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It breaks down money spent by economic level. According to the article, people earning under $30,000 spend the most. I wonder how they got their information, as I highly doubt it is accurate.
"A new survey from Visa Inc."
Yes always trust a survey on what people plan to do next year by a credit card company .
I asked my second oldest daughter who teaches high school here- in the Fort Worth area of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. She helps chair the junior committee that puts on the prom for the seniors. She says their prom tickets are $95 each, but that does include a dinner and covers the DJ.
Based on her experience, very few students spend $300 or more on dresses. A few do go get their hair done, but many get together with friends and do each others hair or have one person come do them all so they are splitting any costs. Same for nails.
Also the kids tend to go in large groups and not necessarily as couples and in doing this they rent the large party buses instead of limos. She has no idea how much those cost these days.
Her best guess is that they spend less than $500 per couple, on average. Her school has the entire range of income levels from dirt poor to extremely well off.
They also provide an after prom activity that is free and is from midnight to 6:00 AM. Once there you can't leave until 6. Years past they have had things like poker tables and inflated obstacle courses. They have items you can win through the games or through drawings. They've given away anything from TV's to sports tickets to memberships. All donated items. Parents volunteer to work the event so there is virtually no paid staff. Attendance is pretty good there, although there are plenty who have their own parties either at homes or hotels.
You might want to re-think that whole Dad-meeting-date-at-the-door-while-sharpening-his knife deal (or whatever it was you were telling us about as your sure-fire way to screen dates) because if your daughters need pepper spray it's obviously not working.
I just want to point out to everyone whose answer to spending less on the prom is "buy a second hand dress" that someone has to buy the dress new in order for someone to later buy it second hand.
When I was in high school, the original plan for prom, was to charter a 747 jet and have the prom flying over Chicago.
When they only found two takers for their pre-sale of this dumb idea (at like $600 a ticket), they got realistic.
I guess our kids high school is boring. THey just have prom on a boat or at a local hall and tickets are about $60. There is a dress store that re-sells prom dresses and also a group that has a prom dress exchange at the school on evening. Tuxedos are rented. Most kids seem to go toghether and rent giant limo busses that hold 3-8 couples and share the cost. Others just drive Moms car. Dinner is usually at the prom and included. They might spend $300 each. I doubt it is that much. So far we only had girls go to prom. Dresses run $90 to 180 for a $600 dress (or they can wear sisters dress). Hair about $60 - $80 each (except when mom does their hair). Shoes, jewlry, they borrow from mom. Pepper spray is about $30. I cannot think of any other expenses.
Do many girls really wear their prom dresses again? Most college kids seem to gain 10-15 pounds in their Freshman year as they adjust unlimited quantities of available starchy foods. Can they be easily re-sized?
I can assure you with all that they are spending more then 300 bucks lol :-P
I just want to point out to everyone whose answer to spending less on the prom is "buy a second hand dress" that someone has to buy the dress new in order for someone to later buy it second hand.
Sounds like this should be a topic for Philosoraptor lol.
I just want to point out to everyone whose answer to spending less on the prom is "buy a second hand dress" that someone has to buy the dress new in order for someone to later buy it second hand.
Where else do you think all those bridesmaids dresses go?
Maybe--but who buys a $300.00 gown for a teenager?? My dress for my son's wedding was only $98.00 on sale. Renting a tux can be 60 plus. Driving a parent's car --free. Flowers 45-- Even if tickets add up to $200, how does it get to $1000.00, if you are not being excessive??
Does no one learn to sew any more?? I like to design and embellish my own clothes.
Apparently my coworker who maybe makes dbl minimum wage and got 2 dresses for her teenage dtr....one was over 300 and the other over 100 because she had a prom and a military ball to attend. Plus shoes and jewlelry --I think she spent upwards of $600 at the store.
I borrowed dresses for all 3 proms I attended in the 90's and just re-dyed shoes. I spent under $700 for my wedding dress.
You might want to re-think that whole Dad-meeting-date-at-the-door-while-sharpening-his knife deal (or whatever it was you were telling us about as your sure-fire way to screen dates) because if your daughters need pepper spray it's obviously not working.
Everyone needs pepper spray. Always. Unless you have a CCW.
That's because their children want limos, hotel rooms, expensive yet fancy dresses. Oh and that dreadful after-party. I didn't go to prom b/c my dad was unemployed. The children who want their prom to be like a rich celebrity wedding are crp and should get smacked.
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