4th grade, no electronics, supplies were probably under $30, and I don't buy clothes until the weather gets colder. Around here he can stay in shorts and t-shirts almost into November. As for things like shoes and such I just buy them when the old ones have worn out/been outgrown.

I made the mistake the first few years of school of buying lots of new clothes. He'd already outgrown them by the time the weather was appropriate to wear them - and that was in NY! I vowed not to get caught up in the hype after that point and buy things as needed.

This year I vow to not wait until the day before school starts to go school shopping for my two second graders :) But the kids are so excited to go get school supplies that I forego the budget a little and let them get more expensive stuff than I know they need, like a $16 lunchbox over the $9 generic one. That said, I agree with Robin, I wait until later in the fall to get new clothes.

I have learned to wait until later for the same reason that Robin Nicole states. Now that my kids are a little older (not in elementary), I no longer have to buy ahead that long laundry list of items that the schools put out. We get the basics and then add as necessary. I buy them clothes and shoes as necessary and depending on the sales.

Speaking of back to school, does anyone know when the teacher assignments come out? School starts in less that three weeks and it's a little ridiculous to have NOTHING from the school.

Robin, here is the response I got from the school system: Elementary and middle school class assignments are distributed along with the school’s August newsletter. High school students received their schedules on the last day of school in June. Class assignments are not published [in the local media].

So...pretty vague then! The teachers don't even have their assignments yet. I remember growing up we would get our teacher with our report card, even in the lower grades. Oh well...different time. Thanks Kym!