Fall ... we love this season for so many reasons, one of which for most parents are kids returning to school. The start of the new school year brings with it many new, exciting things, as well as some older, familiar routines, including the seemingly non-stop solicitation of cookie dough, wrapping paper, miscellaneous gift items, coupon books, pepperoni sticks, discount cards for area businesses, chocolate bars, and more, all in the name of fundraising.

Parents know and expect this on-slaught, understanding it is the price to be paid for programs, equipment and activities at their child(ren's) school. The kids are encouraged to sell as much as they can, and prizes are offered to entice their participation, which takes the amount of involvement to a whole different level.

What do you do when you have a number of co-workers with kids, all looking to sell those items and help their child receive the prize of his/her dreams (at least for that year). "Surely you can afford to chip in a few bucks and buy  ______ to help out?" Perhaps, but multiply it by several requests, often times coming through-out the year, and the costs can add up.

Do you feel awkward about saying no, especially when everyone else says yes? Don't -- it's okay to decline the offer. The key is to be prepared with a response:

It doesn't hurt to include a smile and say "thank you for thinking of me" -- you never know when the situation might be reversed!

Everyone has their boundaries and you are entitled to yours.

 

It is not that people don't want to support the various schools, ball teams, sporting events, band trips, art fairs, and what have you, but personal budgets do have a limit.  

 

If you bring your child's fundraising efforts to work, be considerate of your colleagues' feelings; avoid pestering, and if the answer is no, smile and say "Thank you, anyway." You never know what next year might bring.  

 

In the interest of full disclosure, as I write this my husband is browsing through our new coupon book and I am awaiting four containers of cookie dough ... some things are too good to pass up!