Would Please Buy Just One...

My oldest daughter actually bought my mother's day gift from a fundraiser at school. I don't really have the heart to tell her that I'm not into pre tanning creams or post tanning moisturisers. Oh well, I can at least use the basket and sponge that came in it.

I have five kids and I refused when they were in K-4 to do any fundraising. But as they got into upper grades I do what I can when I'm able to financially. I am right now trying to devise a plan on how to send my 9 yr old to summer camp .. It's going to cost 403.00 and I just don't have that laying around. so I'm trying to see what I can do and if our church is doing any summer camp things for the kids this summer.

I have always hated fundraisers. I understand the reason for them and when I can affored it will buy 1 or 2 things. The thing is I really dont like going to my family with them because I have 2 children in the same school and 1 in headstart and they all have a habit of bringing home fundraisers at the same time and there is NO way I can buy something from all ofthem so usually I will choose to buy through the headstart fundraiser over the other because in my town headstart is very small and have only 1 site. So they dont get many donations at all. My other 2 will call there grandparents and ask them but I dont even like them doing that because my parents have 6 grand children and not a whole lot of money to spend on the fundraisers. I would rather just throw them away as soon as the kids bring them home. I do look at them briefly to see IF there is anything worth it and that we could actually use, if ther is then we will get it....if not then it get trashed.

My kids brings home so much stuff to sell it's not even funny. Plus it always came at a bad time, when we were short on cash, and everyone else for that matter. It didn't stop me from taking them door to door to see if anyone would buy from them. I wish they would sell plants and flowers. It would be a nice change to coupon books, and wrapping paper. This new school year coming up, I have already told them, that they will not be going around and selling things. It's a waste of time, and most of all, times are tough now, and gas prices are climbing. Nobody will be wanting to buy anything, and neither do they want to tell a small child why they can't. With 2 kids selling the same stuff, it's even worse, because you have to buy from both. So I normally chose not to buy from neither to save heart ache.

My daughter participates in fund raisers as well- most are for sports that she plays in. Softball, basketball- etc. It helps with the cost of the upkeep of the fields, the umps, the equipment. I always buy a lot of stuff from these and I take her to sell them too. When she brings home fundraisers for the school- I don't do them- I pay enough taxes :( If it is for a trip or something for her directly- then I will sell- but not for like a playground- that is what the tax money should be used for. Plus she is 11. We went through the girl scouts fundraisers too-- I love those cookies. I do buy from several people for all kinds of fundraisers!

The school my granddaughter goes to is always having some kind of fundraiser. They are always sending something home for her to sale. About once a month I have to buy something. Like you said, some of the stuff is great and others are junk. Most of it is very high priced and living on a fixed income, it gets rough trying to buy all of it. But if I don't, then I feel like I am letting my grandddaughter down. Her mother and step father don't work and never have any money unless they bum off of someone so I feel I have to buy from her. We had fundraisers when we were in school but never near the number they have now. With us, it was maybe once a year and that was only when we got into high school.

my kids use to all the time... no more... thank goodness... now it is usually clothes, tshirts and sweatshirts for school... I know one of their classes has the plant sale.. and yes we go up and buy from that... but that is usually all!

we buy from the neighbor kids think last thing was christmas beels that go on our doors. And I see kids at stores selling chocolate bars and buy if I have any money on me . nope never sold anything fromschool fund raiser!

My nieces go to a catholic school that is always making them sell raffle tickets for something. Not only does my sister have to pay tuition to send them there, she must sell a set amount of tickets or buy the rest herself.

I used to buy stuff from people I worked with that they were selling for their kids. I didn't mind some things, but as you stated a lot of it is overpriced junk. If I can afford anything I don't mind helping and it seems kids are hard to say no to in these situations.

I remember selling Girl Scout cookies in elementary school and selling M&Ms in highschool for orchestra.My mom would help me.

Yes you are right. When I was in school we used to sell candy, my brother's school used to sell raffel tickets for people to win money. Well our parents would always buy a lot of chocolate and a lot of the tickets. Probably more than they should. My nephew wouldn't be asking for anything yet as he is not in school yet. However I would buy stuff from people if possible, so yes I would be it from other people.

The fundraising madness never ends! While my daughter was growing up we also had a bunch of nieces and nephews around the same age as her and there was always someone selling something! We had Girl Scout Cookies (which I love, by the way), candy and other over-priced stuff for the school, Little League, Midget Football, cheerleaders - it was always something. Then my daughter grew up but by then there were great nieces and nephews and soon afterwards came my grandkids and the cycle continues. The thing is, most people are willing to buy something when it's "for the kids" but I just wish they would try to choose things that are useful and reasonably priced. The Midget Football league that my grandson played for and my granddaughter still is a cheerleader for sells these fancy scented candles every year that cost at least $12 a piece. They're nice and they smell great but when people are struggling to pay their bill and put gas in their cars and food on their tables they're not going to throw money away on an overpriced candle they don't need! I remember many years ago a friend was selling trash bags for the Cub Scouts. They were fantastic and very reasonably priced and she couldn't get enough of them to satisfy all the people at work who wanted to buy them. Now THAT'S a sensible fundraiser. It sure beats candy where you get six tiny pieces in a box for $8! Annie

I love my sons school, but they have way too many fund raisers. It seems like every other month he is coming home with a different fund raiser. I usually end up buying something just so he does not feel bad, but we don't go all out trying to get people to buy stuff.

My grand daughter soon learned she doesn't know enough people to sell very much.. so thankfully the fundraisers go ignored around here.. Now, buying a plant, that I could see! But candy? Or christmas paper ten times what I can buy elsewhere? I hate to be so minus of civic spirit.. but! I guess our taxes will just have to be enough..

in my home country, we didn't have fundraising activities like here in australia... so i never actually do it when i am a kid... but now i try to buy from the kids that sell it... usually it is the Freddo chocolates here for $1 each... it is quite expensive actually... but once in a while it is OK as long as i know that it is for a good cause... take care and have a nice day...

You are so right in stating that the stuff is usually overpriced and much of it is junk that you can buy at the local dollar store. Unless it is something that is reasonably priced I don't bother to buy it. I just tell the child that I have no money because of the monthly bills.

Well, in my son's high school they don't allow fundraising anymore. I had my kids in a catholic school before when they were small and they sold from tickets to chocolates etc etc.

Yes we do get things to sell and yes I do buy things. Normaly its things like chocolates or rafle tickets. My son started school this year and we had the chocolates at $1 each and in the shops they are a bit more expencive normal price so they went ok we sold most of them to friends and my husband took them to work and I was done in 2 days and my father asked for some but by that time we had none left. You could say no I dont want to sell things but do I dare be different. They also had a fancy dinner to raise money but that was 1 day after my sons operation so I didnt go. I dont mind buying things as its only few dollars what I do have a problem is when a child that is so short that cant reach my door bell comes on my door with the box and sais something that sounds like "himynameisghtthdoyouwanttobuyachocolateformyschool" they manage to say this in 2 sec because they have been to 50 houses already and then I ask where are your parents and the child sais "at home I am here with my sister" and she is like 2 years older. Why would parents send their kids out like that is beyond me. If you cant buy them all then get out and do it with your kids you dont have to say a thing no one is going to say no to a 5 year old child.

I had to help sell it when my son was in school and in Boy Scouts.. I have also bought from the nieces and nephews so many times.. I have bought flower bulbs that didn't bloom and overpriced candy, about 15.00 for a $5.00 can of candy, but I did it for the schools and for the kids.. I don't think that I will be buying anymore as all of the little ones are getting out of the grades that have to do the most selling.. They do use the "cuteness" factor when having the kids sell something.. If you think about it, you don't see any hulking, oversized guys from high school coming to your door to sell candy, flower bulbs, or gift wrapping paper..