Boys are no bargain

For some reason, when out and about with my sons, strangers feel inclined to either warn me about how much trouble the future holds ("All boys?! I don't envy YOU!") or how very fortunate I am to have offspring that won't get all hormonal and pissy every four weeks. I assume parents of girls experience the same thing ("All girls? Whew, no jock straps or foot funk for you, lucky thing!") and I've have never given much thought to these infoprophecies. But there was one I did buy into-that having boys is less expensive than girls.
It starts early on. For every five racks of lacy pink apparel in a children's store, there is one row of blue clothing embellished with either a dinosaur, a vehicle, or some type of ball. Sometimes all three! Boys don't wear tights or ruffle panties, need matching headbands or shoes every color of the rainbow so parents spend way less on accessories. And according to the old rules, other than the rehearsal dinner and booze at the reception, the groom's parents definitely had a sweetheart when it came to paying for weddings. Being all modern and progressive, we'll pay for half the wedding expenses (provided the bride stealing my baby boy is not a total hag, of course.)
However, having just experienced our first high school homecoming formal as parents, I'm starting to rethink the whole boys-are-bargains myth.
Renting the tuxedo was our first clue that this would be a night our VISA card would remember. We had rented cars in the past for less than one night of being a sharp dressed man cost! Savvy shopper high school girls found adorable dresses on sale (or at consignment shops or Ebay) that they own and can wear again. Point for girls.
Then there were the flowers. The single rose boutonniere that no one knows how to attach to a lapel anymore -$8 plus tax. A lovely wristlet of baby roses for a lovely wrist- $25. Again, point for the girls.
Guys (or rather, the guys' parents) are in charge of paying for tickets for the dance, dinner for two, gassing and cleaning the car, while girls' expenses include a hair appointment, manicure, pedicure, and new shoes.
Assuming the boys attended every formal from sophomore year on, we'll have paid the expenses for 12 Homecomings and 4 Senior Proms. Suddenly those antiquated wedding payment plans don't seem quite as lopsided-the parents of boys have pre-paid in high school!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
c_rousseau05 10-13-2008 @ 10:50AM
My parents had both boys and girls. Their answer to high school formals was simple (except prom)...we want to go? We get a job! For prom, they paid for the ticket and our dress or Tux...any luxuries like dinner or a limo we paid for ourselves or chipped in with friends to get. So yeah, it can get expensive should you choose to allow your Visa to give your 15 year old the night of his life every year, or at least until he gets a job and can pay for those luxuries himself. After high school it will be fraternity formals and trips and your visa card will suffer yet again if you let it.
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isisaquaria 10-13-2008 @ 4:01PM
Wow, that would suck! I guess every parent is different, but we had unlimited access for all 4 homecomings, and all proms.
As the parent to both, girls cost more. Yeah, boys at prom can add up---but overall girls total up to more. Dance, cheer, sports, clothes, hair, accessories etc. Wedding--it is for both of them, but it is usually considered "her dream day". She is her dress should be the star, no matter what the cost.
Baron 10-13-2008 @ 10:55AM
Buy a tux, unless your boys are still growing, as that will save money in the long run. Now, if they are still growing, well, wait. I know I would've been upset if the close to a grand mine was would have been wasted. The good thing about a good tux is that the pants are adjustable to a degree and a good clothing shop will tailor your purchase for free for the life of the garment.
That aside, boys do indeed have a lot of expenses when you look at the traditional role we play in taking you ladies out. It continues onto everything that I can think of too. Engagement rings, wedding bands, jewelry (in general), clothing, etc. all cost us guys more to give to you than the opposite way.
Also, the booze at the reception, traditionally, is covered by the brides family.
http://www.wedalert.com/content/planning/expense_breakdown.asp
http://www.weddingvendors.com/planning/articles/traditional-wedding-expenses-checklist/
http://ezinearticles.com/?Wedding-Expense-Etiquette---Who-Pays-for-What?&id=515587
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