The costs of buying most formal dresses online can become expensive. Especially once you factor in what you normally pair with a dress, such as jewelry, accessories, shoes, hairstyle and much more.

If you're on a tight budget, it's still easy to achieve the look you want and look like you spent a million dollars on your evening dress. The following are five easy ways you can save money when buying a formal dress:

1.) Begin shopping early!

Waiting until a week (or later) before you need your dress will send you spinning as you try to find the best dress for you. If you shop early, you'll be able to find better deals and more options since all of the formal dresses haven't been bought already. This way, you may find a dress you want and already have shoes and accessories you want to wear with it, saving you money since you don't have to buy new accessories.

2.) Consider buying a used gown

If you have any friends or family that has formal evening dresses, consider borrowing one from them. Usually all you'll have to pay for is the dry cleaning bill. If the person you're borrowing from says that it alright, you could perhaps even have it alternated to specifically fit you.

3.) Have alterations done

If you've bought a dress at a thrift store, borrowed one from a friend, or have found one that just didn't fit quite right, don't be afraid to get the dress altered to fit you. Additionally, if you find a dress you love but need it in a different size, you can always buy the larger size and have it tailored for you.

4.) Visit thrift stores

Thrift stores usually have a wide variety of formal cachet dresses to choose from and are usually really well priced. Again, you can always do alterations, so if you find a formal dress that is too big, don't be afraid to buy it since you can always have it tailored.

5.) Make Your Own Dress

Even if you can't draw a straight line and couldn't imagine designing and sewing your own dress, find out if anyone you know sews. This way not only is the cost of the formal cache dress much less, it will be unique and no one else around will have one!