Students tell us how to keep graduation outfit costs down

Image caption, Keerthana says you can save a lot of money on your ideal graduation dress if you thrift it online By Beverley Segunda BBC Radio 5 Live Published 1 minute ago "From the beginning of my course, I've been thinking about what my graduation dress was going to be," says Keerthana Krishnadas. "I had to make sure I looked 10 out of 10, I couldn't compromise on that." She is one of hundreds of thousands of university students graduating this summer and, like many, has been figuring out what to wear for a photo marking one of life's milestones - without breaking the bank. "You can save some bucks if you thrift your outfit because you're only going to wear it once," says Keerthana. She bought hers second hand. "It was about 80 quid - a bargain." The expense of graduation is keenly felt by many students and their families with costs ranging from transport and accommodation to clothing and photographs, says Tom Allingham of budgeting advice site Save The Student. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, "When you don't have the funds there's pressure" - Graduating students "For those who are the first person in their family to go to uni, it's a big deal for the family and there's a pressure to celebrate it - even though those students often come from a lower income background," he says. The total cost can be hundreds of pounds with savvy students renting, making or thrifting their outfits to save money. Some have taken to social media to share their tips, vent their frustrations and break down the costs of their outfits. BBC News spoke to students posing for photographs in Salford Quays to find out how they saved money on theirs. Image caption, Instead of renting or buying a suit for graduation, Ehis asked his family for help Instead of scouring the internet like Keerthana for a bargain, Ehis Oboh asked his younger brother for help. He is a tailor in Nigeria who designed and made the suit Ehis wore for his ceremony. Ehis now has a master's degree in international business and says it was important to mark the occasion properly attired, even if it can be financially difficult. "When you have the funds, there's no pressure," he tells me. "But if the funds are not there - let's say, there's pressure." The cost of renting a cap and gown for the day varies. Undergraduates and postgraduates at the University of Salford pay £42, while PhDs pay £45. Across the river at the University of Manchester, the price increases by a pound for undergraduates and postgraduates, but those with a doctorate pay £57. Ehis is not the only one who opted for a tailored outfit - Wendy Adu Amankwah wanted to create her own look for her graduation. Image caption, Wendy asked her family to make her outfit "My mum is a designer so she made this for me," says Wendy. "It took her a week… I'm her daughter, so she had to put in every [effort]." Wendy says the significance of graduation inspired her to crea