Here we go with the begging?

@34momma (13882)
United States
July 24, 2008 3:09pm CST
Here we go again, back to school is almost here. Yes I know it's still July, but back to school will be here before we know it. My son is already asking me for this and that. The latest hot sneakers, the jeans he just can't live without. and of course that $100 bookbag. Do you have a back to school budget? are you buying back to school clothes and supplies for more then one child?
10 people like this
25 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
24 Jul 08
My daughter starts back to school in august. She is going to be in the 11th grade. she hasn't really asked me for anything yet. She is getting ready to have surgery before she goes back. I think she is more focussed on that right now. I do have a budget for her too though. I guess after she has surgery, I will buy her a few things. Right now she just doesn't feel good to want anything for school yet. I am glad that I only have to buy for one child. It is very expensive these days.
2 people like this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I hope all goes well with your daughter and her surgery. I only have my middle child to buy for this year, but that means he thinks his budget is doubled!! LOL
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Thank you very mcuh. I appreciate that. I know kids clothing and shoes and school supplies are very expensive. We want our kids to have the best but it is so high these days. I think it is fun to take them shopping but I just hate it when they want and need so many things and we can barely afford to just buy the necessities. I think that is funny that your son thinks his budget doubled LOL. That is a kid for ya.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Yeah he thinks the money i would have spent on my other son's school clothes i should spend on him. but my older son is starting college which means there is even less money for my younger son. college is so expensive
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
24 Jul 08
cute note books - I love the new back to school note books
I'm so glad that I'm finished with the back to school shopping. All my kids are finely finished with school. i do miss some of it though. I love those cute little note books that they come out with every year. Note books and all the fun colored pencils and markers. They just are so tempting. But No I don't have to buy any thing for back to school and will stay away from those isles because they are so tempting.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
well good for you!! trust me with the prices of everythig right now, my son would be lucky to get a new shoe string
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
24 Jul 08
My son starts First grade in September and we have already ordered his school supplies through our PTA. That gets delivered to his class before he starts school. I actually have to buy a new school bag as he's ripped the zipper on his old one and it won't even close. As for clothes and such, nope, he will wear whatever he has in his cupboard. He has a good pair of sneakers and a couple of sandles and crocks to get him through this year. I only have to buy him new pants in winter time as all his other ones have holes at the knees, which I have patched up for him to use as play clothes and or cut to make shorts for summer haha.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
that's what i made my son do. when he turned 16, he had to get a job. he has been there for two years now!
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
oh first grade is easy. what until he is older and the girls are coming after him. he is not going to want to wear crocks!!!LOL
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
24 Jul 08
haha by then he better have a after school paper run job or something to buy his own brand shoes.
1 person likes this
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
2 Aug 08
Both of my sons wear a uniform so there is no argument there. I will have to get them new supplies and some casual stuff to wear outside of school. The uniforms are covered in the tuition fees, as far as everything else goes I will soend as much as I need to make sure they have everything they need, I was hopping to kep it under 500$ between the two of them.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
6 Aug 08
oh lucky for you. i wish my son had to wear a uniform. it is just so much easier
@ruby222 (4847)
30 Jul 08
It is all down to peer pressure all of this silly thing that you have to have a pair of sneakers that cost the earth!what is the mattter with them all?my daughters have all of this palaver to go through,and in ure it will drive them as mad as it does you!the must haves in life,and when you look at it the most of them are luxuries not necessities.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
30 Jul 08
i always make sure i get them what they need, and if i can i will get them something that they want. i am so happy that my husband did the school shopping for my son this year. now i am done and get now pay a little more for the sneakers that he wants
• United States
24 Jul 08
I'm on the other end of the spectrum- I'm the kid going back to school. Though since I'm now in my twenties, I don't expect so much as just hope for a bit of help from the 'rents. They have this rule for themselves where they like to buy one new school outfit for us girls (my sister's 37 and a prof, but she gets one too) every year.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
wow, she still get's a new outfit?
• United States
24 Jul 08
Sure does. It's a strange tradition my folks started up for both of us. It might just be because, technically, my sister's still in school (though she's teaching instead of studying now).
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Wow, what great parents. i got mine off at 16. rather if they want those costly sneakers and things, they need to get a job and we will then go half. other then that, they are out of luck
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
25 Jul 08
I have 3 children still in school. I buy for all of them. I usually take them shopping and let them pick out a couple pair of pants and about 5 tops, then of course, the socks and underware, bookbags and supplies. My oldest boys work, so they will buy themselves more clothes too. My rule has always been that they buy a good bookbag that they can use for 2 yrs. I think I am free from getting bookbags this year. The kids all just got new shoes, so that part is done. My daughter needs more clothes as she is still growing. I dread the back to school shopping! They closed my favorite store to shop for school clothes, so we have to hit the mall this year.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
27 Jul 08
well as of today i am done. my hubby took my son school shopping yesterday. he got him everything he needs. all i have to do is get him some socks and new underwear. i just have to take care of getting my older son out of here and ready to go to college
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
25 Jul 08
My daughter will start school next year so I have sometime before it happens but they will need to wear uniforms to school so I don't really have to worry about the lastest style clothes but I'm sure all the other stuff will add up. I think I will cry more then she will. Shes ready to go to school so she says.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
well good for you. i say start saving your money now. open up like a school shopping account and start putting like $10 a week into it. this way when it is time it doesn't jump out at you and you are ready for it
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
25 Jul 08
i know what you mean I have no idea how I am going to do the school shopping this year I have to buy for 2 teen girls an thank god they don't mine us going to walmart an know we are on a tight budget so they don't askk for anything an act thankfull for the lttle they get
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
it's great when you have children who do understand how that mom and dad have bills to pay. kids who are ok with not shopping at the most expensive stores. they are just happy to have nice new things
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I have already started prusing the sale papers for back to school stuff, I guess it is time to get out nd start shopping. Luckily my sosn both have a uniform they wear to school so I only have to shop for new supplies for them and not much else.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
28 Jul 08
well now all i have to get is books and paper, stuff like that. my son got his school clothes this weekend
• United States
26 Jul 08
My daughters are all done with school, but when they were younger, we had a back to school budget and I would start buying things early when there were sales. Sometimes even buy things on line on Overstock. Piece of advice-hit the sales and check out some websites online-sometimes you can find the same things on line for less than what you would pay in the stores.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
27 Jul 08
i love to shop online. you can find things so much cheaper. and now i have to site where when i shop through it, i get cash back on all the things i buy. last month, i made over $100 in cash back.
• United States
25 Jul 08
my back-to-school budget is now just an internet connection and a space in the living room for an extra computer. my son has done so badly in regular school that he's in serious danger of dropping out. he's pretty excited about schooling on-line - no competition - no lectures (except from me) - and he's very comfortable with the computer and internet... i really hope that this can get him back on track. do you have him earning money towards all this on any of your sites?
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Hey there Red, good to see you on girl!! home school is a great idea. and I hope he does well. how i make money online is how my family makes money online. my son, hubby, sister, a few cousins, my aunt, best friend and her family. i have helped them all tap into making money online. so we are all in this together!!
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
25 Jul 08
That brings back memories, 34momma! My children have left school now, but I used to love buying the exercise books and putting the covers on them. The children would choose the contact paper to put on them, and we'd spend a happy afternoon covering books. I love stationery, so it was fun buying pencils and bits and pieces. Our school had a uniform, so we didn't have to worry about designer clothing until the middle of high school - by then, the kids had part time jobs at McDonalds and could put money towards the cost of expensive things they wanted!
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
i never did that. rather i don't think they have to do that so it was not something we did. but it sure does sound like a nice way to spend the afternoon
@reckon21 (3479)
• Philippines
25 Jul 08
[i]Education is always expensive. If we want to learn from school we need to buy things and pay for the tuition. Try to budget your money wisely. Buy only those needed.[/i]
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
don't worry, i get what they need first, and if i have a few bucks left over i will then get something extra
• United States
24 Jul 08
My kids go to private school so back to school shopping isn't all that much fun- just a trip to the uniform store! So the book bag is really the only exciting part of the shopping- my daughter wants one from Gap Kids. We won't do any of that until mid-Augist. I estimate I'll spend about $300 total on uniforms for both kids, as my little guy will be starting kindergarten. Probably another 50 bucks each on bookbags and lunchboxes. Ugh... I don't even want to think about school! I love our free summer days!!
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
LOL i know what you mean. but it is coming and i have to make sure that it get's done. i wish i could afford private. that i think i might be able to do that with my little girl when she is ready for school
• United States
24 Jul 08
Yes, here we go. I have two that i have to buy for. My 4 year old is going back to Headstart, so all she need is a Backpack and some clothes and shoes. My 6 year old is going to first grade and she has a list a mile long. Thankfully, my church is giving away school supplies so that will help me out a great deal.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
first let me say, it is always good to you on girl. welcome. my little girl is still in daycare so i don't have to worry about her to much. besides, things for her are very cheap. now my son, girl i am going to have to get a second job!!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Jul 08
hi 34momma nope those days are all over and done with nannanana. whew what a relief. being a senior sure does have its advantages no more begging for stuff I cannot afford like 100 dollars sneakers. oh I am so glad. I dont miss that at all. whew. what a 'relief.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
lol, i got another 15 years before i am done with that! i enjoy the shopping with them, i just don't like giving up all of my money
• Philippines
25 Jul 08
Good day.. I haven't any children yet and won't be sending and buying school stuff anytime soon but I do remember when I was still in school, My mom just buy the basics like books and uniforms. We're always on a budget so I can afford to choose what I like regarding my bag and such but it didn't bother me. I know from the start that school is primarily for learning and others are secondary.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
my boys used uniforms when they were very little, but then the school said they didn't want to use them any more. i loved because it was cheap and every looked the same. i liked that
@chingbeem (910)
• Philippines
25 Jul 08
Hello.Im sure your son is excited to go back to school with all those nice things. Let me share with you how it is here to give our children good education.This too was how my and my husbands's parents brought us up too. We have 2 kids.the eldest,a girl,just entered college in one of the most expensive jesuit ran school here.she used to go to an exclusive for girls school ran by the Good Shepherd nuns.our youngest,a boy is in the 9th grade with the Paulinian nuns. Before the school ends by mid March,we pay around $20 for the slot reservation for the next school year.around mid April we are required to pay around $500 as down payment plus books which cost $100 more or less.We pay the balance of $1000 until december.by May,we get uniforms,$50 each.shoes,$40,then the school supplies like bags $30-50,notebooks,pens,etc which will cost us around $20 for each of them.when classes start.we pay $45 for the school service per month for the boy.my husband brings the girl to school and picks her up at night.their pocket money...$5 for the boy.$10 for the girl since her class is from 7:30am to 7:30pm. yes,budget-budget-budget. its not very easy to give children good education. as for your son wanting the latest sneakers and jeans...yes,they go through that stage,just like how we did before.if you can afford it,get them those for him.if not,explain very well how life is and why you should settle for the less expensive but nice once.parents play a vital role in a childs life.we must make them understand.some children are lucky to have parents who can afford..but if one has parents who hold on tight budget,we must not fret.What we have,we must content with. my children are lucky,i know.we send them to the best schools.buy them only branded clothes.yet they did not become materialistic. on their last birthdays,my dad sent them $50 each.the girl wanted to buy the jansport backpack which her $50 was not enough and i needed to add $10 more.my son wanted to buy the nike sneakers which I needed to add another $50.but by the last minute,they changed their minds.my daughter decided to save the money.my son bought a nike cap on sale,a cheaper converse sneakers and a nice shirt without me adding any amount.see,they learned to spend within their budget.as long as we parents instill the value and goodness of life,they will learn and apply it in their daily lives.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
i have a gift card i got from work and i am going to use that to get him the extra things that he wants
@movicont (495)
• United States
25 Jul 08
My parents don't really have a budget for back to school shopping. They pretty much just buy the essentials needed (like pens, pencils, erasers and notebooks) and not anything else. If my backpack isn't broken, there's no point to buying a new one. Same goes with the clothing, I guess.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Jul 08
i like to get my children just a few new things, i think it's just a nice thing to do