costs that they have posted. However, there are auxiliary costs that I don't see included on the site. For example, things like big sis/little sis program gifts, composite costs, etc. I know that we get more information about this during recruitment week and the information night but how much should I be expecting to budget for next year. I know that its hard to give an estimate of the costs if you don't know where I go to school but is there a ball park figure that I should be expecting?

I would appreciate the help and have a wonderful day

How much extra things cost just depend on your school.

Some of the things that cost extra money for me:

*Event tee shirts (for date parties, formal, etc.) -- $20 each or so
*event hoodies or sweats -- $30
*Taking my Little Sis -- spending limit of $250
*Pearl Pal gifts -- $15 or so per week
*Event favors -- various
*Formal and Semi-formal dresses--various
*Event pics
*Composite pics

There are alot of ways for you to save money with extras though:

*You don't have to buy the event shirt for every date party, mixer, etc. that you go to.

*Taking a pic for the composite is free. You don't have to order the pics. Not ordering pics for mom and dad saves money.

*You don't need to order a million party pics from date party.

*You don't need to order a million Bid Day pics. I just ordered the "whole chaprer" ones.

*If you take on a Little Sis or Pal of some sort, you can make alot of their gifts instead of buying them.

[Katmandu]

You tend to buy a LOT of stuff your freshman and soph years... party favors, party pics, t-shirts for each and every occasion, lots of letter and crest items, etc., but you soon find that you are buried in stuff and slow down a bit junior and especially senior year. Budget more your first years in the group, and when you take on a little sis.

In our chapter, we did a lot of swapping of semiformal/formal dresses around, especially when we were going to fraternity parties, so didn't necessarily have to buy a new dress in order to wear a "new to us and our date" one.

[COBaby]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

In our chapter, we did a lot of swapping of semiformal/formal dresses around, especially when we were going to fraternity parties, so didn't necessarily have to buy a new dress in order to wear a "new to us and our date" one.

This is a great idea. Our chapter actually "passes down" white formal dresses through families because they're such a pain to find. Generally speaking, if you're in desperate need of a dress, someone in your chapter will have one you can borrow.