What's your school shopping grand total so far this year?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-01-2009, 02:51 PM

I just went today and picked up little over half of what DS5 needs for school. I spent about $157.21 and got the following:

3 pairs of pants
4 shirts
1 lunch bag
1 backpack
1 plastic water bottle
replacement straws for the water bottle
ziploc containers for his sandwiches and snacks

He just needs a few more things and then he's done. I don't need to buy him a winter jacket or a rain coat/boots because he has an umbrella and a winter jacket was given to him by the neighbor's son.

DS10 will be in a few weeks.

**dmarie** · 08-01-2009, 07:34 PM

So Far I'm extremely pleased at what we spent. Early July I bought the backpacks on a great end of Summer Clearance guess for backpacking. Then yesturday hit Walmart and picked up everything they needed plus some to donate to the church and bought my youngest all his clothes and still under 75.00 I budgeted 300 for the boys to start school with. Oldest starts Middle school this year so i have to pay to enroll him that's 60. Plus his shoes will be 40. So after his clothes i think i planned just perfect. I Hope.

**frugalwarrior** · 08-01-2009, 11:40 PM

Fruit of the loom at k-mart b1 get 1 @ 1/2 price plus a $5. rebate on 3 or $10. on 5 items purchased. It is mail in though not like last year. Only 1 per household. If anyones intereseted. Kroger has 3 subject notebooks $1.99 and Big Lot 5 subject $2.20. Walmart has .05 1 subject notebooks. I also got clearance crayons 24ct. .15 and non washable markers .75 if anyone interested.
i have spent about $100. on school supplies between Big Lot,Walmart and Kroger. Should last a least 1 year for 2 kids

Wardrobe
3 pr. teen pants and 1 pr. flip flops-$85.
underwear,t-shirts,3 bras,5 pkg. socks,2 pkg. panties-$61. after 10. rebate
Still need DS shoes and will prob. poke around S.A. for a few things.
All the winter stuff we have
I purchased ton of quilted jackets,flannel shorts,fleese for xmas @ 75% off after the holidays last year/early this.
Maybe a couple pairsof jeans for DD as she can't find a job here.

so prob. spent-$250. ish
and prob. spend another $150.-$200.
To be fair though my kids don't outgrow but rather wear out clothes.
However their clothes are expensive if I'm not clever. DD got a pile of hot topic clothes for $1. per item /retail $20. plus.

**amlitrocks** · 08-02-2009, 05:23 PM

I'm trying for $0.00 this year on clothes. I live in the South, so shorts are on the agenda until at least October. Now please understand I have a 1st grader and preschooler who wear the same size and together have at least 10 pairs of decent shorts. Same with the shirts. Last year blue jeans will fit preschooler and have a few hand-me-downs for older sons. Why do I still feel guilty for not buying new school clothes?

As far as the actual supplies, I have already paid for school supplies for older son which includes a backpack. I believe it was $48.00. I went ahead and bought $5.00 worth of supplies for replenishing in the middle of the year. I still expect a list of needed supplies from teachers so I will need to expect that cost.

Overall, I am scaling back. I own a daycare and business is down, so I am tightening the purse strings in case it can't support itself for a while. If only the guilt would go away about the school clothes, I would feel great satisfaction in my frugal skills. When I was growing up, one of the few times we would get new school clothes was the beginning of the year.

**frugalfranny** · 08-02-2009, 05:27 PM

Some great shopping......congrats to the moms! I admire you all at this time of year...........

**dmarie** · 08-02-2009, 06:01 PM

Ami I would do the same thing. My boys don't wear the same size but i kept all the good clothes from the oldest and little one can grow into them, As for school supplies there are some i did not buy Water colors were requested by both boys teachers last year they brought them home at the end of year unopened. So guess what they get the same paints the pencils they ask for 48 each so they can go in the community box i don't think so same with the tissues and the antibacterial gel. One teacher asked for Crayola crayons only Rose art is the same and cheaper.
My favorite was the teacher asked all the kids to each bring in a highlighter and a red pen. (so she would have them all year to mark there papers).

**JessieMom** · 08-02-2009, 06:23 PM

I have all DS17 clothes & school supplies, I need to get him books for a couple more classes & he will be complete. This is his first year of college but I haven't bought him new casual clothes in several years so I bought him a bunch of stuff. 3 pr new jeans, 5 "funny" tshirts, 2 short sleeve button up shirts, 1 long sleeve button shirt, socks, underwear, plain t-shirts, couple reg short sleeve shirts. Also bought all his school supplies. I spent $260 on him & he's done.

DS15 is partially purchased for. I bought 3 pr of the jeans that he likes, 1 hoodie, 1 tshirt and underwear. $100 spent on him

DD11 is also only partially purchased for. I have all her school supplies bought, her shoes (cheerleading sneakers, dress shoes & boots), socks and bras. So far $150 on her.

DS15 still needs school supplies, socks & shoes, and a couple t-shirts - I would guess another $200 (his size 14 wide width sneakers usually cost me a fortune). DD is going to pick out the school clothes she would like. She has $160 left from the gift certificates I got from the rewards program from my DH hotel stays for work. I gave them to her with the instructions she can get what she wants but that's all she has to spend so she better get everything she needs, lol.

I don't normally spend this much but it looks like it will be about $900 this year. Usually I'm lucky & at least one of the kids will only need a couple things but this year all of them needed almost everything. DS17 has been wearing uniforms so he needed things to wear to college, DS15 has grown several inches this summer (going from 30 to 34 in leg length for jeans), DD11 also added several inches as well as some feminine curves. Oh well, at least I had $200 in gift certificates and the money I budget through out the year.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-02-2009, 09:44 PM

I spent another $111.39 at Zellers and got:

2 pairs of shoes
1 pair of rain boots
1 pair of pajamas
2 pairs of sweatpants
2 3pk underwear
1 10pk socks for DS10
1 6pk socks for DS5

I then went to Payless and spent $73 and got two pairs of Airwalk sneakers for DS10 (he's wearing a Men's size 9 now).

Now all I have to get is DS10's main set of clothes. He'll wear 3 pants and at least 3-5 shirts.

**frugalwarrior** · 08-02-2009, 09:50 PM

Cleaned out the junk room and found more school supplies. I don't remember why they were in there but I will sort tommorrow. A bunch more stuff for middle of the year-free. I also found a few hoodies in clothes I hid for xmas so i am debating,we are tight right now with 2 sets of wisdom teeth and a new/used car and the extra ins,. SO...

**Nana2two** · 08-03-2009, 12:00 AM

I spent around $75 for 2 high schoolers. They both have plenty of clothes now. I pick stuff up through out the spring and summer. They will need a winter coat That will around Oct.

**Karen1** · 08-03-2009, 06:56 AM

Have a 4 year old daughter.

Spent nothing yet. Pre-school starts at end of august. waiting to see just what fits her then...LOL

will hit goodwill, any buy one get one free deals etc. It won't be much money spent on back to (pre)school....LOL----maybe $50 or so for some new items for the school year?

**justpeachy92** · 08-03-2009, 08:25 AM

So far we have spent about $25 on school supplies, pens, notebooks, etc. Their bookbags and lunchboxes from last year are still in like new condition so they will be using those again. The only thing left to buy is new tennis shoes. They will all need jean but not till mid september so we will wait on those.

**rsbs** · 08-03-2009, 08:38 AM

I spent $30.00 on the things on "the list" DD's teacher sent to us. I decided to splurge on DD a little & let her get some of the nicer end things (like glittery pencil pouches) that I usually recycle from previous years. She's going into the 5th grade & has had some social issues, so I wanted her to feel special this year.
Also spent $40.00 on a backpack. Another splurge, from LL Bean. Along with a warning to DD that it would be the last backpack I buy her, so take care of it!

I had one of those that lasted me until a couple of years ago, so I don't mind paying a little extra if it lasts her as long!
Clothes - I shop end of season sales & a size up, so I have no idea. Probably less than $100.00 for a closet full. We go "shopping" in her closet (I leave the tags on and all) the day before school starts & she picks out her first few days of school outfits.

**NewLeaf** · 08-03-2009, 08:52 AM

I spent around $300 on two boys 13 yrs and 6 yrs.
* all school supplies (around $100)

* 13 yr old- 2 pr. jeans, 1 tshirt, underwear , under shirts

* 6 yr old - 1 pr. jeans, 3 shirts, socks, hoodie & backpack

That doesn't seem like much and we have bought more clothes in the past. But I am trying this approach for now. If they need something later in the season we can get it then.

**Lora88** · 08-03-2009, 10:18 AM

I have spent 4000.00 thats for tuition books and a new lap top for ds 2nd year in college he buys his own clothes now thank God.This is my last one in college already have done the other three. I look forward to the day there is no more school shopping to be done lol