Have I been sleeping in a cave for 100 years? It sure feels like it.
I just read that as a nation, we will spend $41.5 billion getting our kids outfitted to go back to school this fall. And by outfitted I mean with all the “proper” electronic gear, shoes with all the bells and whistles (I would like a pair of those sneakers with little wheels embedded in the soles), backpacks, instruments and of course the ever-popular school supplies.
Yikes! That’s a whole lotta money.
Granted, I don’t have school-aged children anymore, but come on! The average elementary schooler’s must-haves in school supplies, extracurricular fees and technology this year comes in at $1,017; for middle school students, it’s $1,277; and for high school kids, $1,668 each, according to the 13th annual Backpack Index survey from Huntington Bank in Columbus, Ohio.
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Look, I’m open to being convinced that I’m wrong, but is this anywhere close to reasonable? Perhaps if you feel you must purchase an entire school year’s worth of pencils, pens, crayons, paper, notebooks, binders, calculators, laptop, printer cartridges, shoes, sneakers, jeans, slacks, sweaters, blouses, shirts, sweaters, socks, undies, sports outfits and paraphernalia. But I would find that to be a little ridiculous in that kids do grow, styles do change and, quite frankly, who wants to do all that laundry?
Spreading the cost over the school year seems more reasonable to me, unless it’s notebook paper, pens and paper. Those are so cheap right now at office supply stores, you really should stock up for the entire year.
So, am I missing something here? I’d love to go head-on with any school-aged family to prove to them that I could get the kids looking mighty fine, and with all the stuff they need in their backpacks for a lot less than this projected per child average.
OK, all of you parents, students, teachers, administrators and…
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