What school supplies to you indulge in and what do you stand firm on.

[imagine]

What school supplies do you indulge in ( you know more than just the very basic) and which ones do you stand firm on.

I indulge the children by buying

1) at least one package of cool pencils. I enjoyed this a a child

Little Miss found some with puppies on them
Buddy ( middle school boy) found some made from recycled tires.


2)sometimes the first of something

Little Miss has finally become old enough that a three ring binder is on her list. I let her pick out one with a print she liked. To mark this new phase of life LOL

3) things they can give a very good logical thought out reason why they want/need it

This has happens more as the have aged and have moved into the realm of self organization instead of teacher guided organization.

The big one that stand out in my mind was when Buddy asked for a four inch binder that zipped up. He had very good reasoning why he needed/wanted it, He presented his "case" well, so we bought it for him. He is planning on using it this coming up year to as it really worked well for him.



My stand firm ones:

1) Things we already have that are in good condition (like colored pencils that one that were used a couple of times last year)
2) things we have stocked up on and have plenty of
3) no coolness factor if basic would work better (Buddy had to buy this own calculator when the one he wanted was shaped like a video game controller when he had two working basic calculators already)

Exception to "my stand firm" is if it meets at least one of the indulgence rules.

[frugalwarrior2]

pencils w/ names on clearance 1 yr. another the folders that go inside binders w/ animals. DD cared more than DS. Always get gender neutral stuff

[Bobby Rodgers]

I usually let my kids chose what folders/binders they want. They usually don't last more than a year. I let them chose a backpack. Only thing I am really firm with is if it is still in good condition they have to use it...and I don't feel to bad about that since I usually let them chose their supplies to begin with.

[imagine]

I usually let my kids chose what folders/binders they want. They usually don't last more than a year. I let them chose a backpack. Only thing I am really firm with is if it is still in good condition they have to use it...and I don't feel to bad about that since I usually let them chose their supplies to begin with.

Having been a teacher, I have seen children destroy their things at the end of the year because they know that mom and dad have a rule about if it is still good you have to use it.

It was interesting to overhear their conversations some would destroy it just a bit so that it would not be obvious while another would say they had be obvious or their parents would say it was good enough. Some children were shocked to hear the others conversations and loving packed their stuff away for next year.

Interesting stuff

[Bobby Rodgers]

Having been a teacher, I have seen children destroy their things at the end of the year because they know that mom and dad have a rule about if it is still good you have to use it.

It was interesting to overhear their conversations some would destroy it just a bit so that it would not be obvious while another would say they had be obvious or their parents would say it was good enough. Some children were shocked to hear the others conversations and loving packed their stuff away for next year.

Interesting stuff

Oh I know. My oldest tried that one year. I let his little sister chose his school supplies the next year. Somehow he didn't seem to realize that I check his folders and things for his homework each night and that I found it odd how a perfectly good binder was miraculously ripped in half on the second to last day of school. Needless to say he didn't try that again lol.

[TheresaRHPS]

I buy a lot of my nephew's school supplies, and we try to indulge, but realistically, lol. He's one of those really smart kids that HATE school, so I try to make it as positive as an experience as I can.

A lot of my decisions on what to allow him to buy result in my own experiences in school. I know what tends to wear out quickly, and what wears out because he doesn't take care of it.

We purchase the name-brand pencils and pens. They're actually a LOT cheaper that even the Dollar store stuff when you catch the major back to school sales, and they just work sooo much better. We also take advantage of these sales for stocking up on loose leaf paper, notebooks, erasers, colored pencils, etc. You can get these for pennies, and we buy enough to last the entire school year.

He's going in to the 7th grade, so he'll be able to pick out a nice zipper binder. He usually picks out a Nike binder, and although they're pricey, they're of good quality and last an entire school year. He knows that he has to take care of it, though. If it gets ripped or stained or the zipper breaks and its still functional, he has to use it.. If he's careless and breaks the rings or something...its replaced with a cheap binder unless he pays for another with his own money.

He can pick out two or three cool folders for the inside, but the rest are basic, reinforced plastic ones.

He has a good JanSport backpack, so he will NOT be getting a new backpack this year.

He also has a good lunch bag. By the time he was in second grade, he felt he was too grown up for a character lunch box, and wanted a basic adult one...which was great! They last so much longer, and there are plenty that are still good quality that are cheaper than the kid's boxes.

As for clothes, my mom will make him get a new pair of sneakers, hehe. He'll also get some new socks and underwear. He'll wear his jean shorts until it gets cooler and when the jeans go on sale. He's still growing--rapidly--so he'll need a few more pairs throughout the year. He has tons of t-shirts, but we'll probably let him pick out a new one (he loves Nintendo shirts from Hot Topic) for the first day.

[QM]

I'm just reading and learning...DD1 is going into Grade 1 in the fall.

[imagine]

Oh I know. My oldest tried that one year. I let his little sister chose his school supplies the next year. Somehow he didn't seem to realize that I check his folders and things for his homework each night and that I found it odd how a perfectly good binder was miraculously ripped in half on the second to last day of school. Needless to say he didn't try that again lol.

I always wondered how many of them actually "got away" with it.

[imagine]

I buy a lot of my nephew's school supplies, and we try to indulge, but realistically, lol. He's one of those really smart kids that HATE school, so I try to make it as positive as an experience as I can.

A lot of my decisions on what to allow him to buy result in my own experiences in school. I know what tends to wear out quickly, and what wears out because he doesn't take care of it.

We purchase the name-brand pencils and pens. They're actually a LOT cheaper that even the Dollar store stuff when you catch the major back to school sales, and they just work sooo much better. We also take advantage of these sales for stocking up on loose leaf paper, notebooks, erasers, colored pencils, etc. You can get these for pennies, and we buy enough to last the entire school year.

He's going in to the 7th grade, so he'll be able to pick out a nice zipper binder. He usually picks out a Nike binder, and although they're pricey, they're of good quality and last an entire school year. He knows that he has to take care of it, though. If it gets ripped or stained or the zipper breaks and its still functional, he has to use it.. If he's careless and breaks the rings or something...its replaced with a cheap binder unless he pays for another with his own money.

He can pick out two or three cool folders for the inside, but the rest are basic, reinforced plastic ones.

He has a good JanSport backpack, so he will NOT be getting a new backpack this year.

He also has a good lunch bag. By the time he was in second grade, he felt he was too grown up for a character lunch box, and wanted a basic adult one...which was great! They last so much longer, and there are plenty that are still good quality that are cheaper than the kid's boxes.

As for clothes, my mom will make him get a new pair of sneakers, hehe. He'll also get some new socks and underwear. He'll wear his jean shorts until it gets cooler and when the jeans go on sale. He's still growing--rapidly--so he'll need a few more pairs throughout the year. He has tons of t-shirts, but we'll probably let him pick out a new one (he loves Nintendo shirts from Hot Topic) for the first day.

Did you see my post about the Staples penny sale? Staples penny deals -- I just saw the ad
It doesn't seem like it is going to be as good a deal as they have been in the past

I agree the name brand things like pens, scissors, crayons, watercolors work better. When I taught I could see the frustration in the children's eyes when their supplies didn't work well. I don't want to put my kids through that.

7th grade is when my son needed a zipper binder. He took his time and picked out just the one he thought would work the best ( and he liked the best) He took very good care of it and is going to use it this year in 8th.


What is Hot Topic? I'm sure my son would love Nintendo shirts

[Dancing Lotus]

So far dd's stuff has all be legitimately trashed by the end of the year so I haven't been able to save a thing My kid is so hard on her things. She even had Two backpacks last year. This year I'm going with a better quality one and see how that works out.

[shoiji]

Thanks for reminding me of my first three ring binder. Remember feeling so grown up.

[McD]

imagine--- Hot Topic

Kind of an off the wall, eclectic type store. Kinda pricey but has good clearance.

I think I've seen Nintendo shirts at Kohls and Target too.

[MaryCarney]

another reason why I LOVE homeschooling

[Liane]

I will indulge in a good backpack and binder. They take the most abuse. Pencils and pens are what is on sale. Dd is starting highschool in the fall and she will get a good binder and use her file folder from last year and last year's backpack. It is in great shape. Her lunch box is in good shape too. Folders we get on sale too. Anything else really depends on need, not want.

[Lady_V]

Diva's school supply list is VERY long... the last day of school I basically confiscate the supplies that were brought home.

Anything that CAN be reused WILL be... I bought the thick plastic/vinyl pocket folders... the only way to destroy them would be fire or a wood chipper

I do bend a bit... I buy her Crayola crayons. The generics are too waxy and Diva is a wonderful artist, I want to keep that fire going in her as long as I can. -- Markers and colored pencils are whatever brand I can find cheapest