Woo Hoo - sometimes things are good...
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Woo Hoo - sometimes things are good...
| Fri, 07-29-2005 - 7:11pm |
Hee Hee..this is about spending money but for those of you with school age kids you will understand.

Good for you, Becky.
MYM
Nice shopping! That's where DD & I were last night too. We've been working on a Girl Scout badge for her-something about Consumer Power (?). Anyhow, I had her go through her school supply list and write down what she still needed so that she could comparison shop (That's one of the badge activities)at 3 different stores. We'd pretty much decided that we'd buy most of it at Target because it was on sale, AND since DH works there part-time, we have a discount. I didn't get the great deals you were able to, but that's because that store wasn't out of anything!
It was kind of funny to watch how outraged DD was at some of the prices, and how she was then able to see that yes, she *could* get that really nifty keen SpongeBob folder for 99 cents OR get 10 plain ones for $1 (she got the plain ones, saying, "Well, I can decorate them the way *I* want to!")
I know what you mean about some things going on sale one week, and others the next. DH swears that it's not REALLY a conspiracy against aggravated moms...
Lisa
I like your DD's way of thinking of decorating - actually, I had to USE that line on my kiddos myself at least the younger ones.
DS was bound & determined he wanted a Star Wars spiral notebook which of course, was something like $1.50 but DS doesn't NEED a spiral notebook on his list.
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
Becky, I do know what you mean about school supplies. I, luckily only have one in school this year and I followed the list to a T. I still have to get the water color set and the flair marker. Her list says Prang is recommened for the water color set and no Sharpies for the marker.
What gets me is that I noticed in my local paper that there is a $20 registration fee. They are asking me to pay for the priviledge of enrolling my child in their school. THis isn't a private school, this is a public school! The law says DD has to go to school and I can do one of three things: A) Homeschool her--wish I had the patience for that, but with a DS 2 and a DS 5 months don't, so this isn't an option. I can B) put her in private school--way too expensive around here or C) pay the registration fee and hope I don't get $10 here and $20 there to death once school starts. I told my mother about the fee and she said that that was too much and it better be an activity fee.
I did buy school clothes for DD today (a first for me) and managed to get everything but one pair of pants, one shirt and one dress for less than $170! Who hoo, I was also able to pay cash for it and I am going to get her another pair of pants at a store that has them for $6/pair. So I am totally thrilled.
It does pay to shop around and find the best deal. I also understand about Target. They really don't want to deal with crazed moms and back to school tensions.
Kellie
I'm sorry to bust your bubble Kellie, I'm assuming Kindergarten?
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
Yup-the fees are what drive me nuts. That and the fundraisers-don't even get me started on the %$*(@ fundraisers...
Our DD does go to a private Catholic school, mainly because she wasn't being challenged enough at the public school. The class sizes were bigger in the public school, and the teachers tended to gear their lessons to the mid-range of the class, offering extra help to the ones who needed it. I understand that with class sizes being so big, they do the best they can, but I don't regret moving her to the private school for a second. Well, maybe a second as I'm writing out that $1650 tuition check, lol.
Yep-start budgeting for those 'miscellaneous fees'-that and lunch money!
Lisa
Becky, I understand activity fees and all that. But, you have to pay just for the priviledge of signing your child up for school. That I don't understand. I have to fill out the paper work. I have to take her to the doctor for the physical. I have to get her to school everyday (she lives too close to ride the bus, so we will walk everyday). I don't understand what the registration fee is. I know it wasn't like that when I was in school and I know when I used to work as a substitute not that long ago, our schools didn't charge to register so when did this come about?
Kellie
I don't know, I do know my parents had to pay a registration fee for us when we went to public school too and I've been out of school almost 20 years, so around here, there has been a registration fee "forever"!
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
I can't believe the cost of those fees!! My dd is going into 3rd grade and if I did pay a registration fee for kindergarden it was around $15 I think. (It's sad I can't remember back 4 years)
How do you know what supplies the kids need? The only lists I see are at Walmart which I assume that's THIER list so you buy all of that crap.
I did my school shopping at Old Navy- they had great sales! I got her $80 worth of clothes (includes jean jacket, 2 pairs of jeans, a dress, skirt and matching shirt, a few cute tees and a messenger bag and socks) She has plenty of warm weather clothes that should last a while, I usually slowly pick up warmer stuff here and there. She likes to wear her long sleeved shirts under tees so that helps me save on buying more fall shirts! I just need a few supplies, shoes and a lunch box for her. She won't buy her lunch -ever-~ but you won't hear me complain about that!
Great posts! Nicki
Our registration packets come out in March.
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis