Fall has become synonymous with leaves, cool weather, kids heading back to school.
One of the components of kids returning to school is FUNdraising (depending on who you ask, right?).
Do YOU have a philosophy in participating in them? Are you guilted into buying tons of soy candles and tins of gourmet popcorn that you REALLY don't want?
Do you indulge just to save face or do you say "No, thank you."?
I buy it and dispose of it as necessary.
ReplyDeleteI'd blow that money anyway, and I had to sell crap to go on trips myself.
Fundraisers are tricky, but another good option is to just donate some money to the school directly. They get to keep 100% of that money and you don't end up with a bunch of stuff that you just don't want.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on what it is but I will say "I'm sorry, I can't buy anything right now". For some reason it sounds like a nicer let down....
ReplyDeleteDepending on who's asking and what the item is. Before I had kids I used to look for someone selling gift wrap. I loved that stuff! But the Cub Scout popcorn...sorry, no. It's just personal preference.
ReplyDeleteFor my kids I prefer to just donate what I would have spent - but at a later time so we don't have to get the junky prizes. Actually, groups of parents who did this actually convinced the school to do away with the fundraisers and ask for checks. We're hoping it works out so we never have to go back!
I RARELY get asked to buy anything for a fundraiser. I'm honestly just not around kids that much and most of my friends are childless. If I get asked by a random kid, it's usually Girl Scout cookies and I don't mind buying a box since (a) I love Trefoils and (b) I was once a Girl Scout.
ReplyDeleteYes, I would participate, with the first 1 or 2 people who ask. Schools are a first priority, and here in California, in deep, deep need.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be a real school doing the fundraising, not some church of the bible thumper, not some other organization I don't care about. After that, I usually want what they're selling, and had to do it myself in school, so I buy. Love the chocolate bars with almonds.
ReplyDeleteWho cannot buy chocolate covered peanuts/pretzels??!!! :) But I am more prone to make a donation- they keep the money, still sell the merchandise, and I save a few pounds. In the event of the candles and wrapping paper, definite donation- I don't care for either.- Celeste
ReplyDeleteI find it very annoying year after year! They need to find another way,especially now a days.
ReplyDeleteIf a kid shows up at my door I'll buy something.
ReplyDeleteI ran the cub scout popcorn sales for our pack two years in a row and it was a rip-off. The pack had to buy full cases and if they weren't sold they were stuck with them. One order of non-microwave popcorn and I ended up standing around at meeting trying to get parents to buy the other packages. You could trade with other packs but geeze, that turned it into a big deal where you were driving all over the area to swap odd bits of popcorn.
To add insult to injury the pack kept a very small amount of the proceeds with the regional council getting most of them.
If you didn't manage the whole thing extremely carefully your pack could lose money on it.
In my opinion, and this is coming from a two-income family, I would rather just pay and skip the fundraiser until the kids get to be old enough to run it all themselves.
Most of my co-workers are selling for their children, so I usually will participate. If $$ is an issue, I don't. But, as long as I can spare $10, I support them. I've wasted $10 for a lot less worthy effort.
ReplyDeleteWOW...what a coincidence... i had a scenario just today!
ReplyDeleteSince it's Columbus Day, one of my coworkers brought her 11 year old daughter to work with her... well i guess she must have thought it was a good idea to get her fundraising on during the work day.
Don't you know this little girl came into my cube and asked if I wanted one of those ratchet azz Cookie Dough or a Pumpkin Pie... i looked at it and i felt PRESSURED as hell! LOL
I caved in and bought a $12 Pumpkin Pie... i know right? mad expensive. THEN she had the nerve to ask "DO YOU HAVE CASH?" I was outdone!, but i went in my purse and gave the little girl some cash.
I felt like I just got jacked! I'm still shaking my head at how gully she was. Help me Lawd, it's just Monday!
I have three fundraisers going on right now for my kids and they only go to one school. It is insane! I haven't bought anything yet and I am not sure that I will.
ReplyDeleteI most definitely buy...keep some...give some away as just because gifts, and simply share the foodie items! Reminds me of the years when I sold Girl Scout cookies. It's my turn to give back and I don't mind doing it! May 'God Bless' my parents, family members, the many wonderful neighbors and patrons that supported me during the years...and didn't hide from me when they saw me coming!
ReplyDeleteI know the last sentence sounded like an acceptance speech. hehehe But, I must give credit where credit is due! ~pearls
I seem to be first on the list of everyone looking to sell their fundraising ware (read: I'm single with no children.) So, since I have trouble saying no, I established some ground rules to keep myself in check. Rule #1: I set a budget for the season so when I met the budget, I'm done! And Rule #2: I only buy stuff I can use. This has worked for me!
ReplyDeleteWe are in scouts - I am the pack leader - I do not sell popcorn - it's embarrassing having to deliver those little cans - my opinion my kids my bill. My oldest son went to Philmont made the payments - I don't buy or sell.
ReplyDeletei feel guilty...buy it...then give it away. terrible isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI usually say "no thank you" - however most of my friends don't even bother asking me anymore. We pay into the public school system with our tax dollars, while homeschooling our own daughter (which is not cheap).
ReplyDeleteAlthough now that you mention it I do wish that someone was selling soy candles, because I would buy those.
Thank God my kids' school did away with the gift wrapping and other-crap-you-don't-need fundraiser. But I never asked anyone else to buy it but the grandparents.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is a Brownie however and I do ask people if they want Girl Scout cookies, but only because I know most people love them. I hate the whole process myself.