How much do you spend on school supplies?

[abowers]

That is surprising to me about high school costs. I guess my situation was more like Megy's -- But I didn't buy a stadium pass, didn't take digital photo, didn't have to pay for a parking permit or pay a book rental fee.

I went to a public high school (a very good one) and we did not have to pay for any of that.
I did take Advanced Placement courses, and I did have to pay in order to take the AP Exam in May my Jr and Sr years -- 2 of them my Junior Year; 5 of them my Senior Year -- but it worked out to be worth the money, because I got 20 college credits from it, and graduated a semester early from college and saved a semester of tuition (private college = more for tuition).

Originally Posted by Kris10Leigh

So Megy and Tina, you are telling me I need to start saving for high school NOW for my 4 and 6 year olds! Oh my! I am so not ready for that! How do parents do it? I feel like we are financially stable, but many, many parents in my school district are not. And there are prom dresses and tuxedo rentals. And some parents rent a limo! Wow! Those are expensive years.

I know how to reduce those expense!! Yep yep... Tell them to get a part-time job to help pay for the dress and the accessories.I'd do that when i get a job in September or October. About the limo, eum... I don't think that's necessary, it's just a luxury, I rode a limo before and it's not that great. Tell your kids that you either drive them to the prom or they pay the limo with their own money and have friends ride with them so they split the cost. The rest, you should take care of it, it'll reduce the cost by a lot. Oh yeah, there's also the hair, nails, shoes,etc... Give them a budget on how much the prom will cost overall and the money you're willing to pay.

[megy]

Prom is expensive, but it doesn't have to be AS expensive as some people make it. I bought an expensive dress (not even ALL that necessary depending on the person. Look BEFORE prom season starts . . . you can get fantastic dresses for cheap off season) and expensive shoes. However, I did my nails and make up myself and I asked my aunt to do my hair for me (for free). We went out to eat before hand, but we chose a restaurant that was not incredibly pricey. Plus, we drove whoever's car was the nicest. I live in a small town . . . so not many people rent limos. And the jewelry I bought off season . . . just kept an eye out all year for something I liked and bought it for cheap.

I would like to get a part time job, but my parents won't let me because of my incredibly busy schedule (barely time to sleep . . . during the school year). So instead I became an Independent Mark Representative.

Kris10Leigh - Lol, almost. I think the price of things are ridiculous. We live in a small town so we have it better than most around us. It only costs us 10-15 dollars to get into a regular dance (three dances a year) whereas other schools around us pay 20-30. Our prom costs us 50 per ticket, BUT if you are involved and help with the fundraising (attend an event, work a concession stand, etc) you can earn free tickets. I earned two. And our senior prom is free of charge.

Plus, we have to pay for a lot of school assemblies. We make them fundraisers. We have a dating game show that we charge for, several special event assemblies that we charge for. . . and then there are club dues (NHS mainly), and the MANY school projects that are required. I usually have a couple of teachers a year that require each student to cook something related to a country we are studying and bring it to class. Since the recipe has to be an authentic recipe from another country (often times picked out of a cook book that the teacher requires) the ingredients are expensive when you have to make it for 20+ kids.

School is ridiculous!

^ I agree lol

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by megy

School is ridiculous!

Ditto that! school is rediculous! Education on the other hand is wonderful, and fun, and exciting, and interesting,a nd lifelong...I am soo glad to be out of school so I can get on with education! (for myself and my kids)

[abowers]

Originally Posted by T_I_N_A20

I know how to reduce those expense!! Yep yep... Tell them to get a part-time job to help pay for the dress and the accessories.I'd do that when i get a job in September or October. About the limo, eum... I don't think that's necessary, it's just a luxury, I rode a limo before and it's not that great. Tell your kids that you either drive them to the prom or they pay the limo with their own money and have friends ride with them so they split the cost. The rest, you should take care of it, it'll reduce the cost by a lot. Oh yeah, there's also the hair, nails, shoes,etc... Give them a budget on how much the prom will cost overall and the money you're willing to pay.

My parents split the cost of my dress with me for Jr Prom -- I bought my own dress for Sr Ball. Dress was $150 for Sr Ball, maybe $160 for Prom.
I did my hair myself junior year, paid for it myself senior year.
My boyfriend paid for his tux, our prom/ball tickets, and dinner before.
I paid for our shares in the limo junior year. Senior year we had talked about just driving in my boyfriend's car, but a friend won a free limo for the ball.

I used jewelry I already had for both -- but for Prom I bought shoes/purse (Necessary when you buy a pale yellow dress).
Senior Ball I used shoes and purse I already had (having a black dress helps).

Anyway, it can be expensive but at the same time it doesn't have to be.

Look at consignment stores for prom dresses worn just once. Or look on Ebay. Borrow from a friend.