Prom is fast approaching for students at high schools across the country.
One of the most talked-about components of prom is the cost. Attendees ask their friends questions like, “Does the dress cost too much? Too little? Is a limo worth it? How much should the guy spend?”
I think all of these questions are overrated. First of all, how can a dress cost too little? Also, it’s a modern world, the guys shouldn’t have to carry all the weight!
Prom these days is treated like a wedding reception, or some other equally superfluous event. America, as a whole, spends $6.6 billion per year on proms, according to TheKnot Inc. That’s $6.6 billion that could be used to put food in the mouths of the homeless, or to fund health care for those who can’t afford it. Instead, the money is being spent on dresses with so many sequins you’re blinded by them, hair styles that will only last a few hours, and offensive music pumped up so loud you can almost feel your ears bleed.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not hate prom. Prom can be a fun night for seniors and their dates to have that “last hurrah” before going their separate ways after graduation. I just think that the amount of importance people have placed on this one night, leading to them spending obscene amounts of money on it, is ridiculous. Students need to realize that prom can very easily be less stressful and costly. Dresses are available for under $100 at consignment shops, and tuxedos are often on sale, a special deal, or available for rental during prom season. Friends could swap jewelry and do each other’s hair and nails, rather than spending hundreds of dollars on new jewelry and high-end salons. By exploring new options, prom costs could be cut immensely, thus reducing stress on students and parents alike.