Mom’s Money

Don’t Let Miscellaneous School Expenses Destroy Your Budget

We’ve finally worked out a budget that would be the envy of any financial planner.  It’s safe to say that our family can start a savings account, buy some much needed appliances, and even take a well deserved vacation.  Now that school’s in session, we can factor out the day care expenses and direct that money elsewhere.  Well, that’s the plan anyway, and what do they say about best laid plans? 

Yes, school is in session and it seems every day I’m dolling out money like there is no tomorrow.  My kids resemble tiny beggars, standing in the kitchen with their little hands out, and a note from their teacher.  “I need money tomorrow for the field trip, and here’s the permission slip.”  “ I need money tomorrow for a book drive.”  The demands are never ending and, frankly, are making me a little frustrated.  Where is all this money supposed to be coming from?  We don’t have loose money laying around the house.  Our budget is very tight and I don’t want to be “nickel and dimed” into the poor house.  Every time I dig into my pocket and hand over money I didn’t plan to spend, I end up borrowing from another budgeted item, and usually wishing I hadn’t stocked up on groceries this week, because now we are definitely broke. 

It’s time to take this matter seriously, and treat these miscellaneous school expenses like any other fixed expense.  The school district has a curriculum laid out at the beginning of each year.  There is no reason why a parent shouldn’t know what’s coming up during the school year.  Visit your children’s teachers and ask them for a copy of the curriculum plans and the cost involved for each event.  They may not have the plans for the entire year, perhaps just by semester, but it will at least give you the opportunity to put school expenditures in the budget, just like every other important aspect of your life.