The Cost of Education (in 2011)

[This post is mainly for historical purposes...so we can look back and say "wow...$60 for TWO pairs of shoes...what a steal!"]

The average US family will spend just over $600 per child in back to school shopping.This number is based on clothing and supplies only, but I thought I would add up what we spent in fees and supplies for 2011.

These amounts are for a second and third grader attending a public school. Not included is the amount we spent on new clothes (except required PE shoes)...which is $0, because my boys do not care about new clothes.

$75: Second grade public school fees

$75: Third grade public school fees

$40: Two elementary school yearbooks

$300: Lunch fees (will get ~160 school lunches)

$60: Two pairs PE shoes

$20: 1 backpack

$100: School supplies for second and third grade
($50 each, pre-ordered, delivered to my door)

School supplies for second grade:
1 pkg Pencils –Sharpened -#2 -24 count
1 Sharpener –small –with lid/shaving holder
1 Fiskars Scissors -7”
1 Glue -8 oz. bottle
4 Glue Sticks Large (Purple work best - (2 in August/2 in January)
2 Erasers –Sanford –large
2 boxes Crayola crayons-24 count
1 Colored Pencils -24 count
2 Highlighters –Sanford –yellow
1 pkg. Crayola Washable classic markers
1 set Watercolors –Prang -8 count
4 Folders –plastic, 2 pocket – (red, blue, yellow, green)
1 Notebook Paper – 200 sheets –wide ruled
1 Spiral Notebook (70 page, wide ruled)
1 Facial Tissues –Kleenex –large boxes
1 Space Maker Box (supply box) 5”x8”x2” –no handles
1 Paper Towels
1 container Antibacterial Baby Wipes
1 Ziploc Bags –gallon –boys only / 1 Ziploc Bags –quart –girls only
1 Book Bag –large -(no rollers)
1 pair Shoes P.E. (Physical Education)

School supplies for third grade:
All of the above except no pencil sharpener. Third graders also need an additional spiral notebook and two red ink pens.

$660 TOTAL

Half of my $600 was on school lunches alone. My boys eat hot lunch two to three times a week, the other days they take a cold lunch from home.

We bought one backpack because last year's had multiple holes in it.