Advertisement A: Good question! I called around to a few stores and schools and found out that schools do not get a kickback, and it seems the problem arose when so many parents were calling the schools and asking what supplies they should buy for the fall. The schools have so little staff available in the summer and therefore asked the teachers to create a list that the stores were willing to publish. In asking some of the schools about just using plain “stuff,” as you put it, most teachers are fine with that. It appears that the question you had is actually not a problem: The lists are just suggested ideas … hope that helps. Fill up that drawer with sale items and read below to find out about some other opportunities.
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Colleen O'Reilly Wiemerslage, family columnist |
Q: Between summer camps for music and sports, purchasing equipment and shoes and school supplies, I will need to get a second job just to put food on the table and gas in the tank. We need some help sorting out priorities. We want our kids to take in extra-curriculars, but with three teens each involved in several activities, the expenses are jeopardizing our finances. How are other families managing? Have schools considered any options that might help?
A: Let’s prioritize by starting with how much of your yearly budget can be used for the kids’ events in summer and during the school year. I suggest you divide that by three, and anything over that amount the kids contribute toward — or something has to go. If it is important for your teens to be involved, then they have to help decide the priority and how to help pay.
Second, check with your schools to see if they have used equipment or reduced fees for families with more than one kid involved. The Sunday Tribune had an article about resources available to families through the LaCrosse County Health Department helping with general supplies, the Salvation Army — (608) 782-6126 — helping with a new set of clothing and shoes and Viterbo University — (608) 317-7275 — having a school supply giveaway on Aug. 16.
Finally, as to what other parents are doing, check out the last question in this column. Sounds like a very good plan for all families to consider.
Q: This might be a little different twist for your column, but I want to share what some of us parents have organized to help ourselves with expenses involving transportation for our teens.
Because our community has spotty public transit, we started out with a car pool. There are five families involved that all live within three or four miles of each other. We have defined our schedule by the month for school, events and practices. It takes time to define each month, but using a computer, spread sheet and e-mail created a smooth transition. The kids were resistant at first until we showed them the savings, and now they actually enjoy the time together. One car with five kids versus five cars going the same direction. Going green talk convinced them even further.
One of the parents is actually looking at creating an exchange for used equipment, uniforms, calculators, shoes, etc. It might be a stretch to meet everyone’s needs, but if they get it up and running we will bring the site information to this column.
A: Thank you for the timely suggestions. I applaud you and your teens in this time, money and green effort, and hopefully other families will consider doing the same. Most schools have some kind of a newsletter, and I suggest you write up something about your plan and submit it to the school to publish.
Colleen O’Reilly Wiemerslage is a teacher, counselor, writer and parent of two adult children. E-mail her with questions wiemerslage@aol.com.
