Prom season...money tight?

[Dowser]

Just wondered how everyone else is coping?
While my grandson is wrestling with his gcse’s he suddenly dropped the Pbomb.

My own children didnt have proms , so this is the first generation in the family to go through it.

His mum and dad are struggling a bit. You know the situation. New job, min wage., so less money, unexpected car bill, literally nothing in the kitty for extras and heresthe young man needing a suit, shirt, tie, shoes, waistcoat, ticket for the event...and now the bombshell..a seat in the limo that’s only going one way for £60

He’s at a state school but he’s in with a crowd who have more well to do parents.

Although it’s nice to mark the end of their time st school I really feel it’s an added pressure parents could do without.
( I know if he was a girl there’d be make up, tan, nails and hair)

I mean £600 for a limo for a distance of 30 miles? Then it’s find your own way home lads.

I can see nana is going to have to help out but I think it’s all wrong.

Plus there’s talk of alcohol as well.
I think the school has a responsibility to keep it in house.

What do other mothers think?

That’s lovely @Dowser, not only the prom things but a wonderful way for him to remember a special time in his life, a wonderful memory

I was being a bit smug with ds - thinking 'a black suit - can be worn over the next year for all weddings / funerals / interviews (and for a lot of lads they need a suit fir 'Business dress' in 6th form).
How wrong was I?
6 weeks later he'd grown that much it didn't fit (had, fortunately got a wedding out of it as well as prom).
Was glad we hadn't spent a ridiculous amount on it though.

No need to pay out for the limo. Nobody cares who arrives in what.

I was really lucky. Daughter went with a friend in Grandads old classic car for no cost (we gave him some beers). Dress was from Debenhams and didnt cost much. £60? Made by Quiz. Nice range.

Son was rather alternative. Him and his mates donned sunglasses and walked! We did buy him a suit which he duly used after for interviews and a wedding (I think boys wear is far more useful after). The best part was when a girl in their year who had to use a wheelchair arrived. They promptly appeared again as a group and carried her in the chair up the steps. It was all a bit different but they saved us a fortune!

A budget of £300 is ridiculous.

You can get a new evening suit from loads of shops for under £100 and from John Lewis for about £120 but loads second hand for much less. Black school shoes, white shirt and a tie. Doesn't someone in the family have a tie and shirt that he can borrow?

Why does he need spending money? Isn't everything included in the ticket. Tickets are usually reasonably priced- I think my DC were about £20?

M&S suits are £89.

Sainsburys are £69

Mine need cash for photos and soft drinks at the venue (it's at a hotel)

My dd has a £50 dress, £25 shoes, £20 on accessories and the girls are doing each other' s make up, nails snd hair. Limo is £40 per girl and they have the car for an hour. Prom has been on their radar since the beginning of y11.

Primark suits are reasonably priced and the slim fit style fits tall, slim ds1 (6 foot 2) perfectly. Shirts are £5-£8 and he uses them for his part-time job and attends Sixth Form in suits. (Very strict)

I think burton are doing their deal again that you get a free shirt and tie if you buy a suit. DH likes a slim fit suit and theirs are good on him. Some taxi companies might have nicer cars they could use and would probably be cheaper? We didn't have a lot of money but my prom was great fun.

We did Prom on a lot less

Dress £60 Quiz Sale
Shoes £25
Jewellery £10 plus she wore my late grandmothers necklace
Hairdresser £20
Make up - did it herself
Ticket £50
Transport - we drove her and picked her up

Total £165

I know it can be very expensive but I think a prom is a lovely idea and I say that as a Mum of 5DC.

Our 2 DD's are the youngest so they haven't had they're proms yet but the boys have and it did cost us a small fortune but it was worth it,they had an amazing time and the memories and the pictures will last a life time.

Wow it all seems like so much money for just one evening. I have two daughters, one in secondary. I had no idea they have end of GCSE proms.

I drove my DD's, their dresses were £10 off amazon, I did hair, make up free at the boots counters.

Go into local charity shops and see if you can leave details in case suits come in, I bought DD's latest dress for£2 from a hospice shop, £200 new!

Say no to the limo if you want and no unsupervised booze

Ps the leavers ball (private school 6thform) has cost me about £350 but that's for 3 dresses and alterations, a suit, 4 tickets and wine package - parents go too. So £300 is way more than needed. Ok I need to add an Uber but that's all

Top shop currently have a free shirt and tie with all suits and students get 20% off this weekend as well, so maybe worth a look

Tell your grandson to ask on Facebook / Social Media if anyone has a decent car to arrive in, there's usually a fair few folk around LOVE an excuse to get their classic car out of storage - that should save him plenty of money.