I don't have a set budget either, I just buy the things they need as they need them. August and September are always expensive because of all the sports fees and gear, yearbooks, school pictures, lunch accounts, supplies, etc. We also have to buy our textbooks here in Indiana, so that runs between $150.00-$250.00 per child. My son's preschool is $200 a month.

Holy cow! Is this just consumable textbooks? Surely you can "check out" the non-consumables, I'd hope.

I will not complain about school fees again. I didn't know that was even allowable. That stinks.

As for the OP, we don't have a school budget per se. We have a monthly household budget for incidentals and it will come out of that.

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"When we are no longer able to change a situation — we are challenged to change ourselves."
— Victor E. Frankl

Do you get to keep the textbooks? Can't you buy used ones from other people? That is the most rediculous (sp?) thing I ever heard!!! I could not afford to pay that for my 5 school aged kids.

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~Happiness is a large family~

This is interesting because I am not to that point still I am thinking the school supply sales are a good time to stock up on craft supplies. My DD is two we are just getting into crafts. I start watching my nephew when school starts but lucky for me I don't have to buy anything.
What will be tough is that when we do start school is there is a strict dress code so we will have to have both school clothes and play clothes.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

So far it's at about $100 each child...and I still have to get them each 2 or 3 pairs of jean, their agendas (bought at school), and any class fees (class parties etc).

I didn't set aside $$ for it, I am just getting it as we go...Next year I'll be more on top of it and have money set aside!

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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass~ It's about learning to dance in the Rain

I agree, it's crazy that we pay for textbooks! The $150-$250 per child is the RENTED price for the books, we have to turn them in at the end of the semester. I have no idea what the price would be if you actually wanted to keep them!

I have no idea. I never budget. I buy what we need and can afford. At the beginning of each school year, I am sure we don't spend more than 100 for each child. But we spend money throughout the year too. I homeschool my 13 year old, and the past couple years have gotten free books from a friend. But she only homeschooled until 7th grade, so this year I have to buy. I am not sure how much I am spending on her yet. At least 300 probably. I have to see how much I can get off ebay, and then get the rest from Rainbow Resource. I use the library a lot too.
My son buys most of his own clothes because he is picky. We will usually buy him a couple pairs of jeans and his school supplies. He wants Polo shirts and 100 dollar shoes, and we won't do it. This summer he got a job. I hope he remembers to save enough for clothes. He wants to buy himself a new cellphone.
I get my girls clothes from thrift stores and buy them brand new shoes. Usually generic, but this year I think we will get them Tony Hawk or Vans.

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I have nothing to declare except my genius."
- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) upon arriving at U.S. customs 1882

Ok so far I have spent:

$30 each on new stainless steel thermos drink containers and food storage container all three kids. (Total: $90)

$8 each on new lunch boxes for two kids (Total: $106)

$30 new back pack for one kid (Total: $136)

$25 each on school supplies items for classroom (Total: $211)

$70 total for three pairs new sneakers -- on sale (Total $281)

$50 total for new first day of school outfits for two (Total $331)

$195 Tuition for Preschool for son (Total: $526)

$80 Lunch Account Charges for two (Total $606)



So that means I have spend over $200 average per child, but I am not even done yet. I buy stuff through out the year and this does not include the outrageous amounts spent on Sports this year!! Or Scouts!! Or Piano!! However all of these expenses are in our budget because I know they are coming and necessary. (My son's preschool expense is also a "childcare" expense because I work when he is in school.) I will only buy two pairs of sneakers each year so I spend more per pair but use a discount -- and include it in the clothing budget. The lunch is part of my food budget for the month. I am hoping to save money with taking lunches more this school year so the stainless expense will hopefully save me money in the long run.

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Grace

Wife to Stoney

Mommy of Sarah (9), Hannah (7.5), and John(5)

I am so glad I do not have this trauma every year any more but when we had it to go through with DH ex wife it was pure #&%%!.

That woman could spend 5 times more money on two kids than I could on my one. Usually I could get away with 25-30 on school supplies but she always spent $200. Granted she was buying for 2 kids but good grief!!!!

The clothing was in a category all of its own!!! every year when shcool started there was a huge fight b/c we always wondered why his children had to have all new everything from underwear to outerwear. No joke this woman bought each child 14-20 new pairs of socks, underwear, t-shirts, then she bought them 14-20 new pairs of jeans, shorts, button up tops, long sleeve tees, at least 3 new coats, gloves, hats, 2 pair boots, 2 pair tennis shoes, 2 pair dress shoes, then came all the sports equipement, the eye exams, the dental appointments etc. The lists just went on and on and on.

Yet it always seemed strange to me that his children always looked so ratty when they came over???

We finally got to the point where we took one child (different child each year) and took the school list bought the school supplies - saved a ton of money -then took the child shopping for clothes - saved us gobs of money.

We've got a kid entering college, so just start adding zeros behind everyone else's numbers. LOL. But seriously, it's putting us back ~$5k this year after scholarships, so that's not bad imo. Books will probably be another $700/year for his major. We also spent ~$500 to build a loft for his dorm room, buy a suit, microwave, and get new clothes for college.