I was reading headlines–as I’m won’t to do when bored–when an article on ‘acceptable’ dresses for attending your high school prom caught my eye. I clicked right on, ready to get indignant at the prudery of parents and teachers (and I was–no shorter than three inches above the knee, with ruler in hand, really?).

What seriously knocked me over is reading about how families are expending around a thousand dollars between prom dresses, transportation, etc. An 18th boasts that she got away with a $500 dress, like that’s some sort of steal.

$500, at a bare minimum, for one night of your life.

No wonder so many of these kids grow up to incur debts of hundreds of thousands of dollars before they hit 30.