It wasn't like this when we were young.
Whether it was during the Celtic Tiger or the recession, one particular subsection of society has continued to see their income increase throughout modern Irish history,.
We are talking, of course, about the kids in second class making their first Holy Communion.
The Ulster Bank Communion survey found that an average of
€836 is spent on the child's special day
- a figure which includes outfit and entertainment. This is a 12% increase on last year's figure.
According to the
Irish Times, actual gift money accounted for €533 of the overall figure for boys, and an average of €563 for girls - demonstrating that the pay gap has not yet set in by age eight.
Communion set parents back an average of €176 per child, with €212 spent on clothes for other family members. Entertainment comes to, on average, €149.
The survey also revealed that 87% of parents finance the day using their own savings.
