A week or so ago DS and I went out and purchased all his school supplies for the upcoming school year. He's going into 2nd Grade at the end of August. I wound up spending $34 for everything!! I was able to re-use some things from last year, like rulers, school box, scissors, etc. What do you spend per child?

Also, the school specified many brand-name items like Ziploc, Post-Its, and Crayola etc. In the name of cost, I substituted generic whenever possible, as long as I felt the quality was just as good. Do you buy brand-name school supplies or generic for your kiddos?

By Dawnk777 on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 08:51 pm:

We are long past crayons and stuff. DD14 is taking advanced algebra this year and needs a $100 graphic calculator! LOL! This along with notebooks, binders, pencils, pens and looseleaf paper! It's a good thing I'm working lots of hours at the clinic.

School registration is coming up soon, too. High school is expensive! I think it was $85 ($50 activity card which gets you your yearbook, among other things) and then they do school pics at registration, too! Yikes! This isn't even buying new clothes!

Middle school for my other daughter isn't nearly as expensive.

By Carolk on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 08:53 pm:

My son is going into Kindergarten and I spent about $22 on everything. His school specifies name brand items too. I didn't have to shop for any of it though, because they have this program where you pay the specified amount for your child's grade and it's all purchased for you and ready and waiting on the first day of school. (I might go out and price stuff just to see if it was a good deal to have someone else do the shopping) If I was buying the supplies, I would probably buy the brand name if it was on sale. Anything like Ziploc, I buy at Sam's.

By Mommmie on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 09:04 pm:

Nothing. It's included in tuition.

(Bummer for me bec I used to love shopping for school supplies as a kid!)

By Tink on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 09:10 pm:

What a great deal Carol! I have a kindergarten student and a second grader. Including backpacks, lunchboxes and paper, pencils, crayons, etc. I spent about $125. Their backpacks alone were $25 each. Lunch boxes were each $10 and the thermoses were sold seperately. Each of my kids were required to provide crayons, pencils, construction paper, and lined paper for themselves at school. They each needed a seperate set for home. My dd, 2nd grade, also needed 3 folders and colored pencils. I prefer to get the name brand if the difference isn't a huge amount. Our school didn't say which they prefer.

By Kernkate on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:10 pm:

The only things I have to buy for DS who is going into 4th grade, is his backpack, lunch box, and pencils. Crayons and stuff like that is supplied by the school. So its not to bad.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:21 pm:

We just got out of school 4 weeks ago! The last thing I want to think of right now is going back to school. LOL! The school will send home a list of items to buy in mid August. Usually not much, just basic things like pencils, crayons, scissors, etc.. Not anything terribly expensive. My kids will be using the same backpacks and lunch boxes as last year. They're still in good shape so no need to buy new ones. DS has been using the same backpack since Kindergarten. LOL! He's going into Gr. 3. I asked if he'd like a new one and he replied, "I have one, Mom. It's fine." Okay!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:18 pm:

Yeah, my kids are happy with their backpacks and they are in fine shape, so no need for those. They don't like lunchboxes anymore, so we just stock up on brown bags.

By Cocoabutter on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:33 pm:

My son is in 2nd grade, and there isn't much more that we need than was required last year.
His backpack is in good shape, so I think we will get out of supplies cheap this year, like $15. BUT- he's grown like a weed this summer, and we will need to spend around $100 on clothes before the weather gets cold.

By Kaye on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:54 am:

We do a pre paid program here too. I spent 103 for my three kids, 1st, 3rd and 5th. This doesn't include back packs or lunch boxes, which I will need two of each. As for name brand, I always buy exactly what is recommended, I was a teacher and honestly some of those things do make a difference. For example rose art markers just aren't as bright or a true colors as crayola brand. Also our class mostly take things up and then we end up having off stuff if you don't.

By Children03 on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 06:29 am:

I am not sure how much I will end up spending yet, I just received a list of school supplies that I have to buy my daughter before she starts K-4 in a few weeks, but I am sure it will at least $40.00 or more. This will be my first time shopping for school supplies for my children and I was surprised at all of the items that are required, but I can understand too.

By Jackie on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 07:00 am:

My kids dont go back to school until Sept 7th. But this past weekend I finished both their list. I have one going to Kindergarten,and one in 5th grade. Im not sure how much I spent on both kids, including backpacks.. I would say a total of 60$, but maybe less. I have a lot of "extra's" I bought so if and when their supplies run out I have it here.
Im usually never this prepared. But, seeing baby should be arriving mid Aug, then my parents will be in town the next week, I wanted to have school supplies done with.

By Lauram on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 08:17 am:

Nothing. (Well $5 for a new lunch box- it was really gross at the end of the year). The school supplies everything. He's reusing his backpack (I just bought it at the end of the year).

By Debbie on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 08:54 am:

I purchased school supplies through the school. They were $20.00 for my ds in preschool and $25.00 for my 1st grader. We will get the supplies the week before school. They are already labeled with their names and ready to go. This does not include a backpack and lunch box. My oldest ds is going to reuse his backpack and lunch box, so I don't have to buy anything else for him. I will have to buy my youngest a backpack. Now, my dks will have to wear a uniform since we have switched them over to a Catholic School. I spent about $250.00 for both of my ds's for school clothes. Now, I just need to buy them each a new pair of shoes.

By Amyj on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:01 am:

My ds's backpack didn't even make it through one year! I bought it at Wal-mart and it started falling apart shortly after Christmas! I am thinking about ordering one from Lands End. Has anyone bought one from them? I know they will replace it if it falls apart, even after several years of use. I bought a diaper bag from them and after three years of using it I accidentally left a dirty diaper in it(no trash can in sight). I called them and asked how to clean it to get the smell out of the plastic. They apologized and sent me a new one! I was just trying to clean it and they sent me a new one! That's customer service!

By Carolk on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:17 am:

Tink, I forgot about a lunchbox. I guess I'll have to get that. He's going to use the same backpack that he used for preschool.

By Mommmie on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 10:35 am:

L.L. Bean has great backpacks that you can get monogramed. That's what we use. Haven't tried Land's End backpacks, but I've been happy with their other stuff.

By Debbie on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:42 am:

My oldest ds has a Landsend backpack. He got it when he went to preschool. He is going into 1st grade and it is still in great condition. He loves it and is going to use it again this year.

By Vicki on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:04 pm:

I also have ordered from LLBean and have been VERY happy with the backpacks!! I just got dd's new one and the only reason we had to order another one is that her one from last year was on wheels and this year it won't fit in the locker!! But it lasted the whole year and is still in great shape!! Money well spent!! I haven't gotten school supplies as far as crayons and all of that, but the list isn't too bad! I am guessing maybe 35.00?? I also think there is a huge difference between crayola and the others and spend the few cents more to get the crayola brand!! The markers are more vivid and last longer and the crayons are day and night. I think the Rose Art ones seem so waxy or something. If you watch, crayons and markers are always on sale for back to school and they really aren't much more at all!!

By Cat on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 12:25 pm:

Here's Randy's list. Robin's isn't online, but it's even longer than Randy's.

Fourth Grade Supply List for 2004-2005
24 #2 pencils, sharpened (plain yellow)
12 or less colored pencils
24 or less Crayons
8 or less markers for publishing
Scissors (pointed)
Eraser (separate from pencil)
8 pocket folders
Glue stick
Notebook paper (200 wide lines)
5 spiral notebooks 70-80 pages (wide lines)
Pocket dictionary
Zippered pouch for supplies, about 7x10 (no boxes)
2 boxes of Kleenex
Girls – 1 box Ziploc bags (snack, sandwich or gallon)
Boys -1 roll paper towels or baby wipes
1 pen (black only)
Assignment book (required style at school store - $4.25)

$15.00 payable to WHES for Activity Fund (field trips, class magazines & incentives.) NO Trapper Keepers or Velcro Closures

Now even with that $15 we'll still have to pay for field trips. Robin's list doesn't say anything about an activity fund (they're at different schools) but I'm sure they'll send something home within a week or so. I found Robin a Pokemon soft-sided lunchbox at a thrift store for $1. It doesn't look like it's ever been used. He'll probably have it destroyed by Christmas! He has a bad habit of putting half eaten food and half empty juice boxes in it. Yuck! lol He also went through three backpacks last year. He ends up breaking the zippers. Randy went through two last year. They both still have the ones they were using at the end of the year (Robin's was only a month old) so they can start the year with them. Randy needs a new lunchbox (another kid tore his the last week of school). My kids start school August 5th and the only thing I've bought so far are tissue and erasers! Robin and I are going shopping tomorrow morning (Randy's spending tonight with a friend) and I'll probably take Randy this Saturday. Remember when we were kids and all we needed was a pencil??? Shesh.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 04:15 pm:

My dd is going to kindergarten, i'm not sure if they require any supplies in kindergarten, other than a backpack, which i need to buy for her.

They don't start school till August 30th, so i'm not even going to think about it yet! LOL!

By Katherine on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 04:22 pm:

Our lists look very similar to Cat's, but we also have to buy things such as disposable cameras and dry erase markers for the teachers....geez

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:43 pm:

I buy my kids a new bookbag every year simply because it is a special "back to school" thing and my kids tastes change so much. They look so forward to getting a new one.

My kids have loooong lists for back to school plus a fee. My 3rd grade dd's list includes Zip-locs, Clorox wipes, 2 boxes of tissues, hand sanitizer plus all of the basics including folders, a dozen pencils, notecards, paper, notebooks, etc. The lists are ridiculous!!! And we haven't even started school supplies because we just did birthdays!

But the kids go back August 12, so we had better get busy!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:49 pm:

My daughter had a Lands End backpack that held up pretty well. For the last 3 years or so, she has had a Jansport that has held up quite well. She is going to use it yet another school year.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - 11:50 pm:

Oh, and my kids ALWAYS got Crayola crayons because they are just the BEST crayons. I never liked coloring with any other crayon myself!

By Insaneusmcwife on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:11 am:

I don't have to buy supplies for ds but I might have to buy them for dd. The school district gives the teachers money to buy the school supplies. Dd will be going to State Preschool and since that is state funded and not county I'm not sure what the requirements will be. I won't even find out until parent orientation, the first day of school. I'm so excited to have both kids in school!

By Feona on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 07:21 am:

I just went to staples a week ago. Huge sale on school supples

glue for 25 cents.
crayons very cheap.

Really very cheap school supplies.

By Brandy on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 07:36 am:

I just got nicholas and alexander's list yesterday and alex has to have (2nd grade) 2-no.2 pencils,school box,large eraser,school glue(white only),2-glue sticks,2-pocker folders,1 spiral notebook,kleenex,book bag/backpack..and nicholas(4th grade) 4-pencils,school box,yellow highlighter,eraser,glue stick,2-spiral notebooks,2 pocket folders,kleenex,backpack,bookbag.I also always get them a different backpack because Nicholas uses his all of the time and i just treat them to a new one.I have alex's in layaway and it went from $24.99 down to $14.99(spiderman one w/skateboard attached) and then Nicholas will probably be about $10 his is yu-gi-oh and has a wallett attached which he has been wanting = ) also i buy them new school clothes every year and then the cost of school i'm pretty much broke lol = ) ..