Let’s face it — the economy’s a mess right now, and most families are having to tighten their belts just to get by. Sadly, this doesn’t matter much when it comes to social realities…especially those involving teenage daughters. If you’ve ever looked into buying homecoming and prom dresses, you already understand. If you’ve got a weak heart, be sure to take a deep breath before perusing the prices of these garments…and you may just need to sit down afterward.

But you shouldn’t have to pauper yourself to aid your daughter’s social life. Most parents feel it’s their bounden duty to provide everything their child needs, but when it comes to chosing between putting food on the table or paying for a dress…well, she might need to help with the latter. Gently broach the possibility of her helping to pay for the dress, especially if you can’t afford it otherwise. Most teenagers are aware of the dire economic straits the country is currently facing, so she might just accept reality more easily than you expect.

If a part-time job isn’t a viable possibility for one reason or another, then jump on the Intermet bandwagon. It’s a simple matter to gain access to all the formal prom dresses your little heart can handle, in hundreds of styles. So grab your daughter and do some online shopping. You’ll really impress her when you use your unexpected Internet skills to track down an excellent deal on exactly the type of dress she’s looking for.

The dress isn’t the only thing you’ll need, of course. Among other things, you’ll need the proper undergarments for the dress. Strapless bras are de rigueur for most of these styles. The good news is, since these are undergarments, they’ll probably become part of your daughter’s everyday wardrobe — unlike the dress itself.