OMG....Graduation, and how much it cost..... - Big Big Forums

Buslady469 · 09-13-2006, 10:41 PM

I am in such shock over the cost of High school Graduation...Caps, gowns, and the cost of 50 invitaions.....My Step daughter (she's not really, but it is so much easier to say that she is, then to explain the story) anyways, she caled me today, to let me know that she had ordered her stuff...so, I asked her how much...$300.00....I was in shock....and she is only aloud to order 50 invitations....as if parents do not have enough to pay for...that is total BS if you as me....Plus, she has not even had her Senior pictures yet.....which I am going to pay for....Am I the only one how feels this way?????

kyswpgrl · 09-13-2006, 10:51 PM

I probably paid around the same amount 10 years ago and went to a small school. So no, the cost does not surprise me in the least, but that doesn't mean I would be happy paying that much. I remember actually feeling kind of guilty that my parents had to spend so much just for me to be in the graduation ceremony. Of course the bonus was receiving cards, gifts, and money from everyone that I invited to attend.

gobs101 · 09-13-2006, 10:52 PM

wow, you got off cheap so far. I ended up over $800 for graduation. This including senior pictures but NOT the class ring which was another $350. Graduation is not cheap and I often wonder how people who are less fortunate pay or do these things for their children. Doent seem fair. Its all about the $$$$ anymore.

kyswpgrl · 09-13-2006, 10:55 PM

Yeah, think my mom wound up spending around $300 on my senior pics as well. I missed the ones the school took and went to a photographer to have mine done. I did pick a "cheap" class ring though...pretty sure it was under $100. Bad thing is my bf at the time had it and lost it about a week after I got it. I did not get another one.

dv8grl · 09-13-2006, 11:13 PM

Thankfully my sister graduated a yr before me, so I wore her cap & gown., I only had to shell out $7 for my tassel. I didn't get senior pictures thru my school... WAY TOO MUCH$$. I got some nice pics done @ Sears. I didn't get a yearbook.. again, too much $$$. I didn't get the schools brand of grad announcements, I went with some generic ones from Hallmark, saved big $$ there.
I did get a class ring @ the local jewerly store for like $85.

I always thought about how much the school was getting in kick-backs from the companies that made the announcements & the company that did the senior pics.,etc...

Graduation is hella-expenisve & my dad certainly couldn't afford any of the luxuries other parents could., I remember about half my girlfriends getting brand new cars for graduation. I got a carton of smokes & a dinner @ Red Lobster (which is all I ever wanted to begin with.. THANKS DAD!

)

justme23 · 09-13-2006, 11:18 PM

My nana spent over a grand just on graduation pictures for my cousin (but I do think she could have got those much cheaper). I don't know what she spent on the invitations and cap and gown but sometimes when I hear all these ppl pay for various things for their kids it makes me a little happy I don't have children. It's outrageous!

crystalbug · 09-14-2006, 01:10 AM

I know exactly how you feel we are going through the same thing with our daughter, eventhough I am so proud that she stuck with it since alot cousins her age have quit school had babies etc, not knocking them just proud that mine chose a different path. her stuff for graduation was a little over $200.00 but I am going to have to buy more invitations. I still got to get her senior pics also, got her class ring for Christmas last year. Seems the school is always wanting money for somthing on top of all this too. I didnt think we would be asked for money so soon in the year I thought it would be midterm first but I was mistaken.

Kyla Kym · 09-14-2006, 03:39 AM

I'm going through it too right now......
I have to buy an ad for the year book...that's going to run me around $100.00.
I just got hit with that this week....he hasn't brought anything home yet telling what the invitations are going to cost. Right now isn't a good time money wise either....it's going to be tough this year. And he wants to go to college....I'm clueless about how to come up with the money for that.

JKATHERINE · 09-14-2006, 07:58 AM

I'm not surprised at all. I graduated from HS in '98 and I remember my mom paying:

$100 for senior photos (private photographer)
$35 for a yearbook
$149 for a class ring
$30 to RENT my gown (no one got to buy them) and keep my cap
I think invitations probably cost somewhere around $50, but I'm not sure. My aunt owns/runs a print shop and she did them for us as a gift.

They threw a graduation party for me after I got back from my Project Graduation trip. It was a family party, though, with pot luck food so it wasn't a large expense.

freeplease · 09-14-2006, 08:55 AM

I hate that our school requires each senior to purchase a new cap and gown each year. It's such a waste. I swear, somebody's brother in law must sell this junk.

I've made a deal with my DD regarding the class ring. She has an older sister who HAD to have the ring. She wore it her senior year, and never looked at it again. So I offered to buy the younger generation a different kind of ring. We'll spend the same amount, but it will be something she can wear forever. She jumped at the idea. One smart cookie!

She's thinking a really nice ruby. I can't wait to hit estate sales and jewelry stores.

cinnamonch · 09-14-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyla Kym

I'm going through it too right now......
I have to buy an ad for the year book...that's going to run me around $100.00.
I just got hit with that this week....he hasn't brought anything home yet telling what the invitations are going to cost. Right now isn't a good time money wise either....it's going to be tough this year. And he wants to go to college....I'm clueless about how to come up with the money for that.

Why do you have to buy and ad for the yearbook?

Before ordering invitations from the school, check around with different print shops. Also check with Staples or some other office supply store as they have blank invitations that you could make your own.

Kyla, if you or your son want help with getting information on paying for college, just let us know. For starters, have him sign up on Fastweb.com. You fill out a profile and emails you different scholarships/grants he might qualify for based on the profile. Also, tell him you get his behind to his counselors office and demand their help. They get tons of scholarships but if you dont ask them, most wont tell.