Back-to-School Shopping

The first day of school is around the corner and we've had more getting ready to do this year than ever before.  For the very first time, both The Daughter and The Son will be full-time students outside the home.  In case you missed my post the other day, The Son surprised us all with his decision to not homeschool through high school but to enroll, instead, in the same private school his sister has attended for the past three years.

This means double the tuition, double the fees, double the school supplies, and double the back-to-school clothes shopping.

We all (The Daughter, The Nephew, and I) went shopping with The Son about two weeks ago and filled the gaps in his wardrobe.  He'll need basketball shoes this fall but we're going to wait on those until he needs them.  I keep forgetting to have him try on his winter coat -- I'm hoping I bought big enough last year that he'll get another winter out of his Columbia parka.  The only things he still needed were a new pair of sneakers and a new watch.

The watch is actually one of his birthday gifts from his dad and I; we decided that it might be time for him to have a "real" watch instead of the Timex Expeditions that need to be replaced every 12-18 months.  However, a watch is a very personal thing so we thought it best that he pick out what he wants himself.

After he finished two Geometry lessons, we took off on our watch-and-shoe buying errands.  The sneakers were easy.  The watch, not so much.  I'm really not sure where to look.  We stopped at Sears but nothing there appealed to The Son.  I think this project might call for more research on my part before we go out looking again.

Later in the day, after The Son and I arrived home and found The Daughter recouperating from a long bike ride in which she was stung by a bee  ,  The Daughter talked me into going back out to finish our school supply shopping.  Good night, school supplies are expensive!  I had a coupon from Office Max for $10 off if I spent at least $50 so we went there first.  But the selection was so pathetic that we quickly gave up and decided to try Staples.  There we had better luck -- and lucky for me it occurred to ask if they'd honor their competitor's coupon.   Which they did.  So The Daughter got the selection she wanted and I still got my $10 off.

Still, Staples didn't have everything so our next stop was OfficeMax where we were able to pick up the few remaining items from our list.  Lucky for me, she knew exactly what she was doing as was able to pick up everything The Son will need as well.

Our last stop was the grocery store where, dare I confess, I bought a bunch of frozen dinners.  I knew I wasn't up to making a big dinner plus it was already past dinner time.  And tomorrow night's dinner will be wonky because we have a musical to attend.  And after that, the kids and I are dashing out of town for five days to see my mom so The Husband will be left to his own devices.  He's sure to pick up a loaf of Rainbow bread as soon as I leave town (he knows better than to bring that stuff into the house when I'm home).

Oops -- almost forgot:  not that he needed it, but I before heading out on errands I bought The Son a t-shirt online.  The Son has always had a strong aversion to wearing t-shirts with anything printed on them -- especially store logos.  But he's really starting to stretch himself and expand his comfort zone.  When shopping his sister had suggested a t-shirt or two with something printed on the front.  He seemed open to the idea.  So last night I remembered a Woot Shirt design that he has long admired and asked if he thought he'd wear it.  He enthusiastically assured me he would -- so this morning I ordered him his very first Woot Shirt.

Anyway, that's where I spent my money.  Here are the nitty-gritty details:

Woot Shirt -- $15.00

Safeway -- $31.49 where The Son helped me pump 13.404 gallons @ $2.349 into the Silver Bullet (my new Outback wagon) which already has 14,789 miles on it!

Runner's Shoe Store -- $96.03 for a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9 running shoes, size 11.

Staples -- $47.95

• 2 geomaster compasses -- $10.99/ea.
• mini neoprene pencil bag -- $3.99
• 2 shatterproof 12" rulers -- $1.29/ea.
• 4-pk Sharpie no-leak fine-tip pens -- $6.99
• box of Sharpie pens (for me) -- $8.49
• expanding check file (for me) -- $6.79
• package of Staples* gluesticks -- $1.49
• package of Avery* glue sticks -- $1.99

* The Daughter's contention was that the Avery glue sticks are purple and therefore her brother couldn't get that brand.  Despite my direct and explicit instructions to get them for him anyway, I found she'd made the switch to the Staples brand when I wasn't looking.  Believe you me, I read her the riot act when we got home and I discovered the switch.

OfficeMax -- $32.88

• 2 boxes of 12 Bic mechanical pencils -- $5.49/ea.
• 1 pair scissors -- $2.24
• 2 plastic protractors -- $0.99
• goofy folder/portfolio -- $0.99
• 2 plain folders -- $1.39/ea.
• Five Star 3-subject notebook -- $6.79
• Liquid Paper 2-in-1 correction fluid -- $4.79

Kroger -- $14.57 (applied two separate $1.00 loyalty coupons)

• 2 Marie Callendar's Shrimp Scampi dinners -- $3.28/ea.
• 3 Hungry Man dinners -- $1.88/ea.
• loaf of Orowheat Whole Wheat bread -- $4.29

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2. Today’s $$: ($12.25)
3. Gasoline (and a return)
4. $$: Groceries, Clothes, Gas, Gifts, Soap & Donuts
5. Day 203: Duct Tape, Parking, Food, Easter, Clothes