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See that picture? Yes, that is me - 30 years ago - at my senior prom with Bill Ferren. No, I didn't have sex with him (that night, or ever for that matter) and I'm fairly certain I didn't even get a kiss. Truth be told, I don't even remember where we had dinner or where the prom was held.
See that picture? Yes, that is me - 30 years ago - at my senior prom with Bill Ferren. No, I didn't have sex with him (that night, or ever for that matter) and I'm fairly certain I didn't even get a kiss. Truth be told, I don't even remember where we had dinner or where the prom was held.
Do you suppose it would have been more memorable had my parents forked out $1,078 (the average amount that will be spent on prom this year)?
That's right, the economy may be sluggish, but that hasn't slowed spending on high school prom. A new national survey by Visa Inc. shows that American families who have teenagers will spend an average of $1,078 each on the prom, a 33.6% boost over the $807
$1,078? Really?
If that isn't bad enough, parents surveyed who fell in the lowest income brackets (less than $50,000) plan to spend more than the national average - $1,307. Breaking down the spending by family income, the survey found:
Parents who make under $20,000 will spend an average of $1,200
Parents who make $20,000-$29,999 will spend an average of $2,635
Parents who make $30,000-$39,999 will spend an average of $801
Parents who make $40,000-$49,999 will spend an average of $695
Parents who make over $50,000 will spend an average of $988
Parents who make over $75,000 will spend an average of $842
One other thing? You'll want to move to the Midwest before your kid hits his/her prom years. There is a bit of a regional difference in spending as well:
Northeastern families will spend an average of $1,944
Southern families will spend an average of $1,047
Western families will spend an average of $744
Midwestern families will spend an average of $696
$1,078? Really?
If that isn't bad enough, parents surveyed who fell in the lowest income brackets (less than $50,000) plan to spend more than the national average - $1,307. Breaking down the spending by family income, the survey found:
Parents who make under $20,000 will spend an average of $1,200
Parents who make $20,000-$29,999 will spend an average of $2,635
Parents who make $30,000-$39,999 will spend an average of $801
Parents who make $40,000-$49,999 will spend an average of $695
Parents who make over $50,000 will spend an average of $988
Parents who make over $75,000 will spend an average of $842
One other thing? You'll want to move to the Midwest before your kid hits his/her prom years. There is a bit of a regional difference in spending as well:
Northeastern families will spend an average of $1,944
Southern families will spend an average of $1,047
Western families will spend an average of $744
Midwestern families will spend an average of $696
(If you are interested to see just what that $1,078 includes, you can see a more detailed breakout [HERE])
Me? I refuse to take out a loan from my 401K to pay for my kid's prom. He'll either get a job and pay for his own, or find a way to stay within a reasonable budget.
What say you? Are prom costs (and the sense of entitlement that seem to go along with them) reasonable? Am I just being stingy?
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6 comments:
Yikes,
I don't think my daughter will be getting anything near that price range....
But, I remember needing to be dapper for prom....Rust colored Tux and ruffeled shirt don't come cheap.. lol I'm pretty sure it ran me 39 bucks... but, that was 35 years ago.
Holy Shit! I think mine cost a total of $90 for me. I bought my dress myself on sale for $40. It was only $10 more than the $30 ticket to get into prom. Grandmother did my hair. Did my own nails. We drove ourselves. I think my date paid for dinner but that couldn't have been much and then a $20 flower to pin to his chest. That suddenly sounds cheap as hell, but hey, I'm from the midwest!
Over a thousand?!!! I think my dress was $50 and with shoes, limo, tickets and after prom I would be shocked if the whole evening came to $300. But that was 25 years ago.
I spent ZERO on my prom. Being anti-social has its advantages.
Also, we're hosting a prom on IWS on Sunday. It's free and "come as you are."
Jay
I spent less than $300 on my WEDDING dress. I'm a cheap mofo. (and that $300 wasn't even my money, my parents paid for it...said I could have anything I wanted, but I only wanted that dress).
Hubba hubba....
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