What is your budget for school?

I am curious to find out how much do y'all budget for back to school things. I underestimated how much I was going to spend on uniforms by $95, and that included a 10% discount! When I was figuring out how much I would spend, I did not figure in bloomers and tights. They need to have maroon tights, do y'all know how hard it is to find maroon tights in a regular store? Impossible! So anyway, even though they won't need the tights until November when it starts to get cool, I bought them now so I wouldn't have to worry about it later.
There is only one place to get uniforms for their school, so there is no bargin shopping. I have to buy a certain brand shoes and from my research, only one store in this area carries these shoes. I just called them and the shoes are $45 per pair, and I need two, so that's $90 + tax. I found them online for $5 less, but once you figure in shipping for two pairs, it's better to go to the store here and buy them. Also, I don't know what size they need in Bass shoes.
I have not even started on school supplies. I have the list, but half of the things on the list have to be bought from the school. I have no clue how much all of that is going to cost, I have to wait until they have the supply sale at school.

I am learning about all of this as I go along. I thought I had more than enough put aside for their uniforms, supplies, and fees, but now it looks as if I am going to spend more than I thought.

I want to add that I hope my post isn't taking as me whining. Well, I guess I am whining to an extent, but Gary and I chose for for daughters to go to this school, so we don't have any right to whine. We knew what was expected before we even recieved their acceptance letters.

That is exactly what it is, Becky. Sticker shock...
We have the money, I just didn't expect to have to spend as much...

Dana, We also have a supply fee so they can buy in bulk, saving everyone money and a headache. We don't have pencils, crayons, or anything like that on our supply list, just the things that need to be purchased at the school during the supply sale (A school folder and something else that I can;t remember right now.) and telling us that they need a school bag, an extra set of clothes to be kept in a ziplock bag in their backpack. I was surprised that I didn't have to buy traditional school supplies. I think I need to bring baby wipes, but those are not for the class, they are just for your child.
I did notice that the older they get, the longer the lists and the more expensive the items are.

Liz, I thought I would come out better buying uniforms, too. I guess I did, but since I bought everything for the whole year, it was a shock. If I would have just bought Summer / Fall things and bought Winter things later, then I probably wouldn't have noticed how much I was spending.
Since it is a Catholic private school, even their jackets and coats have to be uniform. If I wouldn't have bought them uniform sweaters, then they would not be able to wear it in the classroom. I don't want them to be cold because I was too cheap to spend the money.
There are a couple of choices, and I didn't have to buy everything, I chose to.
Remember that I am buying for Twins. It sounds like a lot, but it's not.
I bought them 2 school cardigan sweaters, 4 sweatshirts that they can wear over their uniform during winter months, 2 winter coats with the school emblem on it, 4 jumpers, 8 shirts (because they are pure WHITE, my kids are going to stain those pretty quickly) 4 pairs of tights, and 4 pairs of bloomers. I haven't bought the shoes or socks, yet.

Public school would definatly be cheaper, but it is worth every penny that we have spent.

Oh, I forgot to say that my Mom bought every hair acessory that they had in their school's plaid. The store seamstresses make acessories for the girls with the same material that they make the uniforms with. They are very cute, and my Mom wanted to help so she said that she would buy them.

$27 for the cheapest jeans? :shock:
I buy the girls' jeans from Target and spend only $15. That's for the ones with the adjustable waist, so they cost a few dollars more than the regular ones.

The supplies that I have to get won't cost much. Well, I don't think they will cost much, probably not $40 for a backpack, baby wipes, tissue, and a roll of paper towels. The only thing that I'm not too sure on the cost is the backpack. I bought the girls an Elmo backpack a while back, but I don't remember how much it cost. The backpack doesn't have to be much, just big enough to hold a folder and a change of clothes.

Hey Heather, could I buy jeans for her at Target or WalMart and send them to you? I wonder how much it would cost for shipping...

They didn't say that they had to have the coat, it's optional. I wanted to get it because they can wear it in the building if they are cold. If it is not part of the uniform, they can not wear it inside of the classroom.
It's not really a coat, probably not like you are thinking. I am in the deep South, it doesn't get really cold here. To us a coat is anything heavier than a jacket. It has a warm fleece lining, so to me it is a coat.

Exactly, Liz.