Prom: the highlight of every typical high schooler’s experience as a teenager — a night to remember forever, right?
Well, our wallets will remember prom, that’s for sure.
Prom these days has become a huge fiasco, with all the bells and whistles. Not only does this burn a hole in wallets everywhere, it takes away from the actual purpose: to dress up, socialize, dance, and have a good time.
Now, I’m just as guilty as the next girl for over-spending on a dress that I will likely only wear once or twice, but even so, a perspective adjustment is needed for everyone.
According to The Mercury News, “In a study conducted by Visa Inc., the average prom-going teen spent almost $1,000 on the event in 2014 and 2015. Costs include attire, limousine or car rentals, tickets, flowers, pictures, food, accommodations, the ‘promposal,’ and an after party, to name a few.”
It’s gotten out of hand; some high schoolers are worrying about whether or not someone else will have the same dress as them instead of thinking about whether or not they’re going to have fun.
Many people would admit that, as of now, prom is more about the makeup, the dress, and the pictures, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
If the norm wasn’t to spends buckets of money on an expensive dress or suit that one may never wear again, less stress would be placed on prom attendees, and nobody would be trying to look like Megan Fox or Channing Tatum straight off the red carpet.
According to Psychology Today, “In preparation a lot of emotional and financial investment can be made. However, it’s important to remember that the more hopes and money are invested in the occasion, the greater the anticipation that is created and the harder that expectation is to fulfill when it becomes unrealistically high.”
So go ahead and get the spray tan, the shoes, the dress, and the corsage, but just know that spending over a thousand dollars is not necessary to look the part and have a fulfilling prom experience. Your wallet will thank you, I promise.
