Wanted: Money seeds - any quantity

[Bucky]

Here we go . . . school starts tomorrow and already I am getting "Mom, I need money for _________" - (fill in the blank).   

We just paid $125 for school fees.

Sports Physical - $50 (not covered by insurance)

Team shirt - $30.

Team portrait - $7.

School supplies - ??  (yet to be determined)

School lunches - $2.75/day  (soooo not cool to bring a packed lunch from home in high school!!  )

??  Money for away sport meets - meal on the way home.

School clothes - ??  (yet to be determined)

The list goes on and on . . . . . . . 

I will gladly accept any money seeds anyone has laying around.  We need a money tree!! 

Bucky

[Ohiocat]

no money seeds here, sorry 

But here is a possible small idea, since one of your comments bother me.   so it seems that "School lunches - $2.75/day  (soooo not cool to bring a packed lunch from home in high school!! "

I think you should work out a deal with the kid (and get them to learn about the choices in spending money on this one).   

Here is their choice:
You can have a packed lunch from home - "free of charge" or you can use some of your own money (allowance, earnings from extra items like mowing grass or babysitting or whatever they do to earn extra money), to buy the lunch at school.  It is a good way for them to learn the value of money and the cost of making certain choices.

Or if you like - you will give them a packed lunch four days a week, and on one day week they can have the money for the school lunch.   That then makes them also decide what day that they want to eat the lunch for school vs take in a packed lunch.

Then anything beyond that that they wish to buy at the cafe, is on their money and not yours (and I don't think increasing their allowance to cover the lunch is a good idea).

Eating a bagged lunch then becomes their choice and helps to set a value on how much work they have to do to be able to get that lunch via the school cafe.

Just an idea.  Cause if they are in high school, it is time for them to learn this money lesson.

[A66eyroad]

When I was in high school back in the '70s there was a really "groovy" girl whom everyone copied. She started a trend of carrying a wide-mouth thermos of Campbell's Chunky Soup to school along with a couple of homemade granola/oatmeal cookies. I can't tell you how many thermos bottles I left in the cafeteria. trying to be just like Barbara.

When my daughter was in high school back in the '90s I told her that story and she decided she wanted to be the "groovy" girl in her high school who starts trends. The thermos was totally not cool, though, but she decided she wanted to bring peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches every morning, along with sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon (so nobody could see they'd turned brown) and three pieces of her signature candy - Andies candies, chocolate and mint - to share.  Didn't take long for others to start eating "Fluffer-nutters."

Maybe you could add this idea to the great one posted by OhioCat. I like her's also -- it's never too early to start learning about the value of money.

[Bucky]

Thanks gals for your comments.  Maybe those ideas would work for a girl . . . but, not for a "cool dude".   

Luckily, our son does know the value of money - we've made sure that he "gets it" that money does NOT grow on trees (I wish!!!).   Once they are in high school they can buy the "hot" lunch, or items ala carte.  He was thrilled about the ala carte choice - but, you know, he hasn't bought anything ala carte since in high school - he said, "it costs too much".  So, for that I am thankful. 

Also, I have to give credit to our son too, he has no problem using hand-me-downs or buying something "used".  He's my garage sale buddy.     He's very resourceful in reusing things.

Bucky

[Meld256]

Bucky,

I'm sure you've done a good job teaching your son about money. That IS a cool dude who goes garage sale shopping with Mom. 
My younger son never would do that when he was a teenager, but as he got older he became surprisingly frugile. My last trip to Kansas, he was driving around, showing me his town.  We went down one street and he looked over and said, "Ooohh, Yard sale!" I had to laugh. 

[12lovehim]

Bucky...  I remember those days so clearly.. 3 boys here.. and there are the shoes for PE and the cool shoes for everyday..

A little heads up.. All mine are in school now.. and if you have ever seen a post.. 2 live at home while they are going to school (my 25 year old went to a tech school.. bad idea.. he is now at a 4 year school trying to degree himself..) and 1 is in school 3hrs away.. So the needs don't change much.. They will still need socks and clean undies.. and there are all these nickle and dime items for classes.

The cool part is they have such a new respect for money.. My "away" son knows to call me and say.. Ok mom.. paid for all my books and classes.. I just don't have money for food and gas.. My son will even now say I know Dad worked 6 hours for the money I am asking for.. (so I know he gets it..) 

My Boys who live with me will ask.. Mom give me a list of chores worth $40.00...

So I say all this to say.. Save and don't listen those people who tell you it will get better when they graduate..

I don't know if your kids can go off campus yet.. but I did find that buying gift cards (from Groupon or discount places like a Costco or Sams club)  to healthy places near campus helped cut Lunch costs.. And we both know between the heavy backpacks and no chilled place for lunches.. Bringing lunch sometimes means a smushed mess by lunch time..

So.. I bless you as you start the new school year grind... Breathe, Relax.. At least now you got time for a nap..

Keri