<p>Curm,
Sorry to dissapoint, “my quess is that they were at less than $15K” - no way! We have been to Caymans 2 times, the last 12 years ago. Even at that time Caymans were one of the most expansive vacation destinations. We are going to Mexico ones/couple times every year. Mexico is cheaper than other places like Caymans, Jamaica, others that we have been but prices are going up, up, up…I remember we used to pay $2 for taxi and now it is $20. Vendors started coming to hotels because of fewer people shopping in town…I believe that you are grossly underestimating. I can see having wedding on the beach, witnessed many over more recent years, they are getting more popular. BTW, flying this coming Sat., March 17, all packed, just need to weigh our suitcases today to make sure we are not over, saving every dollar…</p>
<p>Re: weddings-- I offered to buy plane tickets to Vegas… My girls got the same choice my parents offered me: A big wedding or a college education. I picked college. So did they. (An education won’t up and divorce in 2 years…)</p>
<p>Clarification: The $50K I referred to on post #16 is what the parents gave their child, not what they actually spent on the wedding. The story I heard is that the D had been working a couple of years and then attended Columbia law school. Right after she was graduated, she got married. The groom and the bride planned everything in NYC and the parents just wrote a check. I heard it was actually a simple wedding because the young couple were more interested in saving up the “last batch” of large amount of money from their parents. She was a single child though. If they have more children, they may not able to afford this.</p>
<p>There was a CC thread not long ago about whether the parents would be happy when their child elopes because it would save money for everybody!</p>
<p>I think weddings have gotten out of hand. It’s one thing if you’re so rich that writing that check means nothing, but to most people it means taking out loans, going into debt, or whatever.</p>
<p>When I’ve seen that “yes to the dress” show a few times I’m blown away. Spending $5k-10k on a DRESS?? Are you kidding me? And, these aren’t all wealthy people. </p>
<p>And, there seems to be this competition to come up with more and more “wow” things…all pricey!</p>
<p>And, when you hear that some of these marriages only last a couple of years, it makes the whole thing sound even more ridiculous.</p>
<p>At some point, I think there will be a comeback of modest weddings with a reception in the backyard of a nice home or the church hall.</p>
<p>Re: my earlier post–that’s tuition and fees. Luckily the midwest is pretty inexpensive in terms of cost of living; rent + utils etc for me is <$500/mo (in a great apt right by med school!). Car’s paid for. Still on parents’ health insurance plan, and they graciously cover my car insurance. I’d say I spend <$1000 during a “typical” (ie no crises, vacations, etc) month–so tack another $12k onto those figures.</p>
<p>Thanks to scholarships, personal savings (have had a job for as long as I can remember), and college savings (that I didn’t use up as an undergrad thanks to scholarships) my 4-yr loan debt (not including cost of residency apps/interviews) is hovering right around $100k.</p>
<p>Your rent is great, Dr. K. </p>
<p>My grad school son’s rent is $780 a month (his half) and it doesn’t include electricity! With food, gas, etc, his living expenses are highish. We pay for car insurance, car repairs, cell phone, flights home, and anything else his stipend doesn’t cover.</p>
<p>For S2 (the premed son) we’re figuring $20k per year for living expenses…plus school/books/supplies costs.</p>