It’s that time of year again. The time of year where money is spent on everything from sparkly dresses to corsages to fancy dinners. Homecoming is a time of year where people have high price tags to consider, especially when attending the dance with a date. When comparing traditional values and modern society, The Bell staff raised the question, should couples split the expenses of Homecoming? Chivalry isn’t dead, but according to The Bell staff, it definitely shouldn’t be a primary focus when it comes to Homecoming.

From the time that dating became popular, it has become a social expectation that in heterosexual relationships, the guy pays for the date. The Bell staff suggests that it might not be a bad thing to challenge this social norm. One staff member suggested that in a more modern society, it is okay to move away from traditional values and share more equally in paying for Homecoming. It was agreed that equality is necessary and splitting the bill should become more standard, but being polite and offering to pick up the bill isn’t always a bad thing either.

Money definitely doesn’t grow on trees and if anybody knows that, it’s the average high school student. Having high expectations can be a good thing, but bringing high expectations to the table during Homecoming can create an unfair situation. One teacher mentioned that the bill should be split because for Homecoming because girls tend to expect lavish nights out and these high expectations aren’t always fair for. One staff member suggested that you should always be prepared to split the bill and pay for yourself, but it’s okay to accept an offer for the other person to pay every once in awhile.

Staff members also recognized that not every couple is the same. Not every couple is a heterosexual couple, not every couple consists of two people who go to the same school and not every couple has the same idea about who pays. Another teacher said that whoever formally asks should be the one who pays. A different view was that when a couple attends two separate schools, the person whose Homecoming is being attended should have to cover the expenses.

Homecoming is a special occasion and everyone deserves to feel special on such a big night. However, The Bell staff believes that the expenses that come with it shouldn’t be the concern of only one person. Traditional practices, when it comes to paying for dates, are outdated in a modern society. Not every couple is the same and open communication without high expectations can help paying for Homecoming go more smoothly. The Bell staff voted that couples should split the expenses of Homecoming.