Finding a cute dress for Homecoming without blowing your budget can be a serious challenge, especially when you may not live near a shopping center, or have too busy a schedule to wade through the thousands of dresses available online. But with a little focus and a game plan, finding your perfect Homecoming dress 2015 can be a snap.

Early Birds Get the Dresses

No matter how busy you are, don’t wait until two weeks before Homecoming to start looking for a dress. If you do, chances are you might find it, but it will already be out of stock, or you won’t receive it in time for the event. Buying your dress early means having one less thing to worry about!

Pick a Budget, Stick to a Budget

Decide how much you are willing to spend on a dress before you start shopping. Whatever the number is, write it down on a post-it note and stick it to your laptop screen, so you can’t ignore your budget while you’re shopping. While shopping, don’t mess with the view settings on sites so that you’re only viewing best dresses for homecoming 2013. After all, it’s hard to yield to temptation if the temptation isn’t there!

Read Reviews

Pop quiz: What’s the biggest advantage of shopping online versus in a store? Answer: Reviews! Thanks to reviews, you can hear feedback from hundreds of other shoppers on topics such as fit, quality, comfort, and more. If you read the reviews thoroughly, you’ll have a much better idea of what the dress is really like than if you just look at the website’s pictures.

Don’t Go Overboard

Remember: While Homecoming is usually at least a semi-formal event, it’s not on the same level as a prom. So it’s okay if the dress you like best isn’t a wild show-stopper. As long as you choose a flattering fit in a style and color you love, you won’t be disappointed.