School Fundraising Catalogs Drives Me Crazy!


School Fundraising Catalogs Drives Me Crazy!  via  www.productreviewmom.com

Back to school has been going well, the girls went back to school on August 10th.  I wished that school would’ve started back after Labor Day weekend so they can enjoy the last days of summer, but at least they’ll get out of school at the end of spring.



The girls like their new teachers and enjoy seeing their old classmates as well as meeting new ones.  Seems like we got the whole routine of going back to school down pack but going to bed on time and waking up early is still in need of a little work, but it’s improving.



Homework has started and Lauren does her homework at childcare while I’m at work, and Michelle does hers at home after I pick them up from childcare since her class is doing all their assignments online this year.  I’ll need to find out if these assignments can be completed on her tablet so she can complete her homework at childcare as well so she doesn’t get home trying to rush through it since we don’t have a whole lot of time in the evenings.



During the second week of school, my girls told me they already have their fundraiser catalog and you should’ve seen the look on my face when they told me this!



School Fundraising Catalogs Drives Me Crazy!  via  www.productreviewmom.com
Photo Credit: Tumblr


You see, I hate these fundraisers, yes I said it, HATE THEM!  It’s like the school has these fundraisers almost every month!  A catalog filled with crap that no one wants but yet the school wants parents, I mean kids, to beg people to buy things from their catalogs so their class can win an ice cream party or some useless toy from a list of prizes.  And the kids can forget it even trying to win the grand prize which usually is a game system or a bike; you pretty much have to sell your soul to get one of those!



Like I was saying, the kids are not the ones doing all the hustle work to get people to buy from these fundraising catalogs, it’s the parents!  I’m tired of begging people to buy things they don’t even want or need, plus it is overpriced anyway.  Also, 9 times out of 10 the people I’m begging to buy from these catalogs are in the same boat as me, trying to get people to buy from their child’s catalog.



I understand that these schools need funding but there have to be a better way about raising money.  I know my daughters’ school has sponsors and do several activities like fall and spring festivals that we pay to get into. 



Here are some fundraising ideas:


  • Have a raffle.


  • Put these kids to work and have a car wash.


  • Have a craft sale.


  • Gift wrapping during the holiday season.  I would pay for this because my gift wrapping is horrible!


  • Movie night at the school.  Better to pay to see a movie at the school than paying high prices at the movie theaters.


  • Parents Night Out because we parents can use a break away from the kids.  My daughters’ daycare does this over the holidays so the parents can do their Christmas shopping, and during Valentine’s Day so parents can have a romantic night out.


  • Do a talent show and charge for admissions.  With a parent’s child being in the talent show I know they would be more than willing to pay.


  • Fun Run races.  Best way to get the kids active all while raising money.


  • Have a garage sale at the school.  Parents can donate stuff they don’t need to the school and the school can sell the items.  Also the school can sell items they don’t need too.


  • Sell children’s artwork.  Children can have their artwork placed in an exhibit at school and people who are interested can buy the artwork.



So you see, this catalog fundraising throughout the school year has to stop!  Maybe do it once or twice during the school year, not every other month!  There are so many different ways to raise money instead of bugging the living daylights out of people!



What are your thoughts on school’s catalog fundraisers?


20 Comments

  1. I hate those catalogs. I think school carnivals, international night, craft night or something fun would raise more money.

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  2. LOL I remember those things when my son was in elementary school hated them too lol...great fundraising ideas! I really love the artwork idea.

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    Replies
    1. Girl you're lucky you don't have to go through this anymore. I got two more years of this, or maybe more years if they still do this in middle school.

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  3. I hate them too. We do go back to school after Labor Day and I give them a week before they are shoving catalogs in my face. The worst thing is they keep pushing the kids to encourage you to sell so you feel bad if you don't sell anything. I will have two in school this year, which means more crap I have to purchase.

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    Replies
    1. I hate that the school pressure the kids to make sales, it's not fair to them and they feel bad when they haven't sold enough. I'm like you, I end up buying something from the catalog just so my girls can show they made some sales.

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  4. I hate those catalogs! I like when the school does a carnival!

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    Replies
    1. School carnivals are so much fun! I'm all for that!

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  5. We stopped doing them at my school school and instead asked parents to pay a fee if all the parents pay a fee we won't need to do fundraisers. 80% of the parents loved the idea but of course you have that 20% who have lots and lots of questions

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    Replies
    1. This is a great idea Kita! My girls' school needs to do this, I have no problem sending in money to support their school.

      There is always going to be some sour apples in the bunch, let me guess, they enjoy those school catalog fundraisers, SMH!

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  6. My kids do one called Mixed bags and I do like this one because they have useful things like duffle bags and cute kitchen accessories. I still don't bug people with it though. I'll put an announcement up on FB with the link and I've had people purchase. Grandma and I will always buy something. That's all I can promise.

    Your face tho!!!!

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    Replies
    1. I need to check that catalog out because the ones my girls get is horrible! LOL, girl that is the face of frustration!!!!!

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  7. Just wait until it's college tuition...times 2 you may be having a fundraiser of your own - I miss those little catalogs - lol!

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    Replies
    1. I don't even want to think about it and neither does my wallet, LOL!

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  8. These are great ideas for fundraising.I remember my school days,which sometimes my parents buy all the tickets to complete the task :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Amila! I'm glad you like my fundraising ideas.

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  9. Im so glad this portion of my life is over! I was thinking when will it ever end, hate fundraisers and times have changed so much, your kids can't go door to door anymore, folks are crazy!

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    Replies
    1. I would never go door to door, way too dangerous!

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  10. Girl, I feel you with this one. My kids have come home with fundraiser packets the first week of school! My kids school did use to do a Chuck e Cheese fundraiser and that was always more doable.

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    Replies
    1. Looks like their school beat my girls' school because they got their fundraiser packets the second week.

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  11. LMAO!!!! I'm glad you feel my pain about these!

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