Is the cost of school formals getting out of control? #BBCNolan

Sep 24, 2015, 08:55 AM

Safe to say Elaine's formal was a few years back now, 16 to be exact...and things have changed quite a bit since 1999. For some it can cost hundreds to send your child to the big event, when you take in the dress, the hair, the shoes, the tan and the transport. But is this just all piling more financial pressure on parents and is the cost of formals getting out of control.

Elaine has been talking to 17-year-old Kennedy and 18-year-old Melissa who are students at St Mary's College in Derry, they've just had their formal and I started by asking them why this night is such a big deal.