Comments on: Buy This

By: Gail

Gail — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:47:15 +0000

I hate school fundraisers especially now as I have no children in school yet we pay heavy duty school taxes. I think I have and will continue to pay my fair or not so fair (depending on how you look at it) share.

By: ThiNg

ThiNg — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:26:12 +0000

The boys brought home magazine subscriptions for selling this year. I refused to take them to work. We are constantly reading tips to save money and one of the most common is to cancel subscriptions!!

By: Baron Von Savings

Baron Von Savings — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:39:30 +0000

Uhg, I really dislike these fund raisers. I actually enjoy the neighborhood kids coming to the door. Its usually how we keep up with what is going on with cheerlaeding, little league, brownies, etc. What I dislike is that I sometime have to say no.

My kids go/went to a private school, they always have, and now that my youngest is a senior in HS we are still committed to buying the fundraiser things from the HS. As both my kids play sports there is also the additional responsibility of “Selling” fundraiser items. So in addition to paying say $700 for my duaghters golf team or football when my son played we are required to “sell” another $100 in christmas trees or candies.

Just this week the door bell has rung three times with buying requests. I just bought 4 christmas trees for my daughters school, and two of the request where to buy christmas trees. I really don’t like telling the kids no. If there was an option of the type of product you could be and maybe even price ranges it would make it easier to help these kids with thier sales.

I already have to give away three christmas trees, i certianly couldn’t buy any more.

By: leslie

leslie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:53:13 +0000

School fundraisers are one of my pet peeves. When the fliers come home from the school with my son I just pitch them. I also generally don’t buy anything from other fundraisers. I do make an exception for girl scout cookies (I was a girl scout for a LOOOOONG time and I love Trefoils) and boy scout popcorn.

By: Mac

Mac — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:16:35 +0000

I’m also going to start asking if cash donations are an alternative. I always feel bad about turning them away, but I am also not usually interested in the junk.

Something that you didn’t mention about these fundraisers is that sometimes they can start kids off in prosperous sales careers. Of course that could be a bad thing if it just turns them into thee type of salesperson who peddles overpriced merchandise to people who don’t really need or can’t afford it.

By: Monkey Mama

Monkey Mama — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:19:25 +0000

Our school focuses more on parent donations and events (silent auction and golf tournament) to raise money. My impression is they raise more money this way anyway.

I’d probably donate rather than buy crap anyway.

By: kdmoffett25

kdmoffett25 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:18:00 +0000

My son’s school collected money for their AR tests. You could send what you wanted. I liked this approach better because I was more willing to send in $20, where my daughter’s school required us to pay $5.25 for the tests. Had they done it the way my son’s school did, they would have earned more.

By: Debra

Debra — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:00:19 +0000

I like the idea of just donating $ rather than buying something. I never know what the profit to the school is for buying a $20 item but can I just give $8. Fundraisers I’ve liked lately: run-a-thons or read-a-thons or selling gift cards.

By: AmbitiousSaver

AmbitiousSaver — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:28:20 +0000

This is what my kid’s school does. I like it a lot better because 3 kids all holding fundraisers is exhausting and my friend’s get tired of it year after year. However, the donations per child are up to $40 this year compared to $20 last year. But I’m still very thankful I don’t have to sell anything and deliver it to anyone.