Communions and Confirmations often come with a less heavenly side – the price tag.
While the ceremonies may be spiritually priceless, the overall cost has a very real bottom line.
The latest research carried out in this area found the average cost of such celebrations was over €900.
However, this data from Ulster Bank is over six years old, so costs are likely to be well over €1,000 for the average household.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, known as MABS, says the earlier you plan for these events the better.
How do you save for such events?
The first step is to create a realistic budget.
Karl Cronin, Regional Manager at MABS for North Connacht and Ulster, said it’s important to draw up a list of all your expenses, to establish how much the day will cost.
“Remember, it’s not just the child you have to think about but all the family,” he said.
“Expenses such as clothes, shoes, accessories, hairdressing, meals, entertainment, transport and gifts for other children all need to be considered.”
Once you’ve added up all these costs, you should ask yourself – can you afford it? If not, think again.
“Go through each item on the list and ask yourself – is it a need or a want?,” Mr Cronin suggests.
A quick scroll through social media and you will see everything from elaborate cakes and balloon arches to personalised accessories and inflatable obstacle courses.
But Mr Cronin poses an important question -“Is the day for the adult hosts or the child, and is all the extravagance necessary?”
He suggests staying away from social media when planning.
“Roosevelt said comparison is the thief of joy and a family event such as a Communion or Confirmation is a prime example of this,” he said.
How to avoid debt?
Placing all your focus and resources on one event is never wise.
According to MABS, people often fall behind on other commitments such as utility bills or loan repayments, as a result of not planning and budgeting for these family events.
“It can be a hard lesson to learn and it can take a number of months to recover and get back on track,” Mr Cronin said.
“Preparation is key and the more time you have to set money aside, the easier it will be,” he added.
For example, if the Communion is at the end of April and you need €1,000 to cover all the expenses, Mr Cronin said you would need to set aside around €65 per week from early January to meet the costs.
How to cut costs?
Saying ‘yes to the dress’ is a big deal for many children, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be brand new.
Quite often dresses and suits are only worn for a few hours and swapped out for jeans or a tracksuit for the bouncing castle.
Research from 2019 put the average cost of a new Communion outfit for a child at just under €220 euro, with outfits for the rest of the family costing an extra €195 euro. No doubt prices will have risen since then.
Choosing a second-hand outfit will help to cut down on costs, with many Irish buy and sell websites offering high quality products at low prices.
Children’s charity Barnardos also sell brand new designer Communion dresses every year in their stores at reduced rates.
The dresses are donated by wholesalers and retailers and range from €40 to €50.
Barnardos supports some of the most vulnerable children in the country and their families, who quite often are struggling financially, alongside other challenges.
“When it comes to big expenses like Communions and Confirmations, some parents are having to sacrifice and cut back on essentials for the household,” said Stephen Moffatt, National Policy Manager at Barnardos.
“In our experience, parents don’t want children to miss out on anything, and want them to have the best experience they can,” he added.
But Mr Moffat wants to remind parents that money isn’t everything.
“As with any special day, parents can sometimes focus on the planning, organising and material things but what we would suggest is to try not to forget what is important – interactions with your child, spending time together during the day and having nice moments, tell them that you love them – these are the parts the children will remember the most,” he said.
When it comes to making savings on the party, MABS suggests pooling your resources with a family member or friend who is also celebrating on the same day.
“In some parts of the country, we are seeing classes meeting together for refreshments in the school or parish hall after mass to celebrate together,” said Karl Cronin of MABS.
“This is a great initiative as it allows the children to celebrate together and takes some of the financial pressure off the families,” he added.
How can MABS help?
MABS will go through all the money coming into your the house and see if there are any ways to maximise your household income.
“This may be in the form of having tax credits redistributed or applying for Social Welfare benefits and entitlements among others,” Mr Cronin explained.
“Secondly, we can help you draft a realistic and sustainable budget for your household, to ensure you are getting the most for your money,” he added.
If you get into financial difficulty as a result of a big family event, MABS can engage with your creditors on your behalf to work out a realistic and sustainable plan to get you back on track.
The MABS Helpline is available on 0818 07 2000 to advise and support families.
Should I take out a loan?
If you feel you have to borrow to meet the costs, MABS suggests you call their helpline first to see if there are any other options available to you.
The Credit Union is one option people use for small loans, with many local branches advertising loans for such events.
In the last 12 months Credit Unions have issued 200,000 loans of less than €2,000.
“In the main, Credit Unions would encourage parents to save for important life events such as Communions and Confirmations,” said David Malone, CEO, Irish League of Credit Unions.
“However, for those who may have a need to borrow to fund these events, Credit Unions are on hand to help.
“Unlike other financial institutions, which may not accept loan applications for amounts under €2,000, Credit Unions are happy to issue small loans to help people make ends meet on these important occasions.”
Mr Malone said he would encourage people to stay away from high-cost sources of credit – such as moneylenders or even credit cards.
“For example, if an outstanding balance on a credit card is not repaid in full by the end of the month, a person may pay between 18% and 24% on their full outstanding balance,” he said.
Gifting cash to kids?
For many children, their Communion will be their first exposure to a substantial amount of money.
New research from An Post Money confirms that cash still leads the way as the top choice of gift for both Communions and Confirmations.
According to the survey, over half of Irish adults gift €50 or more to a niece or nephew, while two-thirds would give the same amount to a godchild.
In contrast, €20 is the go-to gifting amount for a family friend’s child, with 42% choosing this sum for Communions and 37% for Confirmations.
While most children will have plans on how to spend their money, MABS says it is a good chance for parents to introduce the concept of saving.
“Parents should encourage the child to spend a portion of the money now on something they would really like, for example, a new bike, but save the remainder in a bank or post office or Credit Union account where it isn’t easily accessible,” Mr Cronin of MABS suggested.
“They could also identify a savings goal at this stage as well, for example, a new games console, so that the child knows what they are working towards which will encourage them to build up the savings in the future,” he added
So, while the money will come flooding in for the children, it will be flying out for parents.
While there may not quite be a cost of confirming crisis just yet, it’s clear that many families are struggling to fund these celebrations.
Perhaps the best approach is to balance the blessings with the budget this Communion and Confirmation season.
