OMG - it's almost 700 dollars for dd's Bus Pass!

[Magpie]

Okay, so a student bus pass is good for a whole year, and you get 12 months for the price of 10, and it's WAY cheaper than tickets, but seriously... ouch!!! That's still a lot of money to lay down all at once, especially when you're not expecting it.

My daughter is 14 and this is her first year of high school. Four years of this, plus her brother starting next year and needing his own pass...

I'm in shock. Seriously.

She'd better not lose that pass!

 

[MomofKatie]

Do they take the city bus? Interesting- our public schools have their own busses that the kids ride for free.

That is a big $$ outlay- can you break up the fee into monthly payments? That would help a lot...

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Can you car pool? Our bus system is free here, but I take and pick mine up each day. It will help a lot too when one of your children starts to drive to school.

 

[dejr_8]

But at least you have universal healthcare

 

[SandrA9810]

A month bus pass in orlando is 50$, and the student one is even cheaper. Are there car pool options with other students near you?? I couldn't fathom paying 700$ for a year bus pass. How much is the monthly pass??

 

[Darcy03231]

WOW! and I was complaining because I had to pay $65 for a bus pass for my high schooler for a year.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Wow, I couldn't imagine having to pay that!

 

[drag n' fly]

Thats a bit high. We pay 550 a year for our one kid and 165 a year for the second kid and the third kid is dropped off because the school is in our neighbourhood. Then there is 280 for lunchroom...330 for instructional fees for the three and of course dont forget all the clothes and school supplies and backpacks. I remember the good ol days where my Mom would cut a cheque for 25 bucks for the year and it covered EVERYTHING including field trips, music etc. That was also back when we celebrated Christmas, Halloween, Easter....ahhhh the good old days.

Sorry I got off track lol with 6 days to go before school starts my wallet is feeling kind of light.

 

[Northstar]

Okay, so a student bus pass is good for a whole year, and you get 12 months for the price of 10, and it's WAY cheaper than tickets, but seriously... ouch!!! That's still a lot of money to lay down all at once, especially when you're not expecting it.

My daughter is 14 and this is her first year of high school. Four years of this, plus her brother starting next year and needing his own pass...

I'm in shock. Seriously.

She'd better not lose that pass!

Keep the receipt and/or used pass, and you can claim it on your income tax next year: line 364 public transit amount

No cloud without a silver lining!

 

[golfgal]

Thats a bit high. We pay 550 a year for our one kid and 165 a year for the second kid and the third kid is dropped off because the school is in our neighbourhood. Then there is 280 for lunchroom...330 for instructional fees for the three and of course dont forget all the clothes and school supplies and backpacks. I remember the good ol days where my Mom would cut a cheque for 25 bucks for the year and it covered EVERYTHING including field trips, music etc. That was also back when we celebrated Christmas, Halloween, Easter....ahhhh the good old days.

Sorry I got off track lol with 6 days to go before school starts my wallet is feeling kind of light.

The only fee we have to pay is for a parking pass if the kids drive to school. It is $60/trimester for the parking pass. If the kids take hot lunch, obviously that is different but all the other fees

 

[crashbb]

I'm assuming this is a city transit pass, right? So it isn't actually a "school fee" as such - the school isn't getting/using the money. And she can use your city transit for more than just going to/from school.

That does seem like a lot of money, but an adult transit pass where I live would cost you $1464 for the year (though I think you can get a discount by buying a full year, rather than each month). A student/senior pass is $1188. Of course, a single ride is $3 ($2.50 if you buy tickets in bulk).

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Thats a bit high. We pay 550 a year for our one kid and 165 a year for the second kid and the third kid is dropped off because the school is in our neighbourhood. Then there is 280 for lunchroom...330 for instructional fees for the three and of course dont forget all the clothes and school supplies and backpacks. I remember the good ol days where my Mom would cut a cheque for 25 bucks for the year and it covered EVERYTHING including field trips, music etc. That was also back when we celebrated Christmas, Halloween, Easter....ahhhh the good old days.

Sorry I got off track lol with 6 days to go before school starts my wallet is feeling kind of light.

$280 a year for 3 kids for lunch? Wow! Last year it was over $800 for lunch for my one child -- $4.50 per day.

 

[barkley]

here the public school busses are free, but that still sounds expensive for a public bus.

we have a massive public bus system that serves spokane county (BIG county) with stops in lots of outlying cities. an all access adult pass is only $40 a month-a student (or child) would be able to get the same for only $28. the university nearest us though has a deal with the transit authority-anyone who attends has only to show their student i.d. and they get free transportation anywhere they bus system runs.

 

[golfgal]

$280 a year for 3 kids for lunch? Wow! Last year it was over $800 for lunch for my one child -- $4.50 per day.

Ok, I will stop griping about our $2.20/day meal costs (it was a $1.20 in our old town which is why I was griping about the 2.20).

 

[drag n' fly]

$280 a year for 3 kids for lunch? Wow! Last year it was over $800 for lunch for my one child -- $4.50 per day.

No that is just for ds7. The other two are older and dont have lunchroom. Even at 280 for the one that is still a good price here when you spread it out over 10 months. It is just having all those costs in the beginning of the school year sucks.

 

[tvguy]

It's $50 a month on public transit here for students, half off the regular monthly pass rates, so $450 for the school year.
Generally, if you live more than a mile from a school, the school district runs buses for free.
One district did decide to start charging for school bus service, but the sign up deadline came and went and just one student signed up and paid the fee so they scrapped that idea. Apparently they get a huge federal grant to help pay for the buses, so dumping the buses would have cost them money.
I love the Canadian Health Care comment. I spent a week in June in Saskatchewan. The taxes I paid on food, the rental car and alcohol were obscene. A 12 pack of Smirnoff Ice.....the one that sells for $10.99 here, is $32.99 in the Provincial liquor store. Yikes. Your healthcare really isn't FREE.

 

[drag n' fly]

It's $50 a month on public transit here for students, half off the regular monthly pass rates, so $450 for the school year.
Generally, if you live more than a mile from a school, the school district runs buses for free.
One district did decide to start charging for school bus service, but the sign up deadline came and went and just one student signed up and paid the fee so they scrapped that idea. Apparently they get a huge federal grant to help pay for the buses, so dumping the buses would have cost them money.
I love the Canadian Health Care comment. I spent a week in June in Saskatchewan. The taxes I paid on food, the rental car and alcohol were obscene. A 12 pack of Smirnoff Ice.....the one that sells for $10.99 here, is $32.99 in the Provincial liquor store. Yikes. Your healthcare really isn't FREE.

Health care is free but we pay extra taxes to ensure every single Canadian regardless of health or income status receives access to health services. Is it perfect no but no one gets left behind. I love Canada and am very proud to be Canadian

 

[minniecarousel]

A 12 pack of Smirnoff Ice.....the one that sells for $10.99 here, is $32.99 in the Provincial liquor store. Yikes. Your healthcare really isn't FREE.

what a great way to pay for Universal Healthcare - tax the heck outta booze! hey, cigarettes too!

 

[agnes!]

Re: parking fees...

At our high school the parking fee was $200 for 2009-2010...I'm sure it will be even higher this year.

agnes!

 

[mommasita]

It's $50 a month on public transit here for students, half off the regular monthly pass rates, so $450 for the school year.
Generally, if you live more than a mile from a school, the school district runs buses for free.
One district did decide to start charging for school bus service, but the sign up deadline came and went and just one student signed up and paid the fee so they scrapped that idea. Apparently they get a huge federal grant to help pay for the buses, so dumping the buses would have cost them money.
I love the Canadian Health Care comment. I spent a week in June in Saskatchewan. The taxes I paid on food, the rental car and alcohol were obscene. A 12 pack of Smirnoff Ice.....the one that sells for $10.99 here, is $32.99 in the Provincial liquor store. Yikes. Your healthcare really isn't FREE.

32$ for Smirnoff Ice. . Weird. About 15$ here in this Canadian city
My DS14's pass is 34$ per month, refunded every year by his school.

I won't get into the healthcare debate, because I don't really understand the dynamics of yours, as surely you don't ours.

I do agree we have high taxes and great STRONG beer Love our beer, taxes not so much. There is good and bad to everything.

OP I find that a hefty fee. But yes you can claim it on your taxes next year.