Some parents struggling with back-to-school buys
Photo 
Sandra Cochrane, manager of the Salvation Army thrift store near downtown Chicago, sorts though inventory at the store on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. downtown thrift store in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. In this weak economy, Cochrane says inventories of back-to-school items can be limited and donations nationally are down as people are holding onto items for longer or try to sell them to consignment stores.
CHICAGO — Charles Lane-Bey combed through racks of blue jeans at a Salvation Army thrift store and held up a pair with potential to his 8-year-old son, Edward, who swung them over his shoulder with a smile.
Forty-seven cents for a sturdy pair with white and red stitching. Not bad if it'll last all school year.
"A couple of years ago, I was able to buy everything practically new," said Lane-Bey, a U.S. Postal Service worker who's struggling to make ends meet. "You just have to do some things different to adjust."
With cash tight and fuel and food prices high, many parents are eyeing back-to-school lists warily, looking for bargains and buying used clothes. In some cases, they're even thinking about sending their children to school without all the supplies they need.
Thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army say more parents and teachers are shopping at their stores nationwide, quickly snatching up school uniforms and supplies.
Goodwill sales nationwide were up 6.2 percent for the first six months of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, and are also expected to be up for the back-to-school season, spokeswoman Lauren Lawson said.
"We've seen an increase in terms of clothes, school supplies, broken-in sports gear. It's a great way to get brand name styles for cheaper," she said.
Melissa Temme, a national spokeswoman for the Salvation Army, said traffic and sales are up, although the organization doesn't have firm numbers yet because stores submit official reports only once a year.
"It's not just the working poor, we're also seeing more middle class families coming to us," Temme said.
Linda Boykin, who recently was laid off from a customer service job at a health care company, bought a bag full of school uniforms and casual wear for her three children at a Chicago Salvation Army store. The cost for 15 items: $4.66.
"They can start school just like any other kids," she said. "It's just not new."
Inventories of back-to-school items can be limited, and donations nationally are down as people hold onto items longer or try to sell them to consignment stores, store officials say.
"I'm trying to scrape up everything I can find," said Sandra Cochrane, manager of a Salvation Army store in Chicago.
Market researchers are divided on how school spending will tally up in the big picture. America's Research Group released a report in July saying almost 30 percent of parents will reduce spending for back-to-school. NPD Group, another market research firm, says spending will increase slightly as sales in electronics hold steady.
"Parents would go naked before they would send their kids to school without the right tools to be able to get an education," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for NPD.
But teachers still worry, especially in low-income areas, where parents are already cutting back and can't cut back much more. If kids come without supplies, many teachers will end up spending more out-of-pocket at the same time as their own finances are tighter.
In rural Carlinville, Ill., first grade teacher Jeanie Johnson said most of her students are low-income, so she's cut back the supply list she's sending to parents. Gone are extras like markers and colored pencils.
Even so, she expects she'll need to provide some items to students.
"You don't want a child to feel embarrassed or left out," she said. "That's not a good way to start the school year."
Lisa Smith, who teaches preschool at DePriest Elementary School in Chicago, spends several hundred dollars of her own money each year for classroom supplies. But with her own pocketbook hurting, her class will have to do without the fun extras this year.
"I drive a gas guzzler," she said. "Gas alone is making me rethink a whole lot of things. It looks like we'll have to do fewer projects, or just come up with another creative way to do them."
Some parents are making hard choices, too.
Otha Henderson of Chicago says she simply can't buy a graphing calculator, which can cost hundreds of dollars, for her 15-year-old daughter.
"She said she can't have a regular calculator. It has to have different functions on it," said Henderson, who lives on a fixed income of disability checks and says rising living expenses have depleted her savings. "Well, I'm not going to get that."
For Wanda Hopkins, her daughter's back-to-school list has become a matter of priorities, and she might not buy some mandatory items.
"You weigh it," said Hopkins, whose daughter is entering fourth grade at Chicago's Andrew Jackson Language Academy. "You make sure that the teacher understands what's going on so they don't penalize them.
"I know for a fact people like me are going to have a hard time."
Aug 23, 2008 at 2:56 p.m.
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I have spent a ton of money on school clothes and supplies this year. I always seem to get by though. It's something you know that is going to come up every August. I will buy clothes out of season for a much better deal. I usually only get by for the first few weeks and then buy as they need them. It seems to be a little bit easier on the checkbook that way for us.
Aug 23, 2008 at 11:27 a.m.
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Hey gripers! You should have put a nickel between your knees then. No one said this was gonna be a cakewalk!
Aug 23, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.
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SarahB, if you'd read carefully, you'd have noticed that I said "most" not "all". No one said that liberals never help others, as NVgrf tried to imply about conservatives. Everyone working together to help others is exactly what we need!
And ladulce, there's a reason for the specific requests. Prang watercolor paints really give a much higher quality result due to higher pigment concentration, so they are far less frustrating for students to use. Some watercolor paints hardly give any color or fade very quickly. My guess is that the teachers have learned through experience which materials work best and want to make things easier for their students.
Aug 23, 2008 at 12:53 a.m.
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Baymom: I volunteer and attend church and am not a right-wing conservative. Imagine that!
Aug 22, 2008 at 11:10 p.m.
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Back-to-school lists have become crazy! I have NO PROBLEM buying our children back to school items that they may need- even the flash drives, calculators, etc. My problem is when they specify which BRAND of items I have to buy my child. Target brand watercolor paints:1.26, Crayola: 2.25, Prang: 4.50. Of course, my childrens' school SPECIFIES they need the Prang brand paint, and, the Elmers "not no-drip" glue, etc... That is frustrating as a parent. I had to go to 3 different stores to find all of the items, and, total price (not including backpacks, school clothes, or, supplies box): $116 for 3 children.
Aug 22, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.
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NVgrf, that kind of anger won't solve the the problems of those in need. I consider myself a conservative and republican. I'm not going to cut anybody down because they can't make ends meet. Direct your anger towards helping others. Oh yea, ask Pelosi why her left wing butt has only a 9% approval rating in congress.
Aug 22, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.
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Baymom-in my more prosperous days I've donated to my local food pantry and volunteered. I didn't feel the need to say-I'm an atheist, look at me doing good! I know what NVgrf is talking about though, so many people have such a negative outlook on the poor-no matter how they became poor. I notice you aren't too busy to comment-just like NVgrf, just like myself. Look how alike we all are.
Aug 22, 2008 at 8 p.m.
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Last time I checked, Goodwill was NOT a church-based charity and they're a spectacular place to shop for savings. Why are "most" (disputable terminology) charitable activities operated by churches? Perhaps because churches are tax-free institutions who do not have to follow the same laws as any other institution in our nation ( http://writ.news.findlaw.com/hamilton/20... ) ... and they have access to government (i.e. tax-payer see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbc... ) faith-based funds, as well as secular funds, that other nonprofit and even public-nonprofit organizations can't access. For those looking for less expensive ways to provide "new" school clothes, try shopping any of the myriad of rummage sales in the area where those who are interested can even find like-new kids clothes and school paraphernalia (even with designer labels if that's important) for a fraction of the retail cost.
Aug 22, 2008 at 7:57 p.m.
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T_Betsy....You can take school supplies to any school of your choice . Take them to the office and they will be given to the student that needs them.
Aug 22, 2008 at 7:25 p.m.
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No, NVGRF, we "right wing conservatives" are far too busy running and donating to the food pantries, clothing outreaches, and school supply drives. We're busy trying to help those in crisis, rather than using our spare time to sit around and grumble. Ever notice how most of those outreaches are run by churches and staffed by church volunteers? You might want to think about it. . .
Aug 22, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.
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I am shocked that the right wing conservative crowd is not on here yet telling poor folks to just pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I'll bet it's coming.
Aug 22, 2008 at 10:09 a.m.
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The Janesville area McDonald's are collecting school supplies that are sorted and distributed by ECHO. The distribution is today. I saw that Staples was collecting school supplies and it looks like they are going to give them to Boys and Girls club, but not sure is this is the local BG or not.
If you have not already purchased the supplies, can I recommend making a donation to ECHO in the amount that would would have spent? I know they always run short of supplies and needed to purchase additional just to make sure there are enough to meet the need.
Aug 22, 2008 at 9:46 a.m.
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Does anyone know the locations to donate school supplies in the area that will stay in the local community? I saw the McDonalds drive, but I am not sure the supplies will stay within the community.
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