Back to school costs
Usually I pretty much ignore all of the back to school sales and ads, because my son has never really needed all that much when going to back to school. A couple of outfits, some pencils, and a notebook or two has usually been about it. (I tend to buy things for him year-round instead — for example, last Christmas he got a very nice new backpack, so he doesn’t need that now.) But this year has been different.
For one thing, he just started high school. $71 in fees later, he had his books and an activity card. That doesn’t include another $75 for a yearbook, which I’ll spring for later on. (I just couldn’t swing it this month, with all the clothes-replacing we’ve been having to do after our trip.) Then after the first day of school, it was off to the store to buy the required items on his lists.
There were the usual items: paper, pens & pencils, notebooks. But then there were things like a 3-ring binder for EACH class, graph paper, protractor & compass set, and a jump drive. Yeah, he needed a 512mb to 1gig jump drive, which will be used in two classes. I guess I’m just lucky they’re not requiring laptops. I feel like a whiner, but $108 + clothes amount times 2 + a future $75 is a lot more than I usually spend. I wasn’t really prepared for the increased amount. If you have kids, how much do you usually spend per child on back to school costs?
August 14th, 2007 at 6:55 am
I don’t have kids.. but it’s the problem (I guess), with the age of the internet and technology. USB flash keys (jump drives) are required to store documents instead of printing them out, etc..
As for the binder – what you could’ve done is maybe get him a HUGE binder with those coloured separators – I find that works pretty well for me, and I just toted around one big binder instead of 5.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I try to shop deals—and I start way early–Staples alot of times has deals on binders, paper, folders, pencils, etc.
Got three in high school–so I do understand how you feel–
It’s $80 for the ASB card and the yearboook (times 3)
My oldest daughter will be a senior this year–so senior pictures
Incoming freshman, must have PE clothes–$35.
Plus of course the usually new jeans, shirts, etc.
My son actually NEEDS them–since he has grown alot in the last year.
The girls, WANT them.
I went on Alloy and got 6 pairs of shoes for the two girls to split for $87….I thought that was a good deal.
Also shopped for son on clearance sales online.
Good luck.