When I did the same thing during rush, I bought sorority decals and put them on inexpensive but fancy clear glass containers. Our colors were pink and brown. I filled each container with pink powdered bubble bath that was cheap and taped the fancy lid on the jar (cant remember if I tied a ribbon on the knob on the lid). Very cheap. What can she do with decals?

Maybe you could find something cheaper for the gifts from the links below?

I don't know how much has to go on the name tags, but maybe you could do something with paper rosettes? Similar to the photo (from etsy.com) but with names instead of the Hapy Birthday.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sorority Stuff on sale

Thank you, good ideals, only two problems-they have told her that the gifts have to be licensed sorority items-because trust me I already had a plan for gifts we could make-cheap gifts that look great, I'm the queen of that. No can do. Sorority stuff on sale is great but nothing for her sorority on there. I have their catalog, and when I went to the web site listed on it, it was all the same stuff. I have tried to make these gifts work for cheap, but there just isn't anyway to do it following their guidelines.

On the other hand, those rosettes are great. We both like them so off to etsy we go....

If you would like to make your own rosettes, here is a super tutorial!

Here is a link that might be useful: Making Rosettes

goodness! i'd be afraid of not having enough food budget! or do they have some deal with the college?

Thanks so much for all your help. After today I think she is going to be okay. We ordered the gifts for the recruits $307 shipping an all. We stopped at Walmart on the way home from work and wonder of wonders, they had the foam in sheets-6 to a pack-it was the glitter foam with the adhesive back, we found a star template, because DD had failed to tell me that the theme was we are all stars of this show-we bought enough of the foam to make 96 name tags for $32, so that leaves $161 for the food budget-one of the alumni contacted DD and volunteered to help cook and also supply all the pasta-whew-thank goodness-then she told DD that she would contact other alumni about helping out with cooking or furnishing supplies-so I think all will be okay now. Maybe, depending on how much others pitch in, there just might be enough left in the budget to have a cake. Because earlier desert was not even an option. DD is just like me-she forgets that you can ask people for help-and they will
Thanks for the help
We both loved the rosettes and will use those another time I'm sure.

My DD was in a sorority in college. Doesn't your DD have a committee to work with? Why is the dinner all on her? Who decided this and then set the guidelines? If they are accepting 30 new pledges then there should be at least 30 other sisters involved in the planning.

As I remember the only "gift" she received was her sorority pin. At least from the sorority as a group. The big sisters assigned to each girl gifted their little sister pledges individually.

Those were the days. I remember the "fun" we had trying to find a white dress for pledge night in Sept/Oct.

The best I can tell-the committee has divided everything up so that each member is responsible for hosting at least one dinner or event during pledge week, she got the spaghetti dinner that happens to be on bid day which means she does the dinner and the gifts for the new pledges. She was a new pledge last year and the gift she got was a tote bag (very nice) with lots of little gifts inside-just looking through the catalog, the gifts they got last year cost at least $30 each-they only had 15 pledges last year and the budget was $250 more than my DD was given this year. I don't inow why. She is also in charge of ordering all the bid day shirts-these were supposed to be paid for in advance, the girl in charge of collecting the money has only collected from 5 people-these shirts have to be printed and shipped so DD went ahead and ordered them today because they need them in three weeks. It has not been a good experience, then again maybe it has-a life lesson-the only person you can truly depend on is yourself. Anyhow she is getting through it really well-all the name badges for bid day are done, the shirts are ordered, the gift bags are ordered, and she even found time to ordered her school books from Amaxon this morning instead of waiting until the last minute and getting them at the school bood store-which saved tons of money.
I am sure if she asked for help from some of her sisters, they would gladly help-she just isn't the type to ask. I told her today that if she needed help just ask. One of jer friends came over last night and helped with the name tags. It will all work out okay.