Back to School: What Do You Really Need to Buy?

We are only 6 days away now and back to school is all I can think about.  I will admit that it is because I am anxious to see the kids out of my house back at school.  They thrive under structure which the summer just does not provide.  So as we get closer and closer I started to think about the fact that I have done NO back to school shopping yet.  For a few moments I was really worried.  My heart beat sped up and the headache started to come on.  I was in a panic yesterday thinking about how I will afford all of it and how will I get it in the next few days.

The more I thought about it the more I realized that there was just not a huge need, like I kept thinking there was.  So I made a list of what I needed to buy and what I wanted to buy.  I think that given the current state of the economy, I am not alone in my desire to separate wants versus needs.  The school does not help too much.  They want you to buy book sox.  I did find them in Walmart for $.50 each but come on.  Why is it that we do not reuse… You know the keys to a greener earth… Reduce, recycle and REUSE…?  Why do we have to buy something to cover a book?  I remember taking my paper grocery bags and spending time with my parents learning the fine art of book covering.  This was real bonding time.  Instead of this free option I had to add $2.50 to my budget.  Seems wrong to me.

Either way here is what I came up with:

Needs:

1. All supplies on the kids lists
2. A bookbag (we have decided to reuse old ones.  We are going to bedazzle them so that they are more fun this year)
3. New shoes for Abigail: She grew like a flower this summer

I think that all in all that is all of the NEEDS we have.  Grandpa and Grandma were nice enough to buy about 90% of the school supplies.  So once I buy shoes my NEEDS are met.

Wants:

1. New first day of school outfits
2. New fall wardrobe
3. New hair accessories to match all of their clothing
4. New lunch bags
5. A JanSport book bag for Abigail
6. Winter coats
7. Haircuts for the girls
8. Fall jackets
9. Book bag for Emma
10. New shoes for Emma

The thing is that these are only wants.  It became clear the more I thought about it that we did not NEED these things.  I usually spend about $800 on back to school.  This year I estimate spending about $100.  I am sure that I am not the only one tightening my belt.  Abigail has a birthday in three weeks.  I am sure that between myself and her grandparents she will be the best dressed kid in 4th grade.  Most of the clothing out there for back to school is too hot for September anyway.  I will let you all know how this goes.  I am anxious to see how bad I am going to feel for not buying into the back to school.  I think that I may feel bad for a while but in the long run it will all be just fine!  The kids ARE going to live through it.  They WILL still be dressed nicely.  The most important thing is that it teaches them a lesson.  Money does not grow on trees…

LESSON LEARNED:  You do not have to buy into the commercial hoopla.  You can resist and live through it.

Becca

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