Children are so expensive! Why do we have them?

ZTD

Snaggles wrote: »

I had heard sonething about that - good, I hope they do!

The thing is, the school Ryan goes to is in a not-very-well-off area, in the middle of a council estate, where a large proportion of people are on a very low income. It's crazy to expect them to pay those sorts of prices for a couple of poxy jumpers. It's a great school apart from that though, some amazing results and the kids are really happy there, so I don't want to criticise it too much.

Well the results are here...

As is usual with the Government - don't hold your breath, but try dobbing your school in to the OFT -

For all enquiries, guidance on the work of OFT and to report anti-competitive or other behaviour by a trader or traders, please email enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk.

Constant whinging often works in bureaucratic environments.

supersavershal

When my son started school the school badge came seperate and was sewn on the sweatshirt so I used to remove it and dye the jumper and it came up like new then sew the badge back on.I passed this handy tip round and then dragon lady (headteacher) cottoned on and changed the supplier to one of those where the badge is printed onto the sweatshirt so if you try to dye it the badge gets dyed too.This year I have not gone to the school supplier but have bought plain poloshirts and sweatshirts from the hight street.DS says teachers will tell him off for not having school badge (Let them try!).My son is also very generous with his stationary, but we have been today and got everything from woolworths for less than a tenner and that includes thesaurus,dictionary, calculator , geometry set and all other paraphinalia.I got his shoes in m and s in August as he was a pageboy so they will have to do him.I bought his coat in April in the next mid season sale.He can use his latest football strip (well known club from north west away kit black shorts white shirt) for his PE kit and they still wear plimmys not trainers which cost £2.00 in woolies.

Spendaholic_Chick

I'm amazed at what everyone spends! I feel quite lucky - my DS absolutely point blank refuses to wear school shoes so just wears his trainers - he was one of the last to stop wearing school shoes and I felt terrible making him keep wear them so earlier this year I bought his last pair of £35 shoes!

Shirts and trousers I got in Asda, just bought here and there and included with weekly shop so didn't notice (think I bought him a couple of each as he already has about 6 prs of trousers and 6 shirts!)

The jumpers were the most expensive - £7.50 each - I got him 2 new. Again, he already had about 6. Heactually didn't really need anyhting, it was just the fact I like to get him a couple of new ones each term so I never get to the point where I need to buy a huge amount that made me get them!

With regards to stationery, in DS' school they aren't allowed to take any of their own - he even got in trouble last year for taking his own pencil case! So, that saves me dosh!! :T

Gemmzie

You have them for Tax Credit and Child Benefit

notanothergreyhair

I know this thread is about the cost of kids, but as I don't have any and won't be doing so I'm not really in a position to comment.

However, I would just like to throw in a casual moan about the cost of shoes in general. Actually, strike that, I'd like to confess that I have bought far too many shoes in the past, hence I am in debt.

My shoes are my children

TAG

ZTD wrote: »

That's because the cold kills off all the nasties. No hoodies available in "bacteria size"...

It's also the reason why your parents never got colds before the age of central heating.

I fully agree with you ZTD. I had never lived in a house with cental heating till about 6 years ago. Never had many colds. (I'm 36 by the way).

But since living in a centrally heated house every winter it's cold after cold. DD (4) seems to suffer alot to. I'm gonna try and last as long as possible this year without it. Trouble is DH is a bit of a whinge bag with the cold cos it gets into his leg.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Gemmzie wrote: »

You have them for Tax Credit and Child Benefit

It doesn't nearly cover the cost of them! No we have them because they're cute :rolleyes:

ZTD

TAG wrote: »

I fully agree with you ZTD. I had never lived in a house with cental heating till about 6 years ago. Never had many colds. (I'm 36 by the way).

We have people here who are sub-20 years old. And yes you are old enought to be their parent... :shocked:

TAG wrote: »

But since living in a centrally heated house every winter it's cold after cold. DD (4) seems to suffer alot to. I'm gonna try and last as long as possible this year without it. Trouble is DH is a bit of a whinge bag with the cold cos it gets into his leg.

Well you could just make it so that it's very cold during the day when you're all out, especially when one of you has a cold. DH's leg will be affected more by the damp than the cold, though the cold does increase the damp.

That's why no one has pains during a snowball fight...

ZTD

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

It doesn't nearly cover the cost of them! No we have them because they're cute :rolleyes:

And because you need someone to choose the care-home you'll be abandoned in...

Quackers

rog2 wrote: »

Of course the WORST thing is that, about 2-3 weeks AFTER the schools have started, Clark's will have a sale of children's shoes. :mad: :mad:

Not true

Clarks never have sales on childrens school shoes in September, October or November.

It always starts in December