School fees and supplies
August 16, 2007 by Sherry Osborne
Filed under Parenting
Right now my first child is gearing up for Kindergarten (T-minus 14 days) and my youngest won’t start school for another 4 years because her birthday falls two months after the cut-off. Because of this, I don’t have much experience with regards to collecting school supplies.
Our school doesn’t have uniforms but it does have a dress code. We have to buy navy blue bottoms and white tops. I figure we’ll get two pants and a skirt or tunic to start, and add more pants in the winter. We’re also going to get two short-sleeved shirts and two long-sleeve shirts for now, again adding more later in the year when it’s cold. I’ve totaled up the cost based on a recent flyer from Walmart and we should be able to get her school clothing for roughly $45 plus tax. Her running shoes are still in fine shape since she spent most of the summer wearing sandals, and we’ll get her a pair of Mary Jane style shoes with thick soles to wear on skirt days, which will run another $15 give or take.
Our school fees are $230. Most of that is supervision fees for lunchroom monitors and outdoor monitors at recess and lunch time. Only $60 of that is to cover supplies. Still, even though our supplies are covered with only $60 the only things we have to buy for her ourselves are a box of large ziploc bags, a box of tissues, a small towel for rest time, and a long-sleeve oversized t-shirt to use as an art smock. The last two items are things we already have at home so basically the supplies we have to buy will cost me two bucks at the dollar store. Woo!
Meanwhile, a friend of mine has one child heading in to grade two and one starting kindergarten this year. She’s already spent over $300 on school supplies, mostly for the older ones. They’re also homeowners and pay school taxes so they’re paying way more than we are.
What’s considered normal for you? Are you managing a decent budget for back to school or are you freaking out over the cost of the list of supplies sent to you by the teacher?
My kids’ school has a $100 fee (which can be paid in installments, and there is a scholarship) that covers supplies, field trips, etc. I don’t have to send in anything, which saves us a lot of money. I go to resale shops and it really pays off: $40 today for my daughter (7) netted two pairs of jeans, a pair of capris, a skirt, dress, a Beatles t-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a set of winter pjs, a nightgown. My son (9) is all taken care of, as my mom found jeans at Kmart for $7 each, and he had plenty of shirts in his closet that were picked up on clearance or at resale shops during the year. Of course, living in sunny California means they wear summer clothes until October, and again starting in April, so my budget is a lot lower than people who live in cold climates.