'I spent nearly £700 on my graduation - there are so many hidden costs no one tells you about'
A recent graduate has revealed the eye-watering cost of her graduation and shared the 'hidden' charges no one tells you about. Faith Gloria graduated from Bristol University recently, and managed to spend £640 on the big day.
Graduation day is the biggest thing on most students minds, when all their hard work comes to an end, and ready to start their new chapter. But many are alarmed at the costs that come with getting that long-awaited certificate.
Faith said not many people openly talk about how expensive graduations can be, but noted it's "personal" how much you choose to spend.
She took to TikTok in a recent video, where she detailed how she worked part time all throughout her time at university and said she was "privileged" to have a job as it can be "so hard to get one". Speaking about the costs, the recent graduate said: "My biggest expense by far was my dress. It was £216."
Faith said she had purchased it in her second year and revealed the reason she was "so comfortable spending that amount of money is because I love the colour, I love the fit, I love the cut, I know it's very versatile."
She then noted her second biggest expense was the hotel, which cost £145 for one night in her university city and then in third were her nails. Faith showed off her intricately manicured nails which set her back £85 and confessed: "I wouldn't spend that much again unless it's a very special occasion.
Then Faith detailed how she forked out £43 for new shoes, £59 for new hair that included "synthetic extensions and also the human hair parts," but did do her hair herself.
Also paying for food for the day before and on the bog day, she spent £30, but said she didn't have to pay for her graduation dinner. "Next up was beauty, I picked up a couple of bits which came to around £34 and transport to and from and around Bristol was £35."
Faith said these costs didn't even include the cap and gown hire or the professional photos and said" I'm very lucky I didn't pay for" otherwise it would have been added to her eyewatering £645 bill she'd already sent.
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Fellow TikTokers were quick to share their comments, with many claiming you don't need to spend as much as Faith. One person said: "I was broke everything cost me about £160 it's so possible to do on a budget £20 dress from Vinted, did my hair myself, rented robes and only stuff I got new or paid more for was shoes and nails."
While a second penned: "To anyone watching this worrying it doesn't have to be this expensive at all - it's your day, you choose what you're comfortable spending!"
However one graduate took to the comments to claim she spent even more and said: "I graduated from Bristol, too... £300 outfit, £200 shoes, £90 for mani-pedi, £40 for the hair, £45 for the gown... and my bag (that was my gift to myself) cost me £2,000.."
Cap and gowns are the biggest non-negotiable on graduation days, but it depends on how much you spend. Every student is required to hire a gown and cap, which can set you back £75 to £100, depending on your degree level and buying the set outright could cost £160+.
Photos also come at a staggering cost - and every student will want a photo of the day. Official photo packages can cost up to £80 for just three shots. However those with a good smartphone camera may be able to do just as good of a job as the professionals.
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