Is $42 too much for a middle school year book?

[toile]

I think $42 for a middle school year book is too much?
What do you think?

[FrugalMomof3]

I think that is superly high priced... OMG. No offense but my child wouldnt be getting one at that cost.

[Wendy99]

Way over priced - what causes the cost to be so high? I would talk with the school board about that for sure ..

[Neeley]

As usual, I am odd man out. I don't think it is really over priced. It sounds about right to me.

My DD's high school yearbook was $55 this year. The junior high some of DS's friends go to charged $45 for their's this year. The private school DS will attend next year charges $60 for theirs. I asked my cousin who teaches at an elementary school in the next city over how much their's were. She said $33 for her school (grades K-6).

I love yearbooks. I have everyone of mine from 1st grade all the way through 12th. All of my parents' high school ones and all of my kids from Kindergarten on up (except for the years we homeschooled). I buy them no matter the price. They are priceless to me.

[Wendy99]

Unfortunately not everyone can afford that price though & I would think they should be made affordable so that any child that wishes to buy one regardless of financial position should be able to have one to cherish.

[AmyBoz]

Sounds about right. I believe ours is $40. We also purchase extras for kids who can't afford them. (Please don't say something about socialism or anything like that...everyone gets a yearbook.)

That being said, ours is in color, is a hardback and is really, quite nice. We have approximately 1,000 kids in our school.

[Nishu]

I don't think it's necessary for a middle school yearbook to be in color and hardcover. I would not purchase one at that price, more in protest than anything else.

[nodmicks]

Ours are the same price. It is one year book and includes the middle school, high school and charter school (In total 600 students). It is a nicely put together hard cover. Last year both the boys got one. I will only be buying one this year since dh is laid off. However mom paid that much for my high school book 20 years ago.

[Buckeye5]

Do I think it is too much yes, but ours cost $52 for middle school and $62 for high school.

[mom21ofeach]

Our grade school yearbook (K-5) is $17. It's softback and in color.

The middle school yearbook (6-8) is $25. We have yet to receive it, but I believe it is in color and softback.

Now, I do think $45 is too much, but I would probably pay it for my kids. They are so much fun to look back on later and my kids still look at old yearbooks (my dh's, mine and their own!).

[annertak]

I voted that it was about right, not because I don't think it's ridiculous, but because that is what we pay around here, too. I do think it is ridiculously expensive, as are many other fees we pay to the school!

[StaceyS]

I just threw mine out not long ago. My parents were willing and able to afford them frm about 6th grade on. I was even on the yearbook staff. I think it just depends on how important it is for your child. I really didn't want one. If your child will cherish it - it's priced just fine. If they're wishy-washy like I was, it's not worth it.

[forHISglory]

I taught the publications class (which produced the yearbook and newspaper) and our books had reached the $50 mark by the time I retired. It was hardback, color, and had about 300 pages. We received no subsidy from the school; the book was completely self supporting. We had to purchase all of our own computers, software, cameras, etc. with which to produce the book. We were non-profit, and only made enough extra to send the staff to a summer day-camp for journalism. Those books are expensive! No doubt about it. And that's why we sold ads.

But what wonderful memories in them, if they are done correctly. We not only had all the individual mug shots and sports/activity pix, but we also chronicled the culture of the year. My staff took pictures of the signs advertising the price of gas and the menus in fast food restaurants, along with other things that students buy. They could sure see price differences in their years. They also researched and published headline news from around the world and nation and locally, ran student polls on the most significant news to affect them personally, compiled lists of famous individuals who died that year, etc. Students were still running for the yearbooks when questions came up like "When did Princess Di and Mother Theresa die?". We also published notes and letters from alums who wrote to congratulate and encourage the students. So our yearbook covered a lot of material, and the students cherished them.

[MomToTwoBoys]

My high school yearbook was free.

It was free because the student council took every step to make sure that any special fundraising events would cover all costs for their seniors the entire year. This included cap, gown, senior day, senior breakfast and a trip to Six Flags in New Jersey for 250 kids. We had $15k leftover by the time we graduated.

I think the school board and student council should have done more to prevent that high of a cost being passed on to students' parents.

No way I would pay $42 for a middle school yearbook. I have one and I barely remember anything from middle school.

[kittykatstrong]

I guess I dont think that the yearbook has to be hardcover. I dont have one from those years and honestly I dont miss it.