Apr
19
2007
Why didn’t anyone warn me that I would have to spend most of my life savings on high school senior/graduation expenses for my son? I mean seriously, does he really need his high school diploma matted and framed? Does he need a mini-tassel key ring with a 2007 dazzler? What is a dazzler anyway? I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m going bankrupt, and I can only imagine what the college years will be like. Ay yi yi!
So, here’s my list of 13 unforeseen (they were to me anyway) expenses of a high school senior…
- Formal senior pictures. You know? The kind with the tuxedo? Well, um, we skipped that one. I must be a bad mother for sure. Well, Gus did actually have his picture taken in the tux, but only so that his picture would be in the yearbook (see #4). You see, the least expensive photo package was $400, and I just couldn’t see paying that much money for a picture of Gus in a tuxedo. I would so much rather spend my money on a more casual, yet professional, photo. Gus agreed, so we had pictures taken with a great local photographer for almost the same price, but definitely, much better quality.
- Cap and Gown pictures. Okay, so I did buy the cap and gown pictures, which were much more reasonable in price (approx. $80). Gus will have plenty of opportunities in his life to have a picture made in a tuxedo. Such as at his prom (see #6), where I’ll have to buy more pictures. Or does his date buy the pictures? Please, Miss Date, buy the pictures!
- Senior dues. The $120 dues pays for his cap and gown, the Senior breakfast, and a variety of other graduation festivities. This is a requirement, so no negotiating on that one.
- Yearbook. Okay, since when did a yearbook cost as much as a one-way airline ticket to Tampa ($75)? The hell? And, if you really want to get all sentimental, you can buy a ’senior ad’ for your son or daughter to display in the back of the yearbook. You know? The kind of ad where you pay $75-$150 (depending on the page size) to display a couple of pictures of your teenager and write something all schmoozey about them? Which I didn’t do. And really? I’m not that terrible mother because I’ve got another idea in mind for Gus that will be much more memorable than a yearbook ad. At least, I hope he thinks so. And it’s free—only my time will be involved. And I have so much of that at the moment.
- Spring Break trip. Seven nights in a condo in Panama City Beach with nine other teenage boys including spending money? $600. I just have to say that there were a couple of chaperons that went with them that stayed a few rooms away. And I haven’t heard any stories of debauchery as of yet. Please, Mrs. Chaperons, no stories of debauchery!
- Senior Prom. I don’t even know the full amount yet. All that I do know is that the tuxedo (that we haven’t completely come to agreement on as far as style goes) is $129. I’m assuming that the dinner will cost upwards of $70 plus tip, a date ticket is $50, and a wrist corsage is $20. Thankfully, no limo as of yet. Please, Gus and Miss Date, no limo!
- Graduation announcements. I’m afraid that I didn’t order enough. Nevertheless, it set me back $60, which is on the less expensive end. God forbid I order the fancy cards with the gold-embossed lettering and envelopes, tissue inserts, photo stickers, and whatnot. I’m telling you…I went basic, people!
- Graduation and party banners. Thank goodness for Shingdigz.com is all that I can say. If you ever need a personalized banner, check out this site. I bought an 18″ x 54″ personalized graduation banner (to display at the front of our subdivision) for $14.99! I also bought a couple of personalized signs for his graduation party (see #10) for $9.99 each.
- Class ring. Now, I must admit that I did not buy Gus a high school ring. Do people really wear high school rings after high school anyway? Thankfully, Gus did not want one (he’s so agreeable that way), so we settled on a new pair of Sperry’s instead. And that set me back about $70 as opposed to the $200 or more for a ring. Score!
- Graduation party. Hmm…I’m still working on this one. I have a plan, a ton of people to invite, and food to buy, but I’m just not sure where to have this party. There’s a local community house that I’m thinking of renting, but then again, I could have it at my house. But if the weather is bad, everyone will be squished in my house, and I will be a nervous wreck. And the dogs will not be happy. So, I’m thinking that shelling out the $100 to rent the house isn’t such a bad idea. Then, throw in another $250 or so for large pans of something food-like. Any ideas? BBQ maybe?
- Graduation attire. Gus needs a pair of black pants and a white shirt for graduation. Of course, he doesn’t have either. Looks like a trip to TJMaxx is in order. Guess that’ll set me back about $50.
- Professional video of the graduation ceremony and other senior activities. Not a bad deal for $25, I guess. The video will include scenes from all of the senior graduation activities and of the complete graduation ceremony.
- Graduation trip/present. This is the cruise with several of his friends (and some other parents) that I discussed here. This will serve as both graduation trip and graduation present. I gave Gus the option of either taking the money that it’s costing for both of us to take this trip or taking the trip. So in all of his infinite teenage wisdom? He chose the trip. Bon Voyage, people! But trust me, I’m sure that he’ll hit me up for a laptop come Fall. Unless the grandparents buy the laptop. Please, grandparents, buy the laptop!
And that’s just the short list, y’all! And let me warn you right now that Balfour will suck the life right out of you. Thank goodness I have only one child. And a boy, at that. Aren’t girls much more expensive?
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday Thirteen: Happy Garlic Day!
Today is Garlic Day, and to “celebrate” the day, I list here the functions of garlic
Garlic…
cleanses the blood,
maintains healthy bacteria in the bowel,
helps to reduce a fever,
is an antiseptic with antibiotic and antifunga…
Oh you remind me of something
My daughter is going through this with her son this year and a daughter next year. They both went to the Prom – VERY expensive, but her daughter and her date got to ride in a limo with 7 other couples FREE! her son rode in another one with other couples but he worked and made his money for the limo – she paid for the tux, dinner, and it cost $40 for a wrist corsage there.
She skipped the class ring (he didn’t care) and the class pictures although I would have paid for them. Cost her only $25 for the formal pic to go in the annual, and she’ll get proofs of that. And, he made his money to go on his Spring break/senior trip with friends and one of their fathers. Her daughter also got to go with friends and a friend’s grandmother – her stepfather (who doesn’t live with them anymore) paid most of her way.
My grandson will get a laptop for graduation to take to college with him. I think she’s spent out and still has it coming again next year! I’m glad my kids weren’t as expensive to raise. But, I only had 2 -she has 4!
Check out my TT.
So I should start saving now, eh? I don’t like unexpected expenses and it seems you have had PLENTY!
My TT13 is up!
And I thought that my son’s kindergarten expenses were high!
Sounds like you’re keeping a really good head on your shoulders though, and only taking those things that really matter. Pictures in a tux at that age just look stilted anyway, and no, he’s not going to wear the ring later anyway.
Oh Lulu, don’t feel like a bad mom. My mom didn’t do half that stuff and trust me, I’m not scarred! In fact, looking back, I feel bad about what she did get because it so wasn’t a big deal to me! I still have graduation announcements from high school….and that was 9 years ago!
Oh and on the class ring…Phoo has one. And at the discovery I couldn’t stop laughing at him! And then when I found pictures of him wearing it, I’m pretty sure I wet myself. Trust me, that will wind up in some drawer somewhere (he won’t wear it to college)…the question is, is the price really worth making his future wife fall on the floor laughing? Could be, could be…it tickled me to no end!
Wow, those are a lot of expenses! When my mom graduated high school, she had her grade 13 photo, which was done in cap and gown (so they weren’t separate photos), her class ring, her prom and her yearbook. That was it! I guess things have really changed since 1991!
Wow, you did some serious spending there.
)
But honestly, is all that stuff really necessary? I mean, it’s just high school. What’s the big deal with high school in America? I mean, it’s not exactly all that big of an achievement to make it through high school, is it?
I don’t know, maybe it really is different in your country. Here in Germany things are a bit more relaxed on this occasion. People usually just throw a party (much more informal than your school balls, from what I know of them from TV) and that’s about it.
For me, the best thing about having finished high school was not having to go there anymore. LOL That was enough of a reward and I certainly wouldn’t have spend money (neither my own nor my parents’) for keepsakes like official photos or a ring that will just gather dust in some drawer anyway.
What will you do when he has finished university or college then? Take out a loan?
Well, anyway, this list just makes me appreciate once more how easy my life is without children to take care of.
*insert a little gratified happy dance here*
The Europeans don’t understand American culture..We go bigtime ALL the time!!
There seems to be a bit of a revolution about the cost of getting married going on over here in the UK. The basic theme is to cut the event back to what it was 20-30 years ago. Maybe you need the same for graduation? Seems like if you add up all those costs there is a good chunk of money to spend on actually living properly vanishing into an industry built on the threat of being a bad parent if you don’t get something.
Or maybe I’m turning into a grumpy old man in my 30s
Along the same lines as the ring and the yearbook, does anyone ever watch the graduation video after they’ve seen it once?
You could just as easily borrow a camera, get the part of the ceremony you care about and save yourself there.
Also, for the party, I wouldn’t go too all out. No one is going to remember what color table cloths you had on the tables. Plus with all the other parties people will have to attend, finger foods are the way to go. Veggie/fruit trays, cake and punch are all that I had at my grad party. Anything more than that and we’d have been eating bbq for years!
Above all, enjoy it, since you only get to do it once.
Happy TT!
WOW!
A little part of me (the part that controls the purse strings) hopes my kids drop out of school so I can avoid the hassle. I’M JUST KIDDING!