What are you spending for Back-to-school?

Linkat · Posts: 8474

The National Retail Federation said families with school-age children are expected to spend $563 on back-to-school merchandise, up 7%.

Spending on clothing and accessories is expected to be flat, but families are likely to spend 13% more on electronics (like cellphones and iPods).

"Electronics have evolved from luxuries to necessities, not only for college students but also for their younger siblings," Tracy Mullin, the group's chief executive, said in a statement. "While some students may be pleading with mom and dad for an iPod or a cellphone, parents are also investing in desktop or laptop computers, educational software, and printers to support their children's learning."

What the heck? I’m buying pencils, erasers, notebooks and a backpack. For clothes – the school basics as they have a dress code. So far I spent about 30 cents at the penny sale at Staples. I guess I will spend in the vicinity of a couple hundred for the two kids (granted one is in Pre-school), but they both have school supplies requirements.

sozobe · Posts: 43736

Wow!

I'm looking at backpacks and lunch bags. Haven't decided what to get yet.

There's a school supply sale every year that seems to run $20 or so. (Show up, grab a supply list, go around tables and get those supplies, bag 'em, pay.)

Sozlet is up a size from when she was last wearing cool-weather clothes so I'm going to need to do some shopping there. I'll take advantage of some back to school sales (20% off purchase at the Gap, etc.) to do that. But she'll be able to wear her current clothes with a few additions (some jeans, some tights) through late October probably.

I can't imagine spending more than $200 max on everything, with $100 being more likely.

TTH · Posts: 16317

What do I spend for "Back-to-school"? Without having kids, over $2,000
in property tax.

CalamityJane · Posts: 16792

With uniform, new backpack, and school supply I probably will spend
around $ 250 - $ 300.

It is higher this year, as my daughter is going to a new school which requires us to buy all new uniforms. School supply typically has been around $ 30.-

Linkat · Posts: 8474

sozobe wrote:

Wow!

I'm looking at backpacks and lunch bags. Haven't decided what to get yet.

There's a school supply sale every year that seems to run $20 or so. (Show up, grab a supply list, go around tables and get those supplies, bag 'em, pay.)

Sozlet is up a size from when she was last wearing cool-weather clothes so I'm going to need to do some shopping there. I'll take advantage of some back to school sales (20% off purchase at the Gap, etc.) to do that. But she'll be able to wear her current clothes with a few additions (some jeans, some tights) through late October probably.

I can't imagine spending more than $200 max on everything, with $100 being more likely.

I have two going this year - so I predict in the $200 range probably not much over though.

Linkat · Posts: 8474

CalamityJane wrote:

With uniform, new backpack, and school supply I probably will spend
around $ 250 - $ 300.

It is higher this year, as my daughter is going to a new school which requires us to buy all new uniforms. School supply typically has been around $ 30.-

What no iPods for school? What kind of parent are you?

CalamityJane · Posts: 16792

iPod was three christmases ago, and I am surprised myself that she
hasn't lost it yet. Okay, I had the iPod engraved with name and
phone number, but still..... Laughing

She's working on a cell phone now, but I told her to come back
when she is 16.

eoe · Posts: 9716 Location: Zamunda, Ga.

Geez...

I'm a little bit envious. As a kid, of course I loved this time of year. I'd suspect that if I had kids, I would still love this time of year. But again, maybe not.

Eva · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:43 pm Post: 2762741 -

At the rate SonofEva is growing, there's no telling.

At this age (13) they can change sizes overnight. He's up to a size 9 in shoes now, and 5'4" or 5'5"...I haven't measured him yet today.

He's had a cellphone since he started middle school. It's a necessity. With sports after school most days, we never knew where or when to pick him up. At the gym? At the soccer field? At the park down the block from the school? (We paid the $5/mo. extra for insurance, though. That was a good decision.)

Anyway, his school supplies were included in his tuition payment (private school), and I suppose I'll buy whatever clothes he needs whenever he needs them. No sense rushing out to buy fall clothes now. Who knows what size he'll be in three months when the weather turns cooler.

Teenagers. Rolling Eyes

Linkat · Posts: 8474

Eva - the problem I have if I wait is they run out of the uniform type of clothes - I have difficulty enough finding clothes to fit her - she is tall and thin - pretty much a stick and very fussy about how things fit.

Even though my daughters attend private school we need to buy school supplies - they sent out a survey last year saying they could include it with tuition or have parents buy it and bring it in. I guess most parents felt they could get a better deal shopping themselves.