Proms are an Americana taking the UK by storm
Pressured parents are spending over £1,000 on their teen’s annual prom celebrations while more than one in ten have gone into the red to pay for their child’s busy social life, according to new research from Sheila’s Wheels home insurance.
“Proms are a great way to celebrate the year’s achievements, but it seems many are losing sight of this and spending money excessively."
The study polled over 1,000 parents with children aged between 11 and 18 to look at the impact of the US school and college-leavers craze on Britain. It was found that parents are spending approximately £1,183 to keep their teenage children from throwing ‘My Super Sweet 16’-style tantrums, as 13 per cent admitted that their teens expected pre-prom treatment and the event itself to be on a par with the hit MTV reality show and others like Glee.
A third of parents admitted that they have had to cut back on their own expenses in order to pay for their children’s extravagances.
According to the findings, the average parent spends £209 on their child’s prom celebrations. Daughters rack up the largest bill for parents with preparations for a prom party costing £229, but sons still set their parents back a substantial £185. Despite the continuing recession parents earning less than £20,000 fork out as much as £170 for their child’s ‘red-carpet moment’.
Embracing the glitter and sparkle of the high school prom, over one in ten parents have paid for their teenager to have a spray tan before their prom while eight per cent have paid for a sun bed. A worrying seven per cent of parents polled have even forked out for their children to have surgical procedures. Other fancy treatments lavished on teens include professional hairstyles (38 per cent), fish pedicures (seven per cent), hair removal (ten per cent) and facials (nine per cent).
Jacky Brown, at Sheila’s Wheels home insurance, said: “Proms are a great way to celebrate the year’s achievements, but it seems many are losing sight of this and spending money excessively.
“The cost of new outfits and accessories can really add up, especially if you are buying new ones for each party. It’s crucial not to underestimate the cost to replace a glamorous wardrobe,” she added.
Nearly half of parents admitted feeling guilty if they did not help their child look their best at a party, while others felt it was their duty as a parent. Over a third of parents said that they regularly buy new outfits for their children to attend a party, despite the fact that they do not wear them again. Proving that many young people are thinking more A-list than A-Levels, almost one in five parents said that their teenagers put partying above their studies.
According to the findings, the average parent spends £89 on their teen’s prom outfit and accessories and £34 on hair and make-up. 13 per cent of parents have paid in excess of £40 for their child’s ticket to the prom while a sixth have spent more than £30 a head on travel.
While sixteen year olds set their parents back the most, with the average prom party costing £246, one in ten families are now hosting elaborate celebrations to mark their child finishing primary school.
A tenth of British parents have organised a pre-prom party for their teen while eight per cent have felt compelled to hire a venue and entertainment to celebrate their child’s end of year celebrations. Others have organised a party at home to try and keep costs down.
How much are you spending on your teen’s prom this year? Tell us more in the comment box below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst
Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM