I’m as sympathetic as anyone to rising college costs, but really- parents weekend? My parents attended zero parents weekends- not for me, not for my siblings. It wasn’t in the budget, and neither of them were taking a day off to get to campus for the 3 pm welcome reception.
I don’t recall feeling aggravated- that’s what it means to stick to a budget.
I’ve got neighbors who seem to be living right on the edge financially-- overextended everywhere-- and the blowout weekends they take (not just parents weekend- but for major football games) to see their kids astonishes me. Hotels, meals out, flights-- seriously? Your kid is coming home for Thanksgiving, but you need to show up two weeks earlier for homecoming?
Not impressed by this particular form of conspicuous consumption.