School Supplies!!!!

[sharbear]

I just got back from buying school supplies. 2 kids 7th and 9th grade, $205.00!!! The calculator for my 9th grader was $110 alone! And I am not done yet. 19.00 for the gym uniform and I didn't even buy the supplies yet for art. My 7th grader doesn't have that until 2nd semester. And I still have to buy the required reading books for English.

So far I have spent over $700 in school fees and supplies. How do people with less financial means do it. We are in a public school.

How much did you spend on school supplies?

Sharbear

 

[SeaShelley]

$110 for a calculator???? I think that's way too much to ask from parents.

 

[CBRorBust]

I can totally see the $110 for a calculator. My guess is that it is probably a TI-83 or Higher. Am I right? I had to purchase one of these my freshman year in High School, and it was a great investment. Your daughter/son will use it all during High School, and especially College.

 

[SeaShelley]

Times have really changed I guess. I don't remember having to shell out that kind of $$ for a calculator. I'd better start saving for one for my son now!!!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I spent $100 on my graphing calc last year. It was required. They send home a list in our back to school packet.
Normally a year (not including the calc last year) I spent about $100-$150 but this year I saved my 1 inch binders from last year and I'm not doing dividers.
So all I need is notebooks, pens, and some other stuff. So it should not be that expensive...plus I have a Staples Gift card to buy it with. WHOO HOO I LOVE SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING! yeah i know its weird..
My books on the other hand....yeow they're gonna be expensive.

 

[CBRorBust]

Buying Books is insane! I love to go buy school supplies but cringe at the price of books.

 

[sharbear]

I bought a TI-86. He will use it all though high school. I ran into someone I knew and she said to buy the TI-86 instead of the 83. I guess that they need the 86 later and I should just buy it now instead of later.

It's just a shock, I know that he will use this for a long time. My DH used his calc from HS for 20 years. He just got a new one about 5 years ago.

 

[CarolG]

We bought a TI-83 Plus for our 9th grader this year (recommended by his algebra teacher; $90 at Staples with a $5 mail-in rebate). His older brother (college freshman) is still using the TI-83 we bought 4 years ago for his college classes.

High school students will use a graphing calculator for several classes over 4 years, on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, etc.) and it's required for at least one of the AP tests -- calculus? -- and continue using it in college.

You can play games on a TI-83, too, but you probably didn't want to know that!

 

[newmousecateer]

Wow. I hear ya girl! I started another thread on school supplies. Unbelievable what you parents have to spend.

What's with this $110 for a calculator?? Let the kids learn math by working out problems on paper!