How much do you spend on 'back to school'

[luvmylittleboy2003]

clothes, supplies, school fees, etc???

I can't believe, once I added it up - what I spent and I got really good prices on stuff (had coupon codes and GC).

But he is finished...got his shorts, jeans, shirts (short and long), shoes, backpack and lunchbox, all school supplies/fees & Jacket....total damage around $500 bucks , but, this will get him through (until next August - when I do it again )

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Every day during August and September, I keep being reminded of how thankful that I am that my "kids" are done school...but that's about what it cost me every year when all was said and done.

I know I had a hard enough time getting them ready for each September, but I started buying here and there all along to soften the blow. I don't know how a lot of people can afford it. I believe that teachers and schools need to re-evaluate their supply lists (there have been times that things have come home in June that were "must haves" that were NEVER used). There was one year when the school just asked parents to pay a certain amount ($40????) and they bought all the actual supplies in bulk so it was cheaper and everyone had the same thing, but some parents complained because they wanted to make sure they weren't subsidizing people that didn't pay....I thought it was a LOT easier - I only had to worry about the clothes and back-pack....

 

[kydisneyfans]

Somewhere between $5 and $10. Our son is entering 6th grade. He already owns the clothes, why does he need "new" for school? There are no activity fees, and the penny and dime supply ads at the office stores make it very easy and inexpensive to get the kid back into the classroom.

 

[tiff211]

Since the girls grow like weeds it is so hard to shop for them off season anymore. And now they have there own styles and tastes so this year I will taking them individually on a shopping trip, they will have a budget of $100 for a couple of new outfits and shoes. with whatever school supplies, and backpacks, I will probably spend $400 in all. I know that budget will go up as they get older.

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

Between supplies, uniforms, fees it's probably about 500.00. Tuition is a whole different story. GRRR

 

[rumrunnergirl]

.

 

[lisaross]

Not exactly sure as i never added it up. But it is costly -

Backpacks i've been using the same for the last couple of years (LL Bean)

if i had to guesss. i'd say about 40.00 per kid - pens, paper, notebooks, folders, pencils, markers, tape, highlighters, rulers, colored pencils, glue, etc etc and lets not forget the wipes, ZIplock bags, papertowels, tissues etc.

and then their is the checks for planners, scholastic news etc. perhaps 50.00 each...

cloths i buy throughout the year!

 

[JamesMom]

I think I am done with back to school shopping for my Kindy and 2nd grader:

$90 for supplies, purchased through PTA. Highway robbery, I know, but I am contributing to the fund raiser and feel no guilt in no buying in any magazine or pie sales during the school year. And I don't have to run all over town finding that specific plastic folder or whatnot. It's all in their classroom on meet the teacher night.
$200 on clothes, backpacks, etc thanks to Kohls 30% off! I got each boy 4 new pairs of pants (2 jeans, 2 dockers), 4 polo shirts, 3 T-shirts, 6 pr socks, 1 pr sneakers, and a new backpack. Still can wear shorts & shirts I bought this past spring. I'll buy more clothes around Christmas for jacket and long sleeves. In North Texas only wear those for a couple of months.
DS7 is hard on clothes and has outgrown his size 6 clothes from last year and most are in horrible shape so DS5 can't wear them next year . Their backpacks need to be replaced after 2 years use of the old ones (DS5 used DS7 old back pack - so got 4 years use out of that Thomas backpack) . And sneakers are an every 3 month purchase as they wear them out or outgrow them that fast.
So $300 for 2 kids. Not bad I say.

 

[ilovejack02]

110.00 ish right now and I am done until it gets cold when I will spend prob another 60.00 or 70.00 on two navy blue long sleeve shirts ( still has a cpl from last year with a bit of room to grow) and two pairs of uniform izod pants and hanes undershirts.


I lucked out, all of his land's end shorts from last year still fit, he got a bit taller not wider and shorts are in amazing condition.. God bless Land's End lol. All of his uniform shirts still fit also , so just I bought two fresh ones to start year out. I bought two new pairs of shorts on super clearance last year and they are still a bit big , so if he hits a growth spurt I am ok.

His Columbia fleece jacket still fits that I bought last year on sale and still looks great and my best friend has twins that are a size bigger than my guy so I always get the boys last year winter coat.

School supplies, I still have some left from last year bought on clearance and the teacher sent back unopened packs of pencils and crayons .
25.00 on school supplies
30.00 for school fee
32.00 for Nike tennis shoes on sale.
22.00 for 2 shirts from Dillards , I love their Class club brand, holds up really well.

Will most likely grab a new pack of socks and pack of undies , which I guess will run me no more than 20.00 at most.

Back pack is Jansport, going on our 4th year of use, still looks great. He eats lunch at school , so no lunchbox.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

My kids are going in to 7th, 4th, 1st and K. We do fairly well on school supplies. My mom is a teacher and she loves hitting the Staples sales..especially because she isn't limited to how many she can purchase. She usually gets at least half of our supplies for a few dollars! I'll probably spend about $15 for the rest of the elementary supplies. I'll probably spend about $10 or so on the 7th grader, since he'll need new binders for all subjects. He will also have a Tech Ed fee and will need a new agenda.

Two of the kids are keeping the same backpacks/lunchboxes. The other two needed new ones. That was around $40.

No general fees or uniforms. I really don't get into the "school clothes" yet. I really don't see a need to buy them clothes before school starts, since they are all wearing their summer stuff still. My dd is definitely into the "in" styles, so I'll spend about $100 or so during the year. The boys will all need pants when it gets cooler, so that will probably be about $100 (luckily, they are fine with the stuff I find on sale).

I think we're OK with coats and jackets for the year

I just noticed on our school supply list that each child is supposed to bring in TWO boxes of Kleenex. I taught 1st grade and we used to have everyone bring in one box. I always had many boxes left over each year! I can't imagine needing double that quantity!

So, I will probably spend about $75 on supplies/backpacks and a couple hundred on clothes (spread out during the year). I guess that's not too bad for four kids. It will hit us hard this year, though, since my income has been hit really hard. Thank goodness for mom and her love of the back-to-school sales!

 

[thebeesknees]

$300 here for two kids. Over $200 of that was uniforms, mostly because EVERYTHING has to be embroidered with the school logo at $3 a pop, Since it is a new school for them, I had to start from scratch on the uniforms, so they each wound up with 5 shirts, 3 pair of pants, and 1 sweatshirt. Oh, and 1 uniform skirt ($40) for my daughter, and two vests (@ $20 each) that are required for formal uniform days. I'm really hoping they will have a uniform exchange program next year. I splurged and got an LL Bean backpack for my son because I know it will last him for at least 3 years. DD still had a backpack in great shape from last year, so she's using it again. School supplies were going to run $120 if I got the packets from the school, so I've been shopping sales and wound up spending about $40 total instead. $20 of that was paper/cleaning supplies for the classroom because they want several containers of antibacterial wipes, kleenex, paper and 3 sizes of Ziploc brand bags per kid. So I guess my breakdown looks like this:

$260 uniforms
$40 school supplies

I don't know yet what the school fees will be, but I'm guessing $75 each like our last school.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I'd say it about $400 per kid. We have to pay school fees, which were $150 for 6th grader and $130 for 3rd grader. Then I'd say another $30 each for school supplies. Their backpacks and lunch boxes are still in near new condition. But, they have out grown a lot of their pants and long sleeve shirts, so as soon as it gets cool, I will have to buy some clothes for them. And they will need new shoes.

When I lived in California, there were no school fees or supplies to be purchased. But I'm happy to buy here because our school district is 100 times better than the one we had in California.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Enough

11th grader - Spent so far

Sperrys - hundred bucks
Northface backpack - hundred bucks
Parking pass - $85 to park at school
Jacket - $85
School supplies - she is pretty much set with so I lucked out there!

8th grader - Spent so far

Hollister - hundred bucks - 2 jeans, sweatpants, sweatshirt
Sneakers - $85

That is all so far. I plan to do lots of shopping in August.
I got a 40% off everything at American Eagle so that will be one of the main stores I shop at

I just loved having new sneakers and clothes to start school with

 

[kinntj]

DD8 already got a $20 messenger bag from LLBean
DD6 still needs a new backpack. Her old Lands End has thinned at the bottom, so she's ready for a new one.
They both get a new haircut for the start of the school year.

We buy the clothes thoughout the year, so there's really no back to school amount. For the first two weeks they wear their summer stuff anyway. We can go shopping when it gets marked down more.

There's no fees and very little they have to buy in supplies. Last year supply costs were $20 including clorox wipes and Kleenex.

Now gymnastics when they restart in the fall will be expensive.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

5 kids-grades 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th.

Supplies: $25, used alot we had leftover from last year, no new lunchboxes or backpacks.

Binders: Budgeting $60 for 3 zipper binders

Clothes: $300 for right now. That is for 3 pair of jeans, two shirts, 3 bras and shoes for the oldest, shoes for 2 of the boys and the oldest and two packages of boys boxers. I still need to buy socks, two more packages of boys underwear, and a couple more pair of jeans for DD.


The boys pass their clothes down so I don't have to buy much for them, plus I can buy the two youngest boy's ahead of time when stuff goes on clearance.

School fees: Anticipating $10 per boy so $40 plus $36 per month for 6th grader's trumpet rental.

ETA: Ugh, forgot haircuts. $12 apiece so $60 plus tip.

 

[Kitzka]

So far i got DD a new pair of sneakers from the Nike outlet ($30) and a few school supplies ($5).

i'll get the rest as it goes on sale at staples.

DD wants a new backpack as she will be walking home and her messanger bag has seen better days. I will probably pay $25 towards the backpack and she can choose the one she wants but she has to pay the rest.
I don't buy other clothing until it gets cold.

Lara

 

[ENSOCK]

Supplies so far $150.00 for 5th grader and 11th grader. Still have not finished but have to wait until next payday! I have to purchase shoes and uniforms since they have outgrown everything from last year except shirts. But after washing and wearing everyday they are looking very worn with pulls and small holes. DS11 does not understand "do not play football in your uniform, change"!

So:
Supplies $200.00
Tennis Shoes$200.00
Uniforms:$85.00
backpacks $65.00
tutition $7500.00
Total $8050.00

I will be glad when they are finished with school! Hopefully collage is cheaper!

 

[indimom]

The supplies are no biggie (maybe $30?), our killer is the book bill. I usually pay about $300 for the books, plus $100 for each toward their lunch account.
DD may need a couple pairs of pants (but we'll probably wait until fall) and DS definitely needs new tennis shoes before school. Maybe $100 total for that.
I've pretty much quit buying "new clothes" just because it's August and school is starting, it's too much of a budget buster when I have to combine that with the book bills/lunch accounts.

 

[MrsPete]

This year, I anticipate I'll spend very little:

My kids have plenty of shorts and summer clothes, so no real needs there. I will take a look at their shoes to see if those need replacing. End of September / beginning of October, we'll evaluate whether they need jeans. I'd need to clothe them anyway, so I don't really consider that a "school supply".

They both have good backpacks; those don't need replacing every year.
They both have age-appropriate calculators; next year when my youngest starts high school, I'll have to shop for another graphing calculator -- but that's next year.
They'll need notebooks, paper, and so forth, but that's very easy to buy for next to nothing in August. I always pick up enough to last all school year.

 

[momx2]

Uggg....too much already!

DD 4th grade: She has outgrown all her summer clothes so I had to buy her some to get her through the rest of the summer, which here will be until October. Her backpack and lunchbox are fine this year, so no new ones. End of September I will buy Sperrys and jeans and other winter clothes. I think her Northface will still fit this year.

$100 PS (Aeropastle for kids)
$80 Gymboree
$20 new tennis shoes (she needed anyway)
$5 for 2 containers of Lysol wipes

So, $205 total so far, probably about $230 total after supplies.

DD 7th grade: Well, we start middle school this year so style is very important. She also has grown so most of her clothes do not fit, except t-shirt and a few shorts. Her backpack is fine and we bought her new tennis shoes about May. So, until end of September, when we buy winter clothes I have spent the following.

$211 Aeropastle (2 big bags of clothes)
$62 Hollister (sweatshirt -on sale and 2 t-shirts)
$21 A & F (on t-shirt, just to have one from there
I still need to buy Sperrys because she will wear this earlier in the year than younger DD.

So, $$294 total so far, probably $400 after Sperrys and supplies, give or take a bit.