Parents resorting to credit cards for proms

Research revealed today has found the cost of living and pressure of social media is turning prom budgets into a nightmare for parents across the UK, with the average spend set to be a huge £764.

The research by dealsharing community hotukdeals found parents are set to spend an average of £764 on their child’s prom this year including £533 on clothing, make-up and hair alone.

Clothing, including a prom dress or suit, came in at an average of £177 followed by transport costs – classic cars or limos – at £137.

Half of parents (51%) surveyed admitted they would have to use their credit card to pay for their child’s prom, with 46% saying the costs would take “months to pay off ”.

The poll of more than 1,000 parents with teenagers showed more than half of parents (56%) said rising prices means they cannot afford to get their child everything they want for their prom and 83% admitted there is pressure on parents to ensure kids outdo their classmates. And 46% of parents said they feel guilty they cannot afford to give their child the prom experience they want.

Vix Leyton, savings expert at hotukdeals, said: “Prom season could not have come at a worse time for a lot of households already struggling to make ends meet and now facing the added pressure of delivering a perfect experience.

“The last few years have been tough. So you can see exactly why parents are putting themselves under strain to do the best they can.

“Clubbing together for things like make-up and hair, shopping around for transport and taking advantage of student deals will help make this a night to remember for the right reasons.”