[susannah59]

That prom night figure amazes me. Maybe it’s because I don’t have daughters, but I don’t understand. What on Earth do you spend over $2K for, on a prom??

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My rented tux back in 1967 cost $30.

[Will88]

What on Earth do you spend over $2K for, on a prom??

My prom nights cost about $30.00 for a corsage and a little gasoline. We wore whatever suit we already had. Some girls did buy new dresses so I guess the cost for girls was higher.

These days guys rent tuxedos and sometimes limos, plus many check into a hotel for the night, also. And the girls really go all out on the dresses, shoes and accessories. There's probably more.

[randog]

What on Earth do you spend over $2K for, on a prom??

That has me puzzled, too. My first thought is that it's a poor family's best opportunity to get their daughter married off...??

[count-your-change]

Let’s see....$100 for a dress and $1900 for legal fees and fines when the kid has a wreck while drunk.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I have a close relative who has filed for bankruptcy twice, and who is currently struggling financially and very worried about the future. She and her husband (who has already been treated for a smoking-related cancer) both continue to smoke, and in the state that they live in it probably costs them $9/pk or more. Between the two of them they therefore probably spend at least $25-30/day for tobacco. They could easily be spending $8,000 - $10,000 per year on this habit.

In addition, there are lotto ticket purchases, eating out at family restaurants frequently, online and TV shopping purchases etc. I'm not being judgmental, but what was said in this article about making bad choices is definitely true.

[Mister Da]

“What on Earth do you spend over $2K for, on a prom??”

$500 dress
$200 shoes
$200 Hair & nails
$200 costume jewelry
$200 limo
$200 dinner at fancy restaurant
$100 flowers
$200 after prom party
$200 champagne & drinks
$10 Pepto & aspirin
$2010 total

(potential $500 to bail bondsman)

Just looking at these numbers, it is easy to imagine they could double or triple.

[Mercat]

Our daughter borrowed a dress. Because she went in spite of the fact that she was on deep double down grounded/probation, she got no money from us at all. Our sons I think we gave each of them a couple hundred for a tux and mad money and the loan of a car although the younger one wanted to drive his 18 year old Dodge van with the clear plastic roof. Can’t imagine why.

He was stopped at 2:00 a.m. for a right turn on red without stopping and even though he was in this old van and had hair to the middle of his back, that’s all they charged him for. In other words, he was clean and sober and had just dropped off his girl friend. The other one borrowed my Miata and his date almost fell out of her topless dress getting into it. LOL. Memories.

[goseminoles]

In 1989, I spent about $100 for a tux, liquor, gas, and condoms.

[Beagle8U]

Prom dress, flowers, limo, condoms, pictures ?

[Jeff Chandler]

What on Earth do you spend over $2K for, on a prom??

Some idiots pay to let their princesses pretend to be rich and famous: limo, VERY expensive dress, VERY expensive meal, HOTEL ROOM????!!

The irony is the fact that it's really all very low class behavior.

[Smokin' Joe]

What on Earth do you spend over $2K for, on a prom??

What do they spend money on? A fancy gown (bought, not a rental), expensive restaurant dinner, limo rental ('cause the family beater is too beat--if there is one), flowers, nails, hair, photographer, etc...

For those who have little, going nuts and bingeing on special occasions gives an aura of importance and is commonplace, but economically destructive overall.