$75,000 Parties for Six Year Old B-day Parties, Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs Requiring Second Mortgages and other blowouts

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by SnazzyB

And see, if I were of a mind to do so, (but I'm not) I could say "WHAT? $2000 for a high school graduation? That's crazy!" (My grandma came to visit for my high school graduation, and we went out to eat afterwards. There were no parties. LOL)

It's not how our family rolled, but I'd never begrudge someone else and how they chose to have fun and a celebration.

I totally get that. It was in 2002. Our three older children just had a nice dinner at a restaurant, but our youngest, 11years later, was raised in a totally separate rural community, and we wanted to do something to include everyone who had welcomed us.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

I think very expensive parties are a bad idea but I think trying to regulate them out of existence would be bad law. I mean if Elon Musk wants to spend $75K (each) on birthday parties for his several children and several concubines, well, it's his money. And he can arguably afford it.

People should learn something about budgeting from their parents, but some parents are only useful as a bad example here. I would favor something being taught at least in high school, but that would take away from "woke" indoctrination time.

I did not say law. I think that religious institutions that sponsor the underlying coming of age events, and schools, should discourage them. Why schools? While I am not a great believer in "equity" I don't think parents need to "rub it in" to other parents or their children's peers.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

I could make a case for this being in Parenting, Politics and Other Controversies, Psychology or here, so the four sided coin toss wound up in Philosophy.

I know, I know I make a big deal about people that criticize consumption and having fun, this is over the line, see It’s a Toddler’s Party. How About a $75,000 Budget? Same with over-the-top weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, some requiring second mortgages. I'll admit to being a bit of a hypocrit; our older son's Bar Mitzvah wasn't a blowout but i wasn't totally frugal.

I think many of these events are designed to "keep up with the Joneses" or the Kardashians. This article, in this morning's paper did set me off. How does a six-year old even appreciate this?

Now granted, this is not solely an upper-class or upper middle class problem. About twelve or so years ago, in late November, I was in a Walmart in White Plains picking up a birthday gift for my wife. There was a woman pushing a cart heaping with gifts, surrounded by a number of children. I could sense that she could not afford what she was buying.

While my specialty in law was corporate and not personal bankruptcy I know that many people spend three or more years paying for one holiday season and the seasons keep on coming. People should really think twice before destroying any chance at solvency or advancement by buying gifts that will be used, maybe, for the balance of the Christmas vacation.

I do not think people should ruin their finances for one day of "fun."

He/she doesn't. I think it's more an opportunity for the parents to pat themselves on the back over what 'great' parents they're being as well as to show off their material wealth to the parents of the invitees.

[SnazzyB]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I totally get that. It was in 2002. Our three older children just had a nice dinner at a restaurant, but our youngest, 11years later, was raised in a totally separate rural community, and we wanted to do something to include everyone who had welcomed us.

I think your celebration sounds pretty fun. :-)

[himain]

It's their money