|
Post by JustCallMeMommy on Aug 7, 2015 18:19:31 GMT
I saw something on Facebook a few days ago about the average cost of back to school, and I thought it was insanely high. It might have been this Huffington Post article that says the average family spends $630 on electronics, apparel, and other school needs. I was just writing down the checks I wrote at school on Wednesday night, most of which was optional, but not REALLY optional, if you know what I mean, and that alone added up to $195. That made me realize that the high figure probably wasn't so insane. This is what I have spent: Band Fee - $60 Choir Fee - $60 PTO (with t-shirt) - $25 Supply Fee - $30 Beta Club Dues - $20 Skirt and 3 Shirts - $70 School Supplies (1st trip) - $40 - paper, binders, pencils, etc. before we had an actual list School Supplies (2nd trip) - $120 - This is by far the most we have ever spend on school supplies. I could have cut this down by buying dollar store headphones and combination lock, shopping deals, and making DD be more frugal, but it was still way more than expected. She didn't need a new backpack, lunchbox, or water bottle this year. So about $425 plus a French Horn (she switched instruments, so I had a credit to apply to that) and $75 registration fees for her other choir. Oh, and I still need to buy a ream of her favorite colored copy paper because I haven't made an Office Depot run yet. I don't know how big families do it! So, is it just me, or are you finding that this year is higher than usual?
|
|
|
Post by gritzi on Aug 7, 2015 18:25:22 GMT
The fees & expenses are ridiculously outrageous, IMO!
My first trip for school supplies cost $75. In high school the teachers give their lists the first day of school. The lower grades offer a list; however, each teacher has their separate requirements also. I cannot count the number of 3 ring binders I have purchased amongst other items. I have likely spent an additional $50.
Sports...$60 Transportation Fee...$50 The high school now has laptops for every student. The estimated school fee for DS is over $250 this year. School fee for DS #2 is estimated to be over $150 Sports warm ups, etc ... $300 Extra Curricular participation fee...$10/ea DS #1 came home this week & stated that XYZ can be dual credit if we pay an additional $240 for the class
Those are just a few of the expenses that we've incurred this past week.
ETA: I forgot the multi-day field trip to DC. That trip for DH & DS will cost shy of $1400 plus their eating & misc expenses while there.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 10:11:55 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 18:31:31 GMT
School doesn't start for a month but we've done a bit of shopping.
So far: $50 dollar store for lunch containers, and assorted school supplies (post its, agenda, binder, headphones, etc). We already have lots of good pens and pencils left from previous years. $60 for backpack for new kindergarten student, and lunch bags for four people. $10 on Crayola markers and crayons, and Elmer's glue sticks (mostly for at-home use, though!).
We already have backpacks, water bottles, other binders, paper and notebooks, pens and pencils, locks, etc and no one wanted new one of these things this year. One DD has to wear a gym uniform but the one from last year still fits.
I'm sure once school starts there will be a few small fees for some things (I know one DD has to buy an agenda from the school).
We don't have to pay any sports fees, bus fees, etc.
We will hand out a tonne of money over the course of the school year for trips and pizza lunch days, though!!!
Everyone needs some kind of new clothing, but my mom and sister take the girls shopping as their birthday gifts every year, so most of that expense will be covered.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 10:11:55 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 18:33:04 GMT
Just wait until they go to college! I'm trying not to add up the 3rd year costs....ugh!
Actually DS in 10th grade has a $25 tech fee for the Chromebook usage, a $5 student ID and then supplies. He will be my cheapest for school-related expenses. Still does need new shoes and a few new shirts
|
|
georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
|
Post by georgiapea on Aug 7, 2015 18:37:10 GMT
Ugh, as a single mom when my DD was in high school I couldn't have afforded those expenses. We'd have had to live on beans for a month. Or maybe longer.
|
|
theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,402
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
|
Post by theshyone on Aug 7, 2015 18:37:40 GMT
Bus application fee went up to $75 this year, I had to pay it in June for September.
School fees last year were $210. I'm expecting that will be up this year. That is no clubs, no band, no sports, just classes.
I haven't started on supplies yet. Backpack is still good from last year.
|
|
|
Post by mom2jnk on Aug 7, 2015 18:41:09 GMT
Back to school is leaving a big sucking sound in my checkbook too. This is the first year with two kids in high school. Lately, I have paid:
high school registration fee 2*$120= $240 high school soccer athletic fee = 2*$80 = $160 high school marching band fee = $145 additional marching band attire = $75 summer preseason soccer camp = $75 school supplies = about $90 so far new backpacks = $90
School supplies are probably a bit higher than average as my kids have found that they prefer the heavy plastic of the Mead 5 Star brand of binders, notebooks and folders. They are the only ones that seem to hold up for the entire school year. Unfortunately, they are not available year round, so I lay in a supply at the beginning of the school year.
This doesn't take into account all of the miscellaneous, constant expenses that the beginning of the year entails...band t-shirts, soccer warm ups, away meal sign ups, new soccer cleats, soccer socks, music books for two instruments.
I don't want to add it all up.
|
|
MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,536
Jul 24, 2014 19:51:57 GMT
|
Post by MerryMom on Aug 7, 2015 18:46:54 GMT
Pay to participate fee for Cross Country: $200 Cross Country fee: $25 (team shirt, bagels, gatorade for away meets) Cross Country out of state meet fee (hotel, charter bus, meals): $50 (the team fund raises to off-set the costs) Optional for athletes to attend Band fee (son is not in marching band): $60 We already bought his instrument so no rental fee School fees for various classes (workbooks, lab fees, supplemental books): $125-ish (we already bought the $120 calculator, but he has used it for his entire high school year so this is not included) School parking pass: $20 Basic school supplies: $20 (G2 pens, a couple of packs of mechanical pencils, 1 additional binder) Luckily, he shopped my stash of school supplies. In the spring, then we have another $200 pay to participate fee for track This is not including the band trip to Disney in the spring which was optional, but he/we have been paying on for a year>>>> $350 Optional Indoor track meet entry fees (range from $15 to $20 per meet) This is not including various graduation related expenses ( ) In our district all sports (middle and high school), plus high school marching band are $200 per sport/ or band per youth and no maximum family limit. That is the fee to the district, this does not cover the additional costs per sport (uniform, warm-ups, food, shoes, etc)
|
|
msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
|
Post by msliz on Aug 7, 2015 18:49:16 GMT
I'm getting away so cheap this year!
Laptops and phones are in good working order, no music, sports, or "other" fees except maybe a field trip or two. ACTs and SATs are done for the senior kid, and she won't be taking the National Latin Exam this year. I bought 5 new binders and a new backpack for the middle school kid.
That's it except for clothes and shoes. And driver's ed.
And the yearbook.
And Prom.
And college applications.
And the Bat Mitzvah.
But they don't count as "back to school."
|
|
|
Post by maryland on Aug 7, 2015 18:54:53 GMT
We never buy back to school clothes, because it's usually warm until Oct., so kids still wear their shorts and summer clothes. It's nice, because by Oct., the fall/winter stuff is usually on sale (to make room for spring clothes!), so we don't have to pay full price. School supplies hardly cost us anything until High School. In HS, it's costly for school supplies.
Now activity fees are expensive. When my daughter was in 7th, the activity fee was only $5 for the school year. Activity bus was free. By her freshman year, activity fee was $125 for each sport/musical/club and $25 bus fee.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Aug 7, 2015 18:58:22 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them.
Public school.
Carry on.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 10:11:56 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 19:00:39 GMT
Wow!
No, our costs are very minimal. We live in CA and I am pretty sure there is a law that schools can not charge fees or require supplies? The lists my kids are given for supplies specifically say they are "suggested". My girls are in 8th and 5th. I spent probably $20 on supplies each.
|
|
lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,172
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
|
Post by lesley on Aug 7, 2015 19:03:35 GMT
Wow, some of these prices/fees are crazy! My DD left school last year, and my DS this year. I would spend about £60 each on uniform (shirt, trousers, jumpers) and buy each of them a new blazer and tie every other year. Maybe £40 each on school shoes. £10 each on a couple of T-shirts for gym. Schools in Scotland don't issue supply lists. Things like folders, binders etc were either provided by the school, or optional. DD liked to keep her stuff neat and would buy nice binders, but DS couldn't have cared less! Naturally they both loved getting new pencils, rulers and other stationery. I do remember both of them having to pay the school £10 for a scientific calculator.
DD was heavily involved in school shows and concerts, but they either wore their standard school uniform or the Home Economics dept made costumes. DS was in the band, and again, they just wore their normal school uniform for performances. Neither was into sports particularly so I never had to buy football boots or the likes. My friend's son played football for the school and their strips were provided by the school.
We are within 10 minutes walking distance of the school, so transport was never an issue. If we had been over two miles, transport would have been free.
I think we were quite lucky compared to what some of you have to pay!
|
|
breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,888
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
|
Post by breetheflea on Aug 7, 2015 19:19:36 GMT
I heard that figure on the radio the other day but it was for elementary. They said high school was $1400+
So far I've spent about $40 on school supplies (probably need a few more) $40 on a new backpack (that should last through the rest of elementary school) and $75 on three dresses, two skirts and one pair of pants which were on clearance at JCPenney.com or Lands End.com
The kids need a few more items of clothing but I haven't spent anywhere close to $600 and I'm buying for 3 kids...
The only school fee I can think of is the PTA which is $11 and fundraisers (which are optional...)
|
|
|
Post by peano on Aug 7, 2015 19:25:49 GMT
Our big expense is marching band which I think is $575 this year, but that covers everything, including an out-of-town weekend trip.
I buy clothes on sale throughout the year. Just got him new $130ish sneakers but he gets maybe 2 pair of shoes per year.
New backpack for first year of HS last year which I'm expecting to last all 4 years.
I have a huge supply closet of school supplies so won't need anything except the piddly random stuff some teachers want.
|
|
|
Post by gorgeouskid on Aug 7, 2015 19:28:52 GMT
DS is starting private school for the first time, so the cost is staggering for us, coming from public school where everything is "free."
Tuition aside- relatively cheap for private school in our city- we have to purchase all of his books, and it was recommended that we buy two sets so he doesn't have to lug them to and from school (we've always bought one set for this purpose, but for some reason his high school texts are wildly expensive.) Well, the cost for ONE set has come to over $600, and that doesn't include his $150 health text that he doesn't need until next semester. We didn't even get new books- most are used from the school bookstore or amazon. (We're going to try to buy someone's used health text who has it first semester.)
He needed all new clothes- there isn't a uniform, but he can't wear his normal t-shirt and sport shorts combo anymore. We also had to buy him a suit, dress shirts, dress shoes, dress khakis, and a blue blazer. They have dress days at least twice a month. He bought most of his daily clothes with his 8th grade culmination gift money.
Summer school was $1300 (not mandatory, but highly recommended and it was great.) Football- $900 + $300 (?) for uniform, helmet cover thingy, game day polo, practice uniform, duffel bag, protective girdle, team socks, mouth guards, etc. School supplies will probably run $100, but that's on me, because I go a bit crazy with those. Mothers' Guild dues that I have no idea (Same with Fathers' Club) Lacrosse will probably be around $750, plus replacing some gear that needs to be updated $300 various school sweatshirts, visor, bucket hat, backpack, water bottle, bowtie, t-shirts, pajama pants (!), car magnets, Mom and Dad polo shirts, Mom fleece jacket, Mom 150th anniversary bracelet (yeah, I might have gone overboard there) $200 Freshman retreat
He has the iPad I won in a drawing, and my mom's 2 year old hand-me-down MacBook Pro, so no electronics needed, small blessing.
Big picture, he's getting a fantastic education- much better even than he would in the excellent public high school he otherwise would be attending. He'll get things out of it that he will use for the rest of his life.
|
|
|
Post by gorgeouskid on Aug 7, 2015 19:31:15 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. Gasp.
|
|
|
Post by JustCallMeMommy on Aug 7, 2015 19:32:38 GMT
I'm feeling like I got off light now.
|
|
|
Post by stargazer on Aug 7, 2015 19:34:24 GMT
Like Lesley our costs are minimal. DS is in sixth form (age 16-18) so no uniform & only supplies that he specifically wants, nothing required by the college. DD is going into year 9 (age 13/14) & wears uniform (like pretty much every school in the UK) she'll need a couple of skirts at around £20/each & new shoes, all her shirts still fit, bought her a new blazer last year that she hasn't grown into yet, she will probably need new trainers for PE & I just bought her a new sweatshirt (£8). Both of them are heavily involved in school productions but these are free to take part in. DD has been very involved in a committee commemorating the centenary of the First World War but that was free too & she went on several field trips which were also free. She did go on an activity week trip which was about £300 but that was optional. DS wins for school trip fees though (although again this is completely optional). He's going on an expedition to Kenya next summer, building a library for a school they're twinned with & then on safari etc. the cost? £2,300+!!! He is intent on raising it himself though (about halfway there atm)
|
|
|
Post by kellybelly77 on Aug 7, 2015 19:36:38 GMT
Between fees, supplies, new tennis shoes, back packs and a few new clothes I am about $860 deep right now. Our school also require kids to play an instrument. Since we don't qualify for free lunch we also don't qualify for free band equipment. Dd doesn't want to play the $700 trumpet I had to buy last year so I may get to buy another instrument also. Fun times.
|
|
|
Post by renateb on Aug 7, 2015 19:48:42 GMT
$315 registration fee, this includes transportation (if you need it or not) and use of a chrome book. (still need $100 calculator, gym uniform, paperback novels during the year, and usual school supplies)
Choir, band, sports, clubs - that is for the families that can afford the extra above the $315 registration.
|
|
|
Post by renateb on Aug 7, 2015 19:52:09 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. That is more than insane. I work at a private school. Full day kindergarten at our school is $3,150/year, discount for the second and it includes hot lunch every day.
|
|
|
Post by lorieann13 on Aug 7, 2015 19:52:34 GMT
Choir Fee - $0
Choir dress: $0 if it still fits, $35 for new one
PTA: $10
Headphones: $20
School Supplies: $90 (backpack, binder, paper, folders, dividers, pens, pencils, colored pencils, erasers, ruler, scissors, crayons, lunch box, box containers - all name brands)
ASB Card: $5
Total: $125-160 (if she needs a new dress)
For DS, backpack. He is special ed and all supplies are covered.
ETA: we are in California
I do not count clothes into the final figures because well they need clothes. We buy throughout the year. I spent $50 on ds and $80 on dd and both got 2 pairs of shoes, which were needed anyways as they just outgrew their old pairs, for $170.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Aug 7, 2015 19:55:23 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. That is more than insane. I work at a private school. Full day kindergarten at our school is $3,150/year, discount for the second and it includes hot lunch every day. Private school kindergarten here generally is $12,000-$25,000, so the cost of private school is obviously significantly higher than public. Still, charging tuition for public school outrages me.
|
|
Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,643
Location: Kansas City -ish
Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
|
Post by Anita on Aug 7, 2015 19:57:06 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. For WHAT? That's just insane.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Aug 7, 2015 20:06:29 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. For WHAT? That's just insane. Just to attend.
|
|
Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,643
Location: Kansas City -ish
Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
|
Post by Anita on Aug 7, 2015 20:08:12 GMT
How on earth is that even legal? I can't wrap my brain around it. I'm sorry.
|
|
samantha25
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
Jun 27, 2014 19:06:19 GMT
|
Post by samantha25 on Aug 7, 2015 20:15:16 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. Are you in Colorado, doing full day.? My twins did not go full day, because of this reason. They start first grade next week.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Aug 7, 2015 20:16:01 GMT
How on earth is that even legal? I can't wrap my brain around it. I'm sorry. You aren't legally required to send your kids to kindergarten. You could just skip it and not pay. That is how.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Aug 7, 2015 20:17:03 GMT
Sorry, I am going to win this one. My twins start PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten this month, and it is going to be $2840 each, or $5680 for the two of them. Public school. Carry on. Are you in Colorado, doing full day.? My twins did not go full day, because of this reason. They start first grade next week. Washington state. My district doesn't have half-day kindergarten. We are lucky in that we can afford it, and if you are truly poor, it is free, but I am guessing it is a really huge burden for families that are not poor, but for whom thousands of dollars in kindergarten fees require them to find money where they don't have it.
|
|