Patch Poll: How Much Will You Spend on Prom?
Midwestern families will spend an average of $696, a survey says. How does that compare with your experience?
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The dress. The tux. The corsage. The prom.
That may have been sufficient to describe this high school ritual of passage in the past. But today, add the spray tan, the manicure and pedicure, the limo, the pre-prom party, the after-prom cruise on Lake Michigan. The cost.
Visa Inc. has released a national survey that shows when it comes to high school proms, Americans appear to be willing to spend ever increasing amounts. American families who have teenagers will spend an average of $1,078 each on the prom this year, a 33.6% boost over the $807 spent in 2011, according to the survey.
Visa says Midwesterners are the most frugal. Regionally, the survey found:
- 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 and
- Midwestern families will spend an average of $696.
The Visa survey also found that parents are planning to pay for 61% of prom costs while their teens are covering the remaining 39%.
One troubling statistic, the survey said, is that parents surveyed who fell in the lowest income brackets (less than $50,000) plan to spend more than the national average, $1,307.
“Prom season spending is spiraling out of control as teens continuously try to one-up each other," said Jason Alderman, senior director of global financial education, Visa Inc., in a prepared statement. "It's important to remember that the prom is a high school dance, not a wedding, and parents need to set limits in order to demonstrate financial responsibility."
How much do you plan to spend on your teen’s prom?
Last week’s Patch Poll asked, Why are you in the market for a new car?
The answers and tally were:
- With gas at almost $5 a gallon, I want a more fuel-efficient vehicle. 28 percent
- Car prices are not going to come down. There is no reason to wait. 4 percent
- It is just time for retire my old car. 54 percent
- Other reasons. 14 percent
Robert Poznanski said his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee is humming along just fine, with 170,000 miles on the odometer. “When the wheels fall off, then I guess I'll have to get another!! Funny thing is, the price, of the new ones, are the same as what I paid for this one, in 2003! Go figure!!,” he wrote.
To read all the comments, click here.
Claudia's Closet
8:10 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
Claudia's Closet is the talk of the town for Prom, with the largest selection. Over 400 dresses in stock sizes 0-26. Designer dresses are available at a fraction of the cost, such as Aylce, Jovani, Mon Cheri, Sheri Hill, Mac Duggal, Cassandra Stone, and much more! 80% of the inventory is brand new with tags 50-90% off retail prices. Claudia's Closet 217 W. Main Street Downtown Saint Charles, IL 60174 on Main Street west of the River between 2nd and 3rd. www.claudiasboutiquecloset.com (630) 584-8009
Jim Court
9:24 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
I am not quite sure if I understand the relevancy and need of these overly formal and expensive proms. What rite of passage does it symbolize ? Outlandish expenses, drinking, drugs, sex. Not everybody and perhaps I am wrong. Anybody want to weigh in on this?
Charlotte Eriksen
10:19 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
Nooo, it's a memory a lot of us will carry with us forever! I get your point and I guess, unfortunately, that could apply to some people at prom. But looking back, as a senior, it symbolized the culmination of four years of friendship, hard work, awkward dates and warring with parents over our privacy and freedom. I remember feeling celebrated and lucky—it was like our parents and teachers rewarded us by treating us like complete rockstars, and trusting us to act like adults. I'm embarrassed/feel guilty about the $$$ that was spent on that night, though :/.
NancyC
10:49 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
Like most things in our youth's lives these days(outdoor activities - sports), prom too has been taken over by adults. How about turning the whole event back over to the students? Beginning freshman year the class begins raising money to fund the prom they will throw their Junior year for the Seniors and themselves( they'll want to be frugal cuz the residual will be to fund the Senior trip their last year in school). Car washes, bake sales etc. The Sophomore class serves as waiters and waitresses at the dinner served on campus in the lavishly, Jr. class decorated gym, food either catered or prepared by the culinary students! There's a lot less expense this way and a lot more lessons learned, for years! Instead you've got a very expensive field trip.
Kari Fikar
10:13 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
I paid for everything for my senior prom in 2006. The dress, shoes, makeup, hair, boutiner, etc. I say if they want it, make them work for it.
Jim Court
4:33 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Charlotte,
I do understand the memory aspect and you are obviously a very wise and mature person but the above comments make me believe it can be memorable yet not so artificial and expensive.
Charlotte Eriksen
9:42 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
You're right. I'm not sure where you're getting artificial, though? Let's keep in mind it's a completely individual thing. There's no 'right' way to do prom. I think I may have shot myself in the foot :).
Ramona
8:23 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
I bought the dress last summer on a clearance rack, she had seen and falled in love with it, same with the shoes. We borrowed the purse. She had a friend do her hair, which she paid for, she paid for her ticket and post prom. The limo for her group was a gift, which was so kind. So, since I got my stuff on sale a while ago and borrowed the purse, I was not out a lot. Actually, most the group she went with did things more modestly.
Vona Vortex
9:22 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
I loved proms and actually went to several of them. My parents only paid for one dress from a yard sale on my first one. I paid for all of the rest with money that I had earned with my first job. I think they are a wonderful ritual, and symbolize the end of years of hard work. All the guys I went with paid for dinner out of their own pocket with money they had earned. Only one "rich" friend got the fancy rooms and cars, but his father helped pay.
I am supportive of the extra after prom activities and think they add value. But my kids will be made to work and help pay for everything from cars to clothes, save for college and fund their "fun." I wasn't given excesses and I am all the better for it.
Dick
11:15 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Zero.
Oscar Madison
7:44 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I quickly scanned the headline at thought it read: Patch Poll: How Much Will You Spend on Porn? "Midwestern families will spend an average of $696, a survey says..."
Wow.
Joseph R. Martan
11:38 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Why would an 18-year old male who wasn't in one of the "in" cliques or wasn't a high school jock want to spend all that money on a highschool female who didn't even acknowledge his existence as a human being for 3 2/3 years of high school? It isn't the males that want the "memories", it's the females who want that dance card, pressed flowers, ad nauseum so they can create a fictional memory. Back in my day at LT a lot of the senior males simply refused to waste the time and money on something so superficial. It was so much fun watching all the girls who couldn't get someone in their class to ask them to have to go outside the school to bring in cousins, college fellows or even sophomores and juniors. That conclusively established what a phony ritual the Senior Prom was. That money could be far more profitable used in paying tuition or building a decent college wardrobe.
Maria
11:56 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Well said Mr Martan. My daughter and her friends decided to skip prom for the same reasons you highlighted. Instead, their group of 6 close girlfriends made a different memory and planned their own event. To quote my daughter (who was asked to prom): "why would I want to spend all that money to go to prom with someone I don't know very well and don't really like? I would rather spend the night doing something really fun with my best friends before we all leave for different colleges."
Francis Glass
12:47 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I was fortunate to have a grandmother who was a wonderful seamstress and made some of my Christmas formal/prom dresses. I also had two older sisters and wore hand-me-downs that looked like new. The one time I did buy a dress for a dance, I think it was $40. We went out as a group before the prom (sharing one of the guy's cars) and ate at a reasonably priced restaurant. The guys did rent tuxes and they did buy us corsages and we bought them boutineers. I can't imagine the cost per couple came to much more than $200. Granted, I went to high school in the 20th century but it still doesn't have to be that expensive!
Robert Bykowski
12:48 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I went to two proms ('99, '00), both were awful. But, to be fair, I hated high school and everything about it, and going to prom was probably the only "extra-curricular" activity I participated in during the four years.
Joseph R. Martan
4:34 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Robert: Wait until your HS reunions. There IS a God - he may work a little slower than we like but he comes through. The orientals are correct - what goes around comes around. Look up the word "schadenfreude" - it applies to many who use the reunions as closure for that unpleasant four-year rite of passage.
Robert Bykowski
6:43 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
My 10 year reunion has already come and gone, and I didn't go. All of the friends I met in high school that mattered I still hang out with, so for me it would've been paying money to hang out with people i hang out with anyway!
Jim Court
8:02 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I believe graduation ceremonies would be an appropriate way to celebrate and give
significance to years spent, the friends made, and the past that is being left behind.
Proms seem to be very contrived and artificial. I am sure the ladies love them but as a guy I thought they were pretty meaningless and somewhat pretentious. I realize there are other perspectives.
Bob Santini
10:17 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
before you go knocking prom, try volunteering to become a chaperone; and actually witness whether the kids like it. the york staff and ptsa volunteers go out of their way to make this night memorable and safe for the kids. for many of them, it is the final culmination of hs; the last party so to speak. this year's york prom featured a midnight cruise on the inner harbor w several different music choices for the kids. as a parent, the most important thing is to support whatever decision your child makes. in other words, don't put pressure on them such that they think not going means they are a failure. keep in mind that sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree. if you don't sense they are excited about it, offer to take them (and/or their friends) somewhere fun for a night or a weekend. just because it's expensive doesn't make it wrong.