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ProfDW
BucketHead
PeaNut 456,775
February 2010
Posts: 540
Layouts: 0
 |  Posted: 4/20/2012 12:57:20 PM
I read that the average was over $1,000 and I was stunned. Maybe it's because we don't do the big prom thing in my area, but I just thought if kids are spending that kind of money on a highschool dance, then what are their expectations for graduation, university events etc. My son took his girlfriend (now wife) to her prom, and he spent $20 on a corsage. Her mom made her a dress, which she has worn to weddings etc. since, and it was about $50 for the fabric. They went out for supper with friends and spent about $50 on that. My son already had a suit. So, between the two of them it was about $120, which didn't seem outrageous since she was able to wear her dress on many occasions since. But $1,000? Limos?? For high school kids? I'm just appalled... or am I just completely out of touch (also possible). My daughter went to her university formal dance and I remember the dress was almost $100 for that, which seemed like a lot, but that was the only expense. Her boyfriend bought a corsage and paid for dinner. In our area, limos are for weddings, and lots of people just get a friend with a nice car to drive to save that money too. I've never heard of a limo for a high school prom.
Okay, enough ranting. I just don't get people who spend, or let their kids spend, that kind of money on one evening. My kids all had a $10,000 budget for their whole wedding (not including honeymoon) and the two older ones, who are married, were able to have lovely weddings within that budget. | |
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angel97701
BucketHead
PeaNut 280,758
October 2006
Posts: 609
Layouts: 4
Loc: High Desert of Central Oregon
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~3girls&aguy~
Now what?
PeaNut 924
July 1999
Posts: 5,196
Layouts: 12
Loc: North Texas
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 1:13:39 PM
I'm in North Texas and my daughter just had her prom last weekend.
I bought her dress for $189
Her ticket was $25 which included dinner
I painted her nails
She picked out simple sandals from payless that were $18
She did go to the salon and have her hair done for $50
That's it. And she saved up for all of this...I think I pitched in about $50.
I'm okay with what it cost. She had a blast and was grinning from ear to ear the next day, talking about how much fun she had with her girlfriends, the photo booth, the dancing, etc.
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kim
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gavinsmom
AncestralPea
PeaNut 9,019
January 2001
Posts: 4,588
Layouts: 22
Loc: michigan
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 1:26:24 PM
I can see it! By the time girls do tanning, hair, nails, makeup, jewelry, dress, shoes, undergarments, tickets, photos and then add in tux, dinner, flowers and transportation. I think it can be done for less but even 20 yrs ago I know I spent about$500 per event |
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doglover
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 11,975
March 2001
Posts: 2,531
Layouts: 21
Loc: new jersey and proud of it!
| Posted: 4/20/2012 1:38:43 PM
In my town, the boys all wear tuxes. Many of the kids go down to the shore for the weekend after the prom. |
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JackieInGA
PeaNut
PeaNut 155,206
July 2004
Posts: 210
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 2:37:21 PM
Where I live, even though my daughters don't participate in pageants, many do around here, and man, the expectations are high! I am a transplanted Canadian living in Georgia, and we had nothing like what prom is down here! For my eldest daughter's prom 2 years ago, we found a really nice dress in a department store for about $150, but many of her friends were spending hundreds of dollars on 1 dress for 1 night! I almost died from price ticket shock. There was a group of her friends that wanted to split a limo rental for the night, but I just couldn't afford it, and neither could she, so she didn't ride in the limo. She did have her hair done on the day, but did her own nails and make up. My middle daughter just had prom last Saturday, and (gulp) her dress DID cost a few hundred dollars... I told her she could have it as long as she paid half of it, and there would be no getting your hair done etc. I paid more towards her dress than my other daughter's because the oldest one always wanted everything where school was concerned ie.. class ring etc, where my middle one never cared about stuff like that. She wore shoes she already had that went with it, and her older sister did her hair and makeup. There was no limo either. Senior year is just expensive! And then it doesn't get any cheaper when they head to college!
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loveallcrafts
PeaFixture
PeaNut 383,577
July 2008
Posts: 3,703
Layouts: 108
Loc: Ontario, Canada
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 3:56:33 PM
Honestly I think the amount that is spent on these events is insane.
No wonder everyone is in debt, lol.
A limo and tanning seriously....
No wonder they feel entitled.
When my daughter had her prom, we bought her dress it was well, well under 100.00.
We did her hair and she did her own makeup.
I can't remember how much the tickets were though.
Tracy
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SDeven
Love Letters Pea
PeaNut 65,852
January 2003
Posts: 28,217
Layouts: 380
Loc: Nashville, TN!
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 3:58:41 PM
Things change. |
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meridon
PeaAddict
PeaNut 419,133
April 2009
Posts: 1,094
Layouts: 0
Loc: in the deep South
| Posted: 4/20/2012 4:29:28 PM
yeah, I agree with the PP that expectations for prom have changed...I teach high school and my female students spend $300-400 for their dresses...now granted, not all of them do, but a dress in that range wouldn't be out of line. Tickets are $75 each and that doesn't include dinner...and many couples get together with friends and rent limos....I'm sure some of them spend more than I spent on my wedding 14 years ago. I have 2 girls and I guess I should start saving now! |
"Patience is knowing it will happen and giving it time to."---Rodney White
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scrapboo
PeaAddict
PeaNut 409,406
January 2009
Posts: 1,527
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 4/20/2012 4:32:43 PM
Yes, things change...but not always for the better.
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Alice Golden
PeaNut
PeaNut 52,178
October 2002
Posts: 498
Layouts: 15
Loc: MA
| Posted: 4/20/2012 4:34:52 PM
My oldest son just went to his senior prom and I think usually boys don't have such big ticket items (no doing hair, nails, or worrying about purses, shoes, etc)... he did rent a tux (had a coupon provided by his school for a $40 discount), the ticket was $100 per couple, the corsage was $25, and a bunch of them went in on a limo which was $120 per couple. To me, the limo is a great idea because you hear so many sad stories about things that go wrong on prom night... the parents and kids all gathered at one house for pictures and then the kids all went to the prom in the limo... and knowing they were being safely driven to and from the event were well worth the $60 per kid price, IMO.
But in general, I agree... the whole prom "industry" has gotten pretty out of control!
Alice |
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SydVicious
BucketHead
PeaNut 403,519
December 2008
Posts: 826
Layouts: 37
Loc: Wiesbaden, Germany
| Posted: 4/20/2012 4:46:47 PM
When I was in school my mom told me before we did any shopping or planning that I could have one "go all out prom" and one low key prom. My junior year I went all out. I had the dress, hair, makeup the nails all that. No limo, not tanning, no fancy dinner (they had dinner at the prom). This was several years ago and my dress was $350. I am a really good bargain shopper, but those big beautiful dresses don't come cheap. My senior year I found a beautiful dress and a jewelry set and it was under $150. The dress for my senior year was a simpler dress. The more bling and layers of tulle, the higher the cost.
I don't think it's unreasonable to spend a little money on a big event for your child. I don't think I would spend a grand, but I do know that when the time comes I'll make sure everything is just right for my DD. My cousin who I am very close to just had her prom. I made her a hair piece with rhinestones and feathers, did her hair and makeup, gave her a deluxe pedicure, highlights, low lights and a haircut (I am a licensed cosmetologist) Then I did a full on photo shoot at several locations.
If she were paying for all that it would have been a $300 bill easy, just for the beauty treatments. I think I am gonna save myself some money down the road now that I think about it. LOL Even with me doing all that for her, she still had at least $600 in the dress, shoes, gloves, jewelry and special bra needed for the low back on the dress.
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ProfDW
BucketHead
PeaNut 456,775
February 2010
Posts: 540
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 4/20/2012 5:03:13 PM
Well maybe it's a US thing then. I'm Canadian, and I think the figure I read about $1,000 was an American figure. No one I know would spend that kind of money, but then prom is really not a big deal around here as far as I can tell. We don't homecoming either, whatever that is LOL | |
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LonghornMom
BucketHead
PeaNut 453,032
January 2010
Posts: 599
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 4/20/2012 5:08:03 PM
I think it varies greatly in every area.
When I was in high school, (I graduated in 1995) there was a homecoming dance (every grade could go), a girl ask guy dance (only a handful of freshman/sophomores and all junior and seniors) and prom (only junior and seniors could go).
For each dance:
-the tickets were $40-$50 per couple
-girls would buy a dress or have one made (around $50-100)
-girls would have their hair done and buy accessories/shoes (another $50 at least!)
-guys would rent a tux (usually about $50-$75)
-buy corsages and boutonnieres (about $10 for a bout and $20 for a corsage)
-go to a nice dinner before (around $75-$100 per couple)
-either have a limo for the whole thing split between a few couples or rent a trolley for about 10 couples to drive around to post-dance parties. Sometimes we'd even have big slumber parties with post-dance snacks and breakfast included. That usually cost somewhere between $80-$100 per couple.
So you couldn't usually get out of it for under $350 a couple. And that was over 15 years ago. $1000 sounds insane, but all the stuff adds up - and if "everyone" is doing it, most kids will feel the pressure to go along (plus, it's usually a lot of fun!)
To be fair though, most of the people I knew had to pay for AT LEAST the extras (limo/trolley and dinner) on their own, and their parents would cover the dress/tux and tickets. My boyfriend actually had to pay for everything for each dance (he worked summers to save for this kind of thing). Being the guy kind of sucks too, because they are expected to do most of the paying...
ETA: I had forgotten about the tanning!
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jensen84
PeaNut
PeaNut 357,037
January 2008
Posts: 107
Layouts: 2
Loc: NY
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 5:19:30 PM
I was in shock this past fall when I dropped my daughter off for her first 6th grade dance and there was a limo there. |
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karensay
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 34,565
April 2002
Posts: 2,623
Layouts: 32
Loc: Elgin, SC (NE of Columbia)
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 5:20:06 PM
DD will be starting Middle school next year. I still have a ways to go until proms. I am not looking forward to those expenses.
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Karen in SC
Two page, multiple 4x6 photo scrapper.
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Superscrapilicious
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 292,039
January 2007
Posts: 2,489
Layouts: 40
Loc: Southeast Texas
| Posted: 4/20/2012 5:22:20 PM
My daughter will be a Junior next year and I can see it.
Homecoming:
Mum: 200.00
Dress: 150.0
Shoes: 35.00
ticket to dance: 25.00
Dinner: 50.00
Manicure/Pedicare $35.00
And that is just homecoming
Winter Ball:
Ticket: 25.00
Dress: 80.00
Shoes: free (used the ones from homecoming
Dinner: $25.00
Prom budget will probably look like this:
Dress: 350-400 (she pays half)
Shoes: 35.00
Tickets: $75.00 per person
Mani/Pedi $35.00
Limo: free because friends family owns limo service
Yacht cruise after party: free (parent owns dinner yacht cruise)
The parents are already planning. But I think the kids deserve. Most of my daughters friends and she get to school each morning at 5:15 each morning and get to school for practice. They stay at school until 4:30 unless they have meets then it can be until 9pm. Many go to the same church and serve somewhere on Sunday after their service or before. During the summer my daughter is a Junior coach for the local summer league and she swims on it (as well as most of her friends). She life guards and most of them maintain a B or higher GPA in advanced classes. They have worked hard and I think they should be rewarded.
Now not everyone will spend that much but it is typical for her crowd.
What is really shocking to me...the amount of kids getting brand new expensive cars for their 16th birthday. What do you give them for graduation? |
I am a child of the most high God. He has promised me a plan of hope and a future (Jer 29:11)
He is enthralled with my beauty (Ps 45:11)
He rejoices over me with singing (Ze 3:17)
He bestowed on me a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning (Is 61:3)
You see my beloved is mine and I am his. (SOS 2:16)
He can be yours too. Just ask. MT7:8
Canon Rebel T4i
EFS 18-55mm
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SS
Samantha Stevens
PeaNut 1,447
September 1999
Posts: 5,806
Layouts: 39
Loc: Near Pittsburgh, PA
| Posted: 4/20/2012 5:33:14 PM
My DD is headed for the prom, in a beautiful dress, an "up do", and a limo ride. She will not be getting a manicure, pedicure or a tan. The limo is a must have...most of her friends have junior licenses anyway, and as said before, the parents have peace of mind.
Things do change, some for the better, and some not. I will take tons of pictures and enjoy scrappin them!
Oh, and we have several beautiful dresses that will be available to DDs younger friends if they like them! |
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Superscrapilicious
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 292,039
January 2007
Posts: 2,489
Layouts: 40
Loc: Southeast Texas
| Posted: 4/20/2012 5:58:18 PM
Oh I forgot to mention that next year we are going to have a dress swap in September ( a month before homecoming). We are still working out all the details. We are a new school. Next year we will have our first graduates and the next year (the year my daughter graduates) we will have our first class that went 9-12 to this school. (Next year Seniors came as sophomores to the new school).
Go Knights! |
I am a child of the most high God. He has promised me a plan of hope and a future (Jer 29:11)
He is enthralled with my beauty (Ps 45:11)
He rejoices over me with singing (Ze 3:17)
He bestowed on me a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning (Is 61:3)
You see my beloved is mine and I am his. (SOS 2:16)
He can be yours too. Just ask. MT7:8
Canon Rebel T4i
EFS 18-55mm
EF 75-300mm
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ca angel
PeaAddict
PeaNut 400,602
November 2008
Posts: 1,531
Layouts: 25
Loc: So Cal
| Posted: 4/20/2012 7:28:11 PM
I think $1000 is a lot but I'm sure that my prom was at least a couple hundred or more and we did a limo for Sr. Prom. I will say that I am proud of the fact that the only formal dress that has ever cost me over $100 was my wedding dress (only $350!). I was in a sorority and went to a ton of dances in college too. I still have a few dresses, one that I got at Bloomingdales when I worked there during college and was able to buy it at the right time (clearance and double discount) to bring it below $100.
ca angel | |
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*Delphinium Twinkle*
I'm just a pea:)
PeaNut 163,613
August 2004
Posts: 68,340
Layouts: 236
Loc: *Sunny Southern California*
| Posted: 4/20/2012 8:21:26 PM
Well, how much were the prom tickets? I believe my DDs prom tickets 9 years ago were $75 each.
That right there is $150.
Dinner, a dress, shoes, tuxedo, corsages and butoniere and possible hair and nails I suppose could add up to $1000 if the dress and shoes were really expensive.
My DD went to each year in high school. Age also attended two as a senior because her boyfriend went to s different school.
As a freshman, sophomore abd junior we found beautiful dresses at marshalls on clearance and one at jcpenney in the bridal section on clearance. Her dresses didn't cost more than $40 each time. But were originally between $150-300
As a senior, since her and her boyfriend were attending two proms she chose to make her two dresses. She chose a beautiful pattern and fabric the fabric for each was in the respective school colors. They were the same dress but different fabric
The dresses ended up costing about $30 each because she bought the fabric with a 50% off coupon and the pattern with a 40% off coupon
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ScrapinCT
Apron Wearing - I Love Lucy inspired Housewife
PeaNut 248,491
February 2006
Posts: 5,871
Layouts: 104
Loc: Wallingford, Connecticut
 | Posted: 4/20/2012 8:27:12 PM
I think that were in for that - many years.
I graduated in 1999 and my prom was probably that much, well maybe not THAT much but my dress was $200 and then the limo, pictures, pre-prom, post-prom, hair, makeup, nails, etc.. |
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tamhugh
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 12,875
March 2001
Posts: 7,890
Layouts: 11
| Posted: 4/20/2012 9:34:20 PM
My oldest son just went to his senior prom and I think usually boys don't have such big ticket items (no doing hair, nails, or worrying about purses, shoes, etc)...
My younger DS did not go to his proms, but older one did. His senior year, the tickets were $100 per couple and his tux was $120. His date's corsage was $40, limo was $120 per couple (he paid), afterball tickets were $30, and the pictures were somewhere around $30. There were other minor expenses which added up to between $400-500. It is super expensive. However, I graduated high school in 1983. Our tickets were almost $100 a couple even then. Some couples did get limos. I don't think this stuff is new, just more widespread. College formals have been much less expensive and fancy for my kids. | |
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amblet
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 82,460
April 2003
Posts: 2,220
Layouts: 295
Loc: Utah
| Posted: 4/20/2012 9:55:17 PM
My daughter is going to prom tomorrow out on the "day date" tonight playing laser tag with the same group that she is going with tomorrow night. I have come to discover that prom is a very expensive dance
Dress 189
Shoes 29
Undergarments 70
nails 65
tanning 20
"day date" outfit 50
makeup 30
she is doing her own hair.
The boy has it worse I think as he bought the tickets 100
rented a tux
rented a limo to drive them to Park City for dinner and then back to the dance, is paying for the laser tag and limo tonight.
They are sophomores so we get to do this all over again next year.
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Jill in Texas
AncestralPea
PeaNut 41,475
June 2002
Posts: 4,457
Layouts: 321
Loc: Sometimes I wonder...
| Posted: 4/20/2012 10:17:00 PM
DD just went to her boyfriends prom last week. Here's the breakdown.
DD:
Dress: 200.00
Shoes: 30.00
Manicure: 35.00
Boutionnere (Spelling?): $15.00
Boyfriend:
Tux: Free he had five friends rent thier tux and he got his for free
Dinner: (I don't know this amount)
Hummer Rental: 9 couples/$47.00 each couple
Tickets to Prom: $40.00
Corsage: ????
They split the cost of the photos which were $60.00
Also at dinner dd and her boyfriend both received a discount because they both work in the area at a local store, which helped.
I paid for dd's dress and shoes, she paid for boutionere (Sp?)
I think we kept the costs down, it could have been worse! lol |
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TracieClaiborne
Perfectionist Pea
PeaNut 23,809
October 2001
Posts: 15,686
Layouts: 364
Loc: Just a short drive from Nashville, TN! (Yee-Haw Ya'll!)
| Posted: 4/21/2012 1:24:40 AM
Well I work for someone who recently asked me to find a limo for his daughter's prom to hold 18 girls. It was $1,200 so he ended up not getting it. (For 6 hours.)
She did spend a bunch though. She had an INCREDIBLE dress and got her hair and makeup done that day (probably spray tanned too) and then her friend's parents hired a professional photographer to take pics of them. There was definitely some major money spent on it. I'd say my boss spent $500 to $1,000 because I know for sure that his wife pays $200 to get her hair done so if the daughter got her hair, makeup, dress, etc. done, it would have had to be a lot! I just finished downloading some pics for the Mom (who is also one of my best friends) where she borrowed my camera to take pics of the daughter in her prom dress. Funny that I then came here and saw this thread.
She is only in 9th grade too! She went with a friend who invited her! (a guy) | |
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beanbuddymom
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 370,521
April 2008
Posts: 2,704
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 4/21/2012 7:49:54 AM
I see no reason to spend hundreds on a dress but then I come from a family of seamstresses that made all my prom gowns - and got my wedding dress at davids bridal and had my sister make a few alterations.
BUT I have no problem paying for limo - would MUCH rather get the kids there and back safely - usually 3 or more couples sharing so the cost is split - we did the limo thing even when I was in HS - back in the early 1980s!
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mlamarre
PeaFixture
PeaNut 150,625
June 2004
Posts: 3,454
Layouts: 453
Loc: Sunshine
| Posted: 4/21/2012 7:57:26 AM
Today is prom day for mine she's a senior.
I thought the price was outrageous as well.
Dress $125.
Shoes $65
Ticket $60.00
Manicure/Pedicure $45.00
Hair and makeup I'm doing it.
Jewelry from my stash total spent for 1 evening $295.00
She will be wearing the shoes again for graduation. |
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beanbuddymom
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 370,521
April 2008
Posts: 2,704
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 4/21/2012 8:07:19 AM
Tracie that's too bad they didn't get the limo - $1200 split for 18 girls is not bad - 66 each. |
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MotherofJackals
Turning holy water into wine
PeaNut 27,168
January 2002
Posts: 22,122
Layouts: 27
Loc: Hanging out by the state line
| Posted: 4/21/2012 8:58:38 AM
I think for some kids Prom is the first and only formal dance they will ever go too. As a result it is a pretty big deal for some. For many families Prom becomes a tradition wrapped in memories for several generations and the urge to make it special loosens purse strings quickly.
If our family could afford it we would let our kids spend more on formal dances. We simply can't so we don't. Either they stay home or work within the budget we do have. |
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EllenPea
Pea with a Pen
PeaNut 70,644
February 2003
Posts: 19,335
Layouts: 783
Loc: Southern California
| Posted: 4/21/2012 9:01:13 AM
I am no expert on proms, having neither gone to mine nor being to involved in what my DSD did when she was that age. (DSS didn't attend his). But I live in SoCal and I don't think very many kids here can do the whole prom thing without spending hundreds. For instance, on top of everything you listed, its typical for kids here to go out of town for a luxury dinner even if the prom itself is at their school (and most are at expensive out of town hotels.) I think DSD, who at that time lived in Ohio with her real mom, also spent quite a bit of money on her prom. |
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thetachigurl
PeaAddict
PeaNut 215,272
July 2005
Posts: 1,335
Layouts: 3
Loc: Edmond OK
| Posted: 4/21/2012 9:05:11 AM
I was reading an article yesterday about boys (aka parents) who are spending sometimes $1,000.00 just to ask a girl to prom!!! Some rent airplanes with banners! It's prom!! It is the most anti-climactic event in high school! I got my dress for $30.00 at David's Bridal on the clearance rack. (helpful tip moms out there! It was a bridesmaids dress and I still have it and love it) I graduated in 2000. If a boy from another school asked me to go to his prom I reused a dress from dances from years past. I
Don't remember total what I spent on prom but maybe $200.00 I would say? I did my make up myself I did get my hair done but it wasn't pricey. I think going a little overboard for a senior prom is ok but not prom every year. |
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Neisey
PeaAddict
PeaNut 150,604
June 2004
Posts: 1,304
Layouts: 11
| Posted: 4/21/2012 9:08:58 AM
Where I am in Canada this craziness even goes on for the grade 8 or 9 prom (depending on when you "graduate" from middle school to high school)
At my DDs' school the grade 8s have started having what is called NARP - not a real prom, to try and dial way back on the expenses. No limos allowed (and believe me, even at this age there used to be limos!) My DD is only in grade 7 this year but we picked up a SWEET dress at a consignment store in Florida a few weeks ago for a whopping 6 bucks. It was way too cute to pass up and suited her style and personality to a T. When the time comes I will probably let herb get her hair done if she wants to but I'm not really planning on many other expenses.
I see consignment or second hand for her senior year prom too. I rented my own wedding gown so I can't imagine shelling out hundreds for a prom dress for maybe 5 hours of wear. | |
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tallyscrapper
PeaNut
PeaNut 323,845
June 2007
Posts: 681
Layouts: 3
Loc: north florida
| Posted: 4/21/2012 9:17:26 AM
My daughter found dresses that were around $100 (they were pretty dresses) for Jr. and Sr. year, we did buy shoes for probably around $60. She did have her hair done for around $50 and did her own nails.
She also went to homecoming dances and band banquets all 4 years and wanted new dresses so I told her she would have to find good deals on them. My son had to rent a tux for $120, bought a corsage and he took his date to dinner (their group went to a Japanese Steak house)-$75.00.
I can see where you can spend up to $1000.00, my niece spent over $500 on a dress she ordered from Norstoms online. Plus all of the other things. |
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shirt
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 34,233
March 2002
Posts: 5,067
Layouts: 99
Loc: MN
| Posted: 4/21/2012 9:39:06 AM
It all adds up and the cost of things goes up. My private college cost $12,000/year back in the early 90's and now my DD's private college costs over $30,000/year.
My MIL made my wedding dress for $150. But I don't sew and she's too busy so I will be buying the prom dresses. I have 3 girls going this year. It was $135 just for the tickets ($45/each). They will each get their hair done - about $50/each. They will need shoes, but two of them will reuse for graduation.
We won't go super extravagant but with the 3 of them it's going to be over $1000. I can afford it and hope they will have happy memories of celebrating with her friends. I think it is great that these days kids can go as groups of friends instead of having to have a date. |
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TracieClaiborne
Perfectionist Pea
PeaNut 23,809
October 2001
Posts: 15,686
Layouts: 364
Loc: Just a short drive from Nashville, TN! (Yee-Haw Ya'll!)
| Posted: 4/22/2012 2:04:21 AM
Tracie that's too bad they didn't get the limo - $1200 split for 18 girls is not bad - 66 each.
Actually my boss was paying for it just to be nice so he decided against it! He has paid hundreds of dollars for her cheerleading team to have a limo so I didn't know what he would do. He's crazy. | |
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Frick08
PeaWee
PeaNut 406,057
January 2009
Posts: 5
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 4/22/2012 3:51:08 PM
I can understand how it may seem "absurd" to those who do not live in areas that hold Proms or who have not had children attend in quite some time. I agree that it is expensive but the limo is a safety measure worth every penny! My daughter will be attending her senior prom in a few weeks and when all is said and done it will probably be close to $1,000. | |
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~3girls&aguy~
Now what?
PeaNut 924
July 1999
Posts: 5,196
Layouts: 12
Loc: North Texas
| Posted: 4/22/2012 3:56:16 PM
I don't understand saying that the limo is a safety measure? Are you saying that you KNOW your kids are drinking so you'd rather them drink in a limo? Or are you saying that the limo won't be involved in a wreck?
I'm confused. I've never heard anyone justify the cost of a limo to safety. A limo can be in a horrible accident just like one of the kids driving their own car. I don't think a limo is any safer. If you're out on the same streets as everyone else, the same risk is there. |
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kim
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TracieClaiborne
Perfectionist Pea
PeaNut 23,809
October 2001
Posts: 15,686
Layouts: 364
Loc: Just a short drive from Nashville, TN! (Yee-Haw Ya'll!)
| Posted: 4/22/2012 4:07:11 PM
Well my boss wanted a limo because his daughter is 15 and she is now allowed to ride in cars with boys but as a GROUP, they could all ride together and no one's safety was placed in the hands of a teen driver, yet they would feel like they had some freedom. There would be absolutely no drinking involved! I know that for sure.
A limo is much safer than a car driven by a teen! How many times have you heard of a limo being in a fatal accident? Also, the one we call is owned by one of my best friends, a Dad who is super safe.
I did find out today that her dress cost $500 and she had hair, makeup, etc. so I'm thinking $800 just on prep for the prom. | |
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NativeNewYorker
black eyed pea with soul!
PeaNut 15,878
May 2001
Posts: 24,966
Layouts: 70
Loc: LI, NY
| Posted: 4/22/2012 4:25:07 PM
I graduated in 1987 and almost everyone had a limo. Not every sixteen or seventeen-year-old has a car or a license. How else would you get there? Bus? Mom driving you? |
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*corynn*
PeaAddict
PeaNut 141,908
April 2004
Posts: 1,859
Layouts: 0
Loc: transplanted Vermonter in Virginia
 | Posted: 4/22/2012 4:45:01 PM
I grew up in Southern Vermont. My senior class had 22 kids graduating, and maybe 60 attending prom. Some kids spent hundreds, some didn't. Some had huge graduation parties, some did not. Same type of thing. We were a pretty tight-knit class, so no real pressure.
Most of us also had jobs...
My parents would have let me do whatever I wanted to, but I would have had to pay for it. I worked weekends/holidays/breaks in high school.
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Ghandi
Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes. Maggie Kuhn
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Pridemom
Pride of the Peas
PeaNut 25,575
December 2001
Posts: 19,089
Layouts: 45
Loc: Stuck in the Middle With You
| Posted: 4/22/2012 5:33:12 PM
DS went to Prom last night. We bought him a suit, which was cheaper than renting a tux, and he will need for several occasions this summer -$130. If we are lucky he won't outgrow the suit before graduation next May. Tickets were only $20 as DS got a free ticket for scoring in a certain range with finals. Dinner was $30. Flowers were $28. We bought the pictures, which were $20.
So $228.
His date borrowed a dress, so her only expenses were shoes and hair. Her mom did her nails. |
Proud Wife and Mom to four big goons!
I cannot be old enough to have three teens and a tween.
God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially formed you to
go through it, not without pain but without stain.
-- C. S. Lewis
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jchilds
PeaNut 10,799
February 2001
Posts: 10,547
Layouts: 644
Loc: TN
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gslmarvin
BucketHead
PeaNut 476,960
August 2010
Posts: 904
Layouts: 82
Loc: Dallas, Texas
 | Posted: 4/22/2012 8:53:30 PM
I live in North Texas and I spent close to $1000, each daughter, for each of their JR and SR years.
Tickets, dresses, mums, limos, hair, make-up, jewelry, dinner before and after, photographer, shoes,,,,,
It all adds up - was it worth it,,, you bet. They had the times of their lives and they are only young once. Did they get to do things like this all the time - no way. My girls are a little spoiled, but they are not princesses. |
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mingram4
PeaNut
PeaNut 17,200
June 2001
Posts: 137
Layouts: 3
Loc: Where The Heart Is
| Posted: 4/22/2012 9:45:35 PM
Scrapalicious,
A dress swap is an awesome idea. Try to get other hiigh schools involved to decrease the likelihood of the dreaded " I wore that dress last year" | |
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mingram4
PeaNut
PeaNut 17,200
June 2001
Posts: 137
Layouts: 3
Loc: Where The Heart Is
| Posted: 4/22/2012 9:45:36 PM
Scrapalicious,
A dress swap is an awesome idea. Try to get other hiigh schools involved to decrease the likelihood of the dreaded " I wore that dress last year" | |
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mingram4
PeaNut
PeaNut 17,200
June 2001
Posts: 137
Layouts: 3
Loc: Where The Heart Is
| Posted: 4/22/2012 9:45:37 PM
Scrapalicious,
A dress swap is an awesome idea. Try to get other hiigh schools involved to decrease the likelihood of the dreaded " I wore that dress last year" | |
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mingram4
PeaNut
PeaNut 17,200
June 2001
Posts: 137
Layouts: 3
Loc: Where The Heart Is
| Posted: 4/22/2012 9:45:39 PM
Scrapalicious,
A dress swap is an awesome idea. Try to get other hiigh schools involved to decrease the likelihood of the dreaded " I wore that dress last year" | |
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miss-E
Stuck In The Bucket
PeaNut 314,572
May 2007
Posts: 700
Layouts: 54
Loc: Queensland, Australia
| Posted: 4/22/2012 11:40:16 PM
My Formal(we have Formals in Australia not proms) most likely cost close to $1,000 and that was twelve years ago. I did not do my Deb and we never had school dances, I also did not do any out of school activities and for the year that I did drama class I paid for it myself.
My dress was made for me by a family friend who is a fashion designer, my mum and I did the make up and nails for myslef and another friend and I paid for my hair, jewellery, ticket and limo, I already owned the shoes. Some of my friends spent far less than I did and some of the other girls from school spent far above what I did.
My parents never had any money for me as a teenager hence why I paid for the majority of my own belongings, activities and outings I also did not have a big birthday until my 21st. They were more than happy to pay for my dress as a gift to me for making it through my school years. It was a one off and apart from my wedding I have never spent that kind of money on an event or dress agian. |
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handle
PeaNut
PeaNut 532,844
December 2011
Posts: 442
Layouts: 0
Loc: Australia
 | Posted: 4/23/2012 12:07:59 AM
I'm only finished hugh school two years ago. For my year 12 formal my dress was $200, but I got it for 30% off, can't remember what I actually paid. $50 for shoes, $50 for hair, did my own make-up, didn't spray tan. Tickets to go were I think $30ish?
Obviously it's not one kid going in their own limo, you get a group of 5 or 6 couples and it works out to $15-$20 each.
My mum bought my dress, my nana bought my shoes (she loves shoes and loves buying them for me and my sister and cousin) and I paid for the rest.
I've never heard of anyone spending a grand though. I'd say $500 is high. $200-$350/$400 is average. Here Melbourne Australia) anyway. | |
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