How much will you be spending on prom?

[Pigeon]

Original OP here, and I just wanna say thanks for all honest replies. I posted in another thread ( I'm new, and apparently I didn't post the "right" thing on the "right" board about this subject. My but people do get their undies in a bunch about this stuff?
They ripped me apart because we spent about $900 on my daughters prom gown and everything else.
I must defend myself somewhat here though. Where we live people spend up to $600-$700 on a prom dress. We are fortunate, we can afford it. Not that I agree with spending money this way all the time -- whether u can afford it or not.
And, I do feel bad for those parents that the burden of this expense can bring.
Where we live, the kids aren't put down if they don't come to prom in a $600 dress either.
It is what it is. If you have it, you do, if not, that's ok too!
This night is just as much about my daughter and I spending fun, quality time together planning, arranging, and buying for this special night in her life that's do important to her!

Oh please. You waltzed into a thread where a person was asking for help in keeping costs down because her family was in a tight place financially, to brag about how much money you squander.

 

[njmom47]

We have a son, so our cost is significantly lower.

We'll need to purchase new dress pants, dress shirt and matching tie to girlfriends dress (less than $100). Only Juniors and Seniors wear tuxes.

Dinner before Prom, tickets to Prom and a corsage for gf (around $100).

So total of approx $200.

This gives me hope!

Although I'm not sure who is paying for the bids. Bids for Senior Ball are $172 per couple. I don't even know how much for Junior Prom. Ds's gf said they will drive to one because it's close but the other is far away so probably will do the limo with a bunch of other kids.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Original OP here, and I just wanna say thanks for all honest replies. I posted in another thread ( I'm new, and apparently I didn't post the "right" thing on the "right" board about this subject. My but people do get their undies in a bunch about this stuff?
They ripped me apart because we spent about $900 on my daughters prom gown and everything else.
I must defend myself somewhat here though. Where we live people spend up to $600-$700 on a prom dress. We are fortunate, we can afford it. Not that I agree with spending money this way all the time -- whether u can afford it or not.
And, I do feel bad for those parents that the burden of this expense can bring.
Where we live, the kids aren't put down if they don't come to prom in a $600 dress either.
It is what it is. If you have it, you do, if not, that's ok too!
This night is just as much about my daughter and I spending fun, quality time together planning, arranging, and buying for this special night in her life that's do important to her!

Hmm, maybe it was because no one asked how much you spent on prom in that thread, they asked how to cut the expenses. Nothing you said added anything to that conversation.

 

[maxaroni]

I have a DS and he's out of HS 2 years but it was much less than the girls. Tux, corsage and tickets. Proms here are at a wedding venue and DS had his in Philly. Most took limos or party buses. Full dinner with "cocktail" hour. Then it is the after parties followed by the weekend at the shore. Most rent homes/condos and the liquor is flowing all weekend. My DS opted to not do that.

 

[taymaesmom]

Lucked out on dd's dress, when shopping for her homecoming dress we stumbled upon a massive sale of last years dresses. She ended up purchasing her homecoming dress, prom dress and another fancy dress for less that $40. She saved over $500. We just need to have it cut off and hemmed (aunt will do it free) and get shoes. I think I have jewlery that will work and she needs something for her hair. My sis is a hairdresser and does nails so we are good there. She will have to buy her ticket since she currently doesn't have a date (her boyfriend moved out of state) so she may just go with friends. I may get her a corsage and pay for dinner out if she wants

 

[Jenny3]

My dd isn't going to prom because we can't afford it. The tickets are $80 each. My hubby has been off work for a month with a brain injury so unfortunately there is no extra money for tickets, gown, hair,etc.

Very sorry to hear that! I hope your DH is okay.

My dad lost his job my senior year; I wore a bridesmaid dress from my aunts wedding to prom, even borrowed the dyed shoes to match! Mom did my hair and makeup and my neighbor did my nails. Borrowed jewelry. I hope you can do similar for your daughter, if she wants to go that is

 

[ManyMinnie]

Oh please. You waltzed into a thread where a person was asking for help in keeping costs down because her family was in a tight place financially, to brag about how much money you squander.

 

[cats mom]

This gives me hope!

Although I'm not sure who is paying for the bids. Bids for Senior Ball are $172 per couple. I don't even know how much for Junior Prom. Ds's gf said they will drive to one because it's close but the other is far away so probably will do the limo with a bunch of other kids.

My DS doesn't have a steady girlfriend so he generally has a different date each time. Variety is the spice of life, right?

When DS asks the girl to the dance he pays for both tickets.
(I'm assuming that's the same thing as the bids you're referring to?)

But when the girl does the asking they each pay for their own ticket, which runs approx $70 per person here and is good for the dance only.

Either way DS pays for dinner.

 

[agalati]

Anyone see Nina Garcia challenge Zack Posen about modern prom dress length on Project Runway recently? It was pretty great. According to Zack (the one that is actually a designer), long is still in.

 

[mndisneylovinmom]

That's why our town does the after prom party hosted at the local sports center with prizes and other incentives to get the kids to attend.

Our school does the after prom party too. They have good munchies, activites and really nice prizes. They also require kids to take a breathlizer before prom, as well as before entering after prom party. It's a great way to keep them safe.

 

[mndisneylovinmom]

Hmm, maybe it was because no one asked how much you spent on prom in that thread, they asked how to cut the expenses. Nothing you said added anything to that conversation.

Well excuse me, it was my mistake that I didn't read the beginning of the post, or entire posts! If I had, I wouldn't of posted my post! I'm not a mean , vindictive person out to make people who are having financial issues feel bad!! especially when it has to do with kids. im a mother... i get it.

But, Good Grief you seriously need to back off! I'm only human!

 

[MomToOne]

Well excuse me, it was my mistake that I didn't read the beginning of the post, or entire posts! If I had, I wouldn't of posted my post!

Rule #1 of Internet chat boards: Read the first post to be sure you know the topic of the thread. And whenever possible, read the ENTIRE thread before joining in.

 

[mndisneylovinmom]

Yes, I know that now.

 

[JessB320]

Oh please. You waltzed into a thread where a person was asking for help in keeping costs down because her family was in a tight place financially, to brag about how much money you squander.

This exactly

 

[JessB320]

Hmm, maybe it was because no one asked how much you spent on prom in that thread, they asked how to cut the expenses. Nothing you said added anything to that conversation.

Yup!!!

 

[JessB320]

Well excuse me, it was my mistake that I didn't read the beginning of the post, or entire posts! If I had, I wouldn't of posted my post! I'm not a mean , vindictive person out to make people who are having financial issues feel bad!! especially when it has to do with kids. im a mother... i get it.

But, Good Grief you seriously need to back off! I'm only human!

So what did you read then exactly???

 

[mbf]

My DD is in college now but when she went to prom the last two years of HS we were fortunate to be able to locate her "dream dress" on Craigslist (Jr year) and Ebay (Sr year). We paid about $125 for each dress and then about another $40 on alterations. Shoes from Deb (Jr year $20) and Charlotte Russe (Sr year $20 and then I bedazzled them). Jewelry from the local glitzy type store, not expensive. $10 for a flower for date's lapel. She went with a friend both times. The first time her date paid the $60/couple ticket (which included dinner) and then second time she and her date split it because she had been dumped by her BF a week prior and her good guy friend stepped in to take her last minute.

 

[MrsPete]

Our house rule:

I'll pay $100 for clothing /accessories /prep for a semi-formal dance.
I'll pay $200 for clothing /accessories /prep for prom.
I don't include tickets in this budget because they can't control that cost.

Both of my girls have had no problem finding nice semi-formal dresses in the $40 range, and they've even figured out that it's smart to look at the clearance racks when no dance is immediately on the horizon. Having a really nice ($20) dress hanging in the closet was an immense help recently when my youngest was invited to Military Ball with only three days' notice.

Only my oldest has attended prom so far, and she's managed quite well with that budget. Her junior year she fell in love with a dress that was (after tax) about $210. She paid the $10 out of her pocket, wore shoes she already had, carried a purse of mine, and did her own hair/nails. She spent every penny of her budget, but she was satisified with her choices.

Her second year she lucked into a great dress on a clearance rack for $50, so she had plenty of money left. Frugal to the bone, she wore the same shoes /carried the same purse she'd used the year before, still did her own hair and nails . . . and asked if she could have the unspent $150 for college clothes. I said yes -- isn't that the way adult budgets work? If you scrimp in one area, you have more to spend in another.

I'm happy with this "you have this amount to spend" method. I think it's a way of teaching them to work within a set amount and to prioritize what they way.

One cost I haven't seen mentioned on this thread (though I can't say I read every post) is pictures. Those can cost a good bit, but they're worthwhile -- the kids put so much preparation into prom; it's worthwhile to have a good photograph.

 

[jrmasm]

As little as possible. Memories can be made without spending a fortune.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well excuse me, it was my mistake that I didn't read the beginning of the post, or entire posts! If I had, I wouldn't of posted my post! I'm not a mean , vindictive person out to make people who are having financial issues feel bad!! especially when it has to do with kids. im a mother... i get it.

But, Good Grief you seriously need to back off! I'm only human!

Rule #1 of Internet chat boards: Read the first post to be sure you know the topic of the thread. And whenever possible, read the ENTIRE thread before joining in.

Yes, I know that now.

This exactly

Yup!!!

Are you sure you all are old enough to have kids going to Prom? IT sounds like a 4th grade fight going on here.

Take it off line folks! You are fighting over behavior in another thread?? And then you want to trash someone for not reading the entire thread when you started an entirely off topic rant here. Pot meet kettle LOL!