I was floored when I went to register my children this year. $258 for fees, $125 pay to play, $70 yearbook which Lyndsey bought. Lunches are $3.50 – $3.75 this year. This is a house payment for me.Then you add shoes, clothes and supplies for your children. What are parents to do?
This year I bought school shoes and 2 shirts, a pair of jeans and a pair of shorts. I will add as I can, but the days of my mom are gone. You may ask what do I mean? My mom bought us all new right down to the socks and underwear and they only had one income. This is what the women of her day did. When our oldest started school and I was surprised to learn it doesn’t have to be this way and was relieved!
I am trying some of my mom’s tricks: When the boys get home from school they will be changing clothes and wearing their older shoes. This way I figure I can get some extra life out of the school clothes and shoes.
I would love to hear how you are surviving the school days!
Have a great day, Candy
August 26, 2010 at 1:26 pm
My granddaughter, who lives with us, just started Second Grade. Our school has no registration fees; I don’t think any public schools in Missouri do. She isn’t in any sports or activities, and her yearbook this year will be paid half by us and half by PTA (in previous years, PTA paid for it 100%). School lunches for elementary kids are $2.00 (up from last year’s $1.90) and I let her buy lunch twice a week or occasionally 3X a week.
Our school requires minimal school supplies. I spent approximately $6 on school supplies for the year when they were on a good sale at Wal-Mart. I bought her backpack last year on clearance and got it for $3 (actually, I bought 3 of them), not to mention her backpack from last year is still in good condition and can be used again if necessary, or used for a sleepover bag.
I bought her two pairs of shoes to start school and a few tops and skorts. Later, as the weather cools, I’ll add some warmer clothing items. Her step-dad’s parents bought her some school clothing as well, so we’re set for clothing. I do make her change out of her school clothes and shoes and into play clothes when she gets home from school.
Overall I don’t feel as if I’ve had to spend very much getting her ready for school this year, but if I lived in a district with lots of fees, I would probably just try to set back some money during the rest of the year.
August 27, 2010 at 2:37 pm
This year Kristie’s school fees were $426! She is a Junior and is taking cosmetology so it comes with a hefty fee. However to enroll in Toledo School of Beauty cost $15,000! Her lunches are $2.50 for the entire lunch. I’m a little lucky with the school clothes…she has to wear scrubs for cos.
September 3, 2010 at 10:10 am
Well, back in the day …
Sports and clubs had minimal fees — often just for any personal equipment and uniforms the students needed, or to cover a big trip. Driver’s ed was part of the school budget at many districts. Yearbooks were $25 to $30 in my 1980s high school days — the equivalent is right about $60 now. I don’t know when registration fees started, or how common that is.
To answer your question on the clothes, there must have been a lot of discussions among the parents with back-to-school shopping. Remember that layaway was the technique for families on a budget