(MONEY Magazine) – THE SHAWS, LITCHFIELD, CONN.

KAREN & MARC $5,000 "Spending more would be inappropriate, even if you had the money."

BROOKE $500 "Other parties can be huge, but for me it's enough to just be with friends."

THE CORBINS, LAS VEGAS

TARITA $2,000 "If they get it all at 16, what else do they have to look forward to?"

DOMINIQUE $15,000 "I want it to be a big event that everyone remembers years later."

THE HARTS, FLORENCE, S.C.

JULIE $500 "We want her to feel special, but not at the expense of my financial standing."

DANIELLE $4,000 "But if I didn't have things like a band, I could bring it down to about $1,000."

Interviews conducted outside the MTV studios in Times Square, New York City