Oh. Yay. The school fundraiser is due tomorrow.

Oh. Yay. The school fundraiser is due tomorrow. I put if off until the last minute. Again. 

It's not that I don't want to support our schools. I do. I absolutely do. I just always waffle between actually placing an order or just writing out a check to the PTO. 

I have a very hard time overpaying for anything. I have a hard time writing out a check for a magazine subscription for $20 when I can get the same subscription for $8 online. I have a hard time paying $20 for a dozen big pretzels when they cost $2 in my grocer's freezer. I'm a huge fan of Dollar Tree Christmas wrap. Where it costs, you know, $1 per roll? 

And then there's this:

The junky prizes dangled before the kids enticing them to sell, sell, sell! UGH! Also, the fact that they take time out of class to hold the "fundraiser pep rally" where they show off the prize wheel. Where the kids can have a chance at winning dollar store trinkets for selling overpriced pretzels and magazines. Just not sure where the economics lesson is here. 

Maybe if I knew what percentage of the sales actually benefit the school I'd have an easier time placing an order. So....what do you do? Do you buy from the catalogue? Do you write a check? Neither? Is there a better way? I'd love to hear how you work this issue. TIA!

Comments

[Lindsfr]

Clark school did a Yankee candle fundraiser where the school gets 40% from each purchase. I bought these firestarters for the fireplace.. 12 in a pack for $10.00, The same fundraisers every year gets boring, I'm glad they switched it. Yes other years it has been overpriced junk, and I usually get something.

[Jennie Mortenson]

I was a fundraising lady in Em's school...we made tons from them..however we never required anyone to do it. We found a company that when a kid sold x AMT of items they got a limo ride lunch party. I'd love Yankee candle fundraising! Butterbraids are always easy to sell too. I always choose programs where we got 40% profit...one year we got 50%! Now that's worth it.