Money spending - 3rd grade UPDATE on first post

[momxx5]

I am a bit frustrated today. Not exactly sure how to feel about my 3rd graders homework.

First of all we are struggling with money woes beyond anything that I could ever imagine. DH's job was eliminated due to poor ecomony 17 months ago. He finally started a new job this month....no pay until 30th, and has taken a 75+% pay cut. I have been applying for jobs ever since he lost his job, with part time work heree & there.

This month has been extremely difficult. I had garage sale to buy groceries, Craigslist items, etc. Still not sure how going to pay water bill.

So, the homeworks is to "interview a family member" for their MONEY unit starting next week.
Question #1. About how much do you spend on groceries per month for your family?
#2. About how many miles do you drive back & forth to work?
#3. About how much do you spend on gas for travel per week?
#4. About how much do you spend on school supplies for your child(ren)?
#5. About how much do you spend eating at fast food or restaurants during the week?
#6. Does your child earn allowance for the week or month? If yes, do they save their money?

So.....we are a family of 7, DH & I with 5 kids.

1. Well I said we had a garage sale and rolled our all change to buy groceries.
2. We can answer now, but what a nice reminder that "Mommy and Daddy did not have jobs!!
3. Again, I have been scraping money for gas....used $10 per day for last 3 days because I do not have enough each day to fill tank.
4. With 5 children and not a lot of money.... nice reminder again of how much we are going without....I bought the min. and thankfully had stuff left over from last year.
5. Eat out........hahaha that hasn't happened for months.
6. Sorry no allowance (I actually have borrowed money from my boys birthday money).

I know this is a school learning moment about Money, but in these times, in our county high of unemployment, it is really sad that this is school assignment.
Could they not have used a ficticious family to do the unit.
I certainly cannot answer these questions as I wish to........DD knows the truth.
Sadly she came home with info about a field trip and asked if $15 was too much and she might not be able to go. "No honey, mommy will take care of it".

Does anyone else feel that this is just not the right time for such "interviews" and info for school assignments?



UPDATE:
I did not put the above as actual answers. I put these statements here so people could understand our situation. I know the assignment asked for numbers only. I know that the grade level teachers did not plan this assignment to find out personal info, etc.
Fact is that this assignment is personal, and thus inappropriate.
This homework will be used in social studies, language arts, technology and mathematics...as stated on the assignment.
Fact is that kids talk......especially when it come to eating out. "Did you get the new toy from McDs Happy Meal?" or "My mom never cooks so we eat out a lot" or "My mom cooks all our meals and does not want us to eat fast food" or "We don't have enough money for our big family to eat out"
Don't even get me started on the allowance. Kids already talk about this on the playground, now bringing it into the classroom just lets the kids think its okay to ask personal/family related questions.
I did speak with Guidance dept. about the PSAT and got a waiver for the fee!!! Yeah!!!
We will be paid by the time the field trip money is due, so I will pay it. In the past when we were very comfortble financially I often checked the box and sent in extra money to "sponsor" another child.
THANK YOU to all for your concern and thoughts. Prayers are needed and I thank God for my many Blessings and ask for guidance & strength.

 

[MissAndrea]

Sadly she came home with info about a field trip and asked if $15 was too much and she might not be able to go. "No honey, mommy will take care of it".

This made me cry. HUGS!!!

 

[momxx5]

Forgot to mention....

High schooler needs $13 tomorrow to register to take the PSAT. I am going to call school tomorrow morning to see if they will "hold" a check until the 30th.

Not sure what else to do.

 

[mom2val]

I agree. I would hate to have that interview. Dh works on commission and the past 6 months have been . I know we are still doing better than alot of people - we still can afford a trip to Disney but dh's income is down 50% from 6 months ago. We have had to live leaner than we have in years. I think it's a lousy assignment seeing as how many people are unemployed or have had their income drastically cut.

 

[beansmom]

well, i'm sorry for your woes..truly...but I don't think it's 'wrong' for the teacher to assign this sort of interview. I remember doing them when I was a kid.

Times are hard for somebody all the time---BTDT for too many years. I hope things get better soon for you.

 

[ceecee]

I would have her interview another family member. That to me seems a little personal. I think maybe a fictional family may be the answer. All the kids will have different answers with a real interview but again seems personal.

 

[momxx5]

Like I said, I am frustrated and not sure how to feel about the whole concept......

I don't necessarily think its wrong, I just think its inappropriate right now.

Or maybe since things are so bad here I am overy sensitive about any money issues.

 

[dfchelbay]

Can you try to answer the questions as if it were a year ago. Answer how you budgeted and spent then. Wouldn't want your daughter's little classmates to know these things. Things are bad enough and I know you wouldn't want to add to it by making your daughter "feel" a certain way, or have classmates say things to her or about her that would hurt her feelings. I guess just answer what you think is appropriate and as close to the truth as you are comfortable with revealing. Hugs to you and your family.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Like I said, I am frustrated and not sure how to feel about the whole concept......

I don't necessarily think its wrong, I just think its inappropriate right now.

Or maybe since things are so bad here I am overy sensitive about any money issues.

Unfortunately I'd have to say that yes, its striking a nerve because of your financial situation right now, and you're taking it personally.
I don't think its ever too early to teach kids about the value of money, where money comes from, and start to teach them about good spending habits.

Though yes, I agree that the timing of it is unfortunate for your family right now.

 

[momxx5]

The info will be used to teach multiplication and division using their new math skills. Also percentages.

So its not really about budgeting and savings.

 

[SLM]

Please call your school about the PSAT fee-at my high school we always have funds available for this kind of situation and are more than willing to do what ever we can to help-ask to talk to your child's guidance counselor. Best wishes to you and your family.

 

[tar heel]

As far as the PSAT goes, you should be able to get a fee waiver. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/reg/dates.html

My sons have all taken the PSAT for free in North Carolina public schools. Until I looked it up just now, I had no idea there was a cost.

 

[disneychrista]

How are the answers you giving gong to help your child ? I would give estimates of you have in the past spent or what you do on a normal basis. The teacher is NOT trying to see what families have the money and which don't. I am sure the "rich" families would likely feel just as unconfrontable giving true numbers.

Also not sure where you are located but here Students can not be excluded for not being able to pay. So if you really can't pay the $15 talk to the teacher. My guess is that the cost is really only $12, they charge more to cover those that don't/can't pay.

Try to see if you can get a fee waiver for the test. Most will have reduced or free for low/lower income families.

 

[hffmnheidi]

I think the teacher is doing the right thing with the assignment in theory if they are going to be talking about budgeting/percentages/ect...but perhaps have your child interview another family member if you aren't comfortable with the assignment.

Perhaps even having a chat with the teacher that you don't feel comfortable with the assignment and are having your child interview another family member.

I feel your pain as a child of a mom who didn't work because daycare would have eaten up any salary and my dad drove a truck for years when he was on lay-offs, so I know how money can be tight and field trips can break the budget. My parents had three kids and field trips seemed to all come at the same time.

Keep your head up and you will make it.

 

[momxx5]

Thank you for the info about the PSAT fee.

DS is extremely bright and took the SATs in 7th grade with a score high enough to get into most school across the country.

He is taking the PSAT because that is where Merit-based Scholarships come into play.

We are praying that he will get a scholarship for college.

Sadly, again, we due to the low income we qualified for the free lunch program. My 10th grader was horrified at first but then understood that no one knows who gets free/reduced lunch or not...all confidential.
Given that we qualifiy for the lunch program there is a good chance to qualify for the PSAT assistance.
Thanks again for the info.

 

[tigger813]

Call the school and ask if scholarships are available for the field trip? The schools around here always have that on the permission slips for those who can't afford it.

Best wishes to you and your family!

 

[SaraJayne]

Like I said, I am frustrated and not sure how to feel about the whole concept......

I don't necessarily think its wrong, I just think its inappropriate right now.

Or maybe since things are so bad here I am overy sensitive about any money issues.

I think you're oversensitive. The assignment has nothing to do with you, personally.

The teacher doesn't come up with homework assignments based on her student's financial picture.


If it bothers you so much, have your child interview a different family member. Or make something up.

 

[melancholywings]

I know I'm in the minority here but I don't think you're being sensitive about it. I wouldn't want my child sharing with the class our financial details. Nor do I think classmates should be provoked into talking to each other about how much allowence they make. It can cause peer issues. The teacher may not have thought about these issues, and that money is a very sensitive issue for many families. I would just call her and let her know your concern with out going into great detail. DD did a similar math problem but instead of money they did percentages on eye color, family size, pet number.

 

[mafibisha]

Call the school and ask if scholarships are available for the field trip? The schools around here always have that on the permission slips for those who can't afford it.

Best wishes to you and your family!

Good idea. Also, if you're affiliated with a church, you can make confidential requests. They're usually willing to provide assistance, maybe more for food, housing ect, but you never know. And sometimes its not required to be re-paid either.

 

[dimimi]

I would have her interview another family member. That to me seems a little personal. I think maybe a fictional family may be the answer. All the kids will have different answers with a real interview but again seems personal.

I agree. I would have interviewed someone else...like your sister or brother? Just a thought. I would bet if you asked the school, they have funds for her field trip, I don't think they would be able to hold the PSAT check because that gets sent to PSAT. Good Luck, I feel for you, there are many people that could be in your shoes as soon as they get into some bad luck.