Page 46 - 1989

Costly

Being a high school student, to some people, is a
bore. To others it’s fun and to others, high school is
a place of security. Going to high school requires a
lot of money from the parent and the student. After
a random survey of students, this information was
compiled.
Let’s start with an aspect that is on everyone’s
mind and that is food. School lunch costs between
$l-$2 per day. Over four years this can really add
I
up. You must also take into account buying 50 cent
candy bars and possible eating-out excursions like
going out after a football game, or going on a date,
adding up to between $220 to $350 per year.
A high school student can’t go to school without
being in the mode of fashion. A student can spend
between $300-$500 on clothes per year. Besides
clothes, girls need to buy cosmetics at around $180-
200 per year, and hair care at $36, and one girl said
she spent around $400 on her hair. A perfect outfit
and hairdo is never complete without accessories.
Students spend between $100-$150 on accessories
alone.
After getting up between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. and
primping for school, no one wants to let their beauty
go to waste, so let’s get the mug shot for the school
activity card for $15 or I.D. card for $2. Then there
is the class picture. Packages range in price from $4-
6 from Jack Martin Photography. Seniors, on the
other hand, have a different price range. Spending
at least $100 on a senior portrait is not uncommon.
Seniors also need to buy graduation announcements
for about $40.
These pictures are also seen in the yearbook.
Yearbooks range from $20-$25 depending on the
little extras you want. If you buy a yearbook, the set
won’t be complete without a Video yearbook for $30.
After looking at the yearbook, you become a bit
nostalgic. You want to keep your memories of high
school alive as long as possible. To keep the memo­
ries alive, the student can buy a $200-$330 class
ring. They can buy Ram key chains or mascot rams,
and ultimately spend $30-70 over a four-year period.
Students are now equipped with I.D., but classes
couldn’t be conducted without books. Paying $20 per
year for paperback books is not uncommon. Of
course, attendance in class is required, along with
the necessary equipment, like pens, pencil and paper.
These school supplies cost around $20-$50.
In order to get to school, transportation is needed.
Gasoline is expensive, no matter who you are, and
those surveyed felt a student could burn up around
$400 per year on gas alone. Insurance on those
wheels is also a big chunk out of the paycheck. A
$200 chunk is average every six months. In order to
park on the Ralston grounds, a $2 parking sticker is
Working at the cash register
Senior Chris Timmermans rings
Mrs. Millie Evers, who was an RHS cool? from 1958 to 1961, up a sale of school supplies at the
became a secretary for RHS. .f"; -: Ram Supply Store.

Ramlales, Vol. 11, No. 4, Page 3, November 17, 1967.