And so it begins. My little E.B. came home from school proudly toting his Sally Foster Gift Wrap catalog and order form. Add that to the “I knew this was coming but I figured it would be later in the year” list.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I do love me some Sally Foster Gift Wrap. Their paper is beautiful, and although it *is* more than I would normally like to spend on wrapping paper, it’s quality stuff. There’s just a little teensy problem. I have a whole plastic bin of this stuff under my bed. Oh yes, if Sally Foster Gift Wrap ever became a collector’s item, I’d definitely have the heads up on everyone.
It all started back in 1996. I was working as an assistant teacher and was single. My co-workers all had kids who went to the school that E.B. now attends. Naturally, they hit me up to buy this wrapping paper every single year…even after I left that job. I have rolls of this stuff from 1996, y’all.
I don’t mind at all the actual having to sell this stuff. I’m not going to get all blown out of proportion over the school having us sell things because I’ve worked in schools long enough to know that this is how they get their “extra” money. I’m all for whatever makes my child’s school better. I’m the Boxtop Queen, the Campbell’s Soup Label collector, the empty printer cartridge saver. I know every little bit helps. But I hear at some schools you can just pay a flat fundraising fee and not have to do the actual selling.
So, if you have kids in school, what are you selling this year? Cookie dough? Magazines? Are you down with Sally, too? Are you required to sell? Do you love selling or hate it?
And guess who I’ll be hitting up to buy some? All of my former co-workers. MUUUWWAHAHAHAAAA!!!
We’ve got the wrapping paper, too! $8 rolls? Awesome.
Every once in a while the catalog includes a recipe card holder or a scented candle, so we get *some* reprieve….
I am happy to report two things:
1. Sally Foster wrapping paper is the only fundraising item that I actually seek out every year. We don’t sell it, but I have to have my Christmas paper and one roll of birthday paper. I’m sorry though…I’ve already committed for this year at the same school in my town because a co-worker’s kid goes there.
2. My boys new school doesn’t believe in fundraisers!!! The school board does one “annual fund” drive every year, but they do not recruit parental help. So, I don’t have to sell another thing for years!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!!
I too am a little put off with all the selling. BUT, our oldest starts school this year, and apparently there is fund raising involved.
I wish they would just raise the tuition a tad and do away with it really.
Now, if its wrapping paper….I just may bite!
I despise, hate, and stand fundraisers. There are some I like…bake sales, yard sales, things where we don’t have to go hit up family and friends for over priced goods. In years past, my oldest stepson would have to raise funds to go on a band trip. We just went to our relatives and asked them if they wanted to contribute directly to the trip and we paid for it that way. With DH working as a consultant, it is not acceptable for him to ask for money from co-workers. I don’t work. So that leaves only family members. I am an only child, my husband has one sister who doesn’t have money to spare. I refuse to go around the neighborhood because our neighbors aren’t that neighborly for the most part. The kids brothers do help out, but with two brothers, three sets of grandparents and a mom and dad, there just aren’t a lot of people to hit up.
I hate fundraisers….
I haven’t seen Sally yet. Although I do still have some Sally from last year.
We have not started yet and I am anxious to see what the school does. I know that they do Box Tops. I have been saving them for YEARS now to give to school when the little guy finally gets to kindergarten (none expired either). I am hoping that in addition to any fundraisers for “stuff” that the classrooms do the Scholastic Book orders. I know they will have a book fair, but those are not nearly as good a deal for us or the teachers. I loved doing those when I was teaching.
Personally I think activities to raise money are better than the catalogs of way too expensive wrapping paper, candles and candy.
She’s at our house too. I just can’t believe they have allowed registering and e-mailing people for orders too. I despise selling. Maybe because it was my profession for …well…forever! And maybe because I’m married to the salesman of the year 5 years running. Ugh! My parents actually asked if they couldn’t just write a check to the school instead of buying. I’m all for it!