school fund raisers.?

Question

Does anyone say "no" to kids when they are selling things for the school? I hate to say no to these things but I just spent $100 for crap I don't even want. wrapping paper, candy, a coupon book, pizza kits and a magazine subscription. my sisters 3 kids got me, and my neighbors 3 kids got me. both families let all 3 kids ask me!

I bought the cheapest thing from each child. (a coupon book is $20, cheapest pizza kit was $17 .... X 6 kids added up to $100) they were all selling different things. My kids aren't in school yet but they wont be asking family or close friends (our neighbors are close friends) to spend money on things they don't want.

Answer 1

Yeah, I know how you feel. I remember when I was a kid my parents would only let me do certain fundraisers. Now, I know why!
I don't say no to family or friends kids b/c I know its for the school, so I think of it as a contribution to the school, If you really cant afford it or just dont want to, then you would need to say no, sorry, I just cant. or just buy the cheapest thing they have.
=0)

Answer 2

I don't think there are "little" things to buy from those fund raisers any more!

My son just had one not too long ago. It was for cheesecake and pizza dough? He also had magazine subscriptions so I chose three of those. Total was 36 dollars.

Why would I want to pay 15 dollars for a cheesecake that I can get at the store for 8? They should have fund raisers for things that people actually use. I never buy the wrapping paper. I get that stuff at the dollar store. lol They should sell pencils and pens and things that are educational. People buy them for their kids. That way you don't have kids walking up and down the street trying to sell this junk. The fund raising
company promises these kids all these prizes but they have to sell over 500 dollars worth of junk!

And why can they sell cakes if the school doesn't even allow them any more?

Answer 3

I've turned into a grinch lately when it comes to school fund raisers. Last year I had no less than 1/week show up at my door... middle school choir, high school choir, middle school band, high school band, high school drill team, plus the fund raisers for the school in general (that the whole district got so it was MY kids plus all of the others), the fund raiser from the day care. Add to that the Girl Scouts, Brownies, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and it was always something. I wish the schools, public or not, would just send me a bill telling me how much they need rather than making me buy crap that I don't need or want. My kids don't go door to door for the school fund raisers - I usually buy something small from them. When the neighborhood kids come by I just tell them very politely that I'm not interested.We DO hassle the neighborhood for the Scouts, however. Since they don't have another funding source, they have a good reason for needing the programs... and I've never heard anyone complain about buying Girl Scout cookies or the Christmas greenery that the Boy Scouts sell.

Answer 4

I say no to fund raisers like this in general. With three kids in school we've already had 6 fund raising packets come home and school has only been in session for 6 weeks! I don't let my kids bother friends, family or neighbors and I certainly don't want them traipsing around the neighborhood to sell crap. The only time I will let them sell is for a specific activity. I think fund raisers should be more fun for kids (carnivals etc). The fund raising business is totally out of control and I question how much the schools actually make. I am more than happy to volunteer my time, energy and even money to our schools. I want the best for our kids and I don't think that making them mini sales people for multiple corporations is whats best. :)

Answer 5

I am actually on the PTO this year and had to be the one pushing the brochure sales. The company got the kids so excited because they earn all those prizes. To be honest I bought 1 thing from each of my kids and told them that they could pick out 2 things at the dollar store and they were happy with that. See if your school would allow you to just donate $5.00 or so that way you don't have to purchase anything and you know the full amount is going to the school not just a % of the money you spent.

Answer 6

I always say "no". I also always said "No" when my daughter was in school and they would send home the fundraisers along with the propaganda that if the kid got x amount of dollars they would get a great gift that turned out to be a piece of plastic crap. The day after the fundraisers would come home I would send them back to school. I figure that the school gets money to teach "reading writing and arithmatic" and that is what school is for. Anything extra the parents should be willing to foot the bills like they did back when I was a kid. If they refuse and the school can't afford them then the extras need to be dropped.

Answer 7

Family members are hard to say no to.

I was in Scouting for many many years and lots of people say no to kids. You can always say No Thank you I've already purchased from my neices/nephews. Or if all 3 kids are selling the same thing rotate. Buy one from this one, buy one from the next.

Most organizations will also allow donations instead of purchasing. So you could get away with $5 donation instead of a $30 coupon book.

Answer 8

I have 3 kids with only 1 in school. She started kindergarten this year. She got her fall fundraiser stuff the 2nd week of school. I spent 35 dollars. I wouldn't let her go out selling in the neighborhood. We took her book to a couple family functions and she sold what she needed to sell to get the prize she wanted and she also got to go to the shrek party they had. When my daughter wasn't the one selling the stuff I would say no though.

Answer 9

i say no all the time. My wife has a time honored tradition that she's been using at work for the last 14 years. only buying from mothers that buy from her over the years. With all the perverts waiting for the kids at their homes we have eliminated school fundraisers to protect our kids. Now we sell coupon cards for all tthe department stores and shopping cards for groceries at your favorite grocery stores. we are a charter school in NC and get absolutely no funding from state or federal for out students,. We pay no tuition at all and this year my wife and the members started the scrip program buyig discount cards and realizing a seven percent profit on all usage of the cards. It is funding our capital cqmpaign to build our new school. its great.

Answer 10

I worked with an older woman one time and she had to put her foot down and say "NO MORE!" She was spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on co-workers children's school fund raisers. I actually admired her for saying, "No."

I would suggest either buying the very lowest priced thing (but even nowadays those items aren't cheap) or just be honest and tell the neighboors that you bought the items from your nieces and nephews.

If you feel super bad about it (which you really shouldn't, but I know you hate to turn kids down)- just tell them that you'll have to alternate buying things from all of the kids. Maybe say, "Not this time- but come back with the next fundraiser you have!" Or just tell them "Maybe next year! But thanks for asking me!" Or tell them they're a great salesman. Lift 'em up before letting them down. :)

But it's not bad or mean to say NO- those little things can add up to big bucks.

Can YOU remember one person (aside from your family members) that bought things from you for school fundraisers??? I know I can't. And I can't remember those who turned me down either. They'll get over it. Trust me.

:)
Good luck!