Back To School, Time to Get Money Out of the Bank

Have you seen the Staples ad on T.V.? The one with the father loading up a shopping cart with back to school supplies as the kids look totally depressed, and Andy Williams is singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” as the dad coasts by victoriously? I love that commercial. This signals the beginning of the school year, and a mad dash to Target, Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Depot, and every other store that has school supplies. This also means I get to look forward to PTA meetings, little league, soccer practice, karate lessons, and weekend projects that will go unfinished until the winter break.

My recommendation to all parents out there: Start saving now. It is only a matter of time before you get the first doorbell ring with the neighborhood kids selling Robin Wrap Wrapping Paper, or Girl Scout Cookies. You can’t hide at the office from the endless promotional items that kids no longer are required to peddle to family members. It seems like over-achieving parents have taken over the marketing of these fundraisers and will solicit co-workers to spend their hard earned cash on cookie dough and frozen pretzels or popcorn so their child can “win” some little trinket.

I like the fundraiser my son’s school proposed last year. They figured out how much each student needed to raise for field trips, supplies, etc. and put that dollar amount on a piece of paper. Each parent could then just cut a check and avoid having to put their kid out on the street to sell candy for their school. The money I saved by not having to pay for daycare made this a great option. And why should my neighborhood have to pay to raise my child in the first place? They do sell holiday wrapping paper in the stores, you know.

I still go to the school functions, and I am also a very involved parent during these events. I spend money during the raffles, silent auctions, and bake sales. I just hate to go door to door begging for money from people who are struggling with their own bills. One thing I know for sure is that it will more difficult to raise money this year as compared to last year. I believe we are going to see more creative ideas to raise funds, and more money will need to be raised by each school to cover expenses that were once covered by state funds. I guess the African Proverb that Hillary Clinton used was right when she said it takes a village to raise a child.