It's almost that time of year again! No, I don't mean the Labor Day Weekend. It's time to buy school supplies!
I have no problem admitting I have an addictive personality. I just do and I deal with it. Among other things, I'm addicted to school supplies, and not just the yummy white paste in a jar, either!
The secret is out. I've actually already done a bit of school supply shopping. Let me give a heads up to my fellow school supplies junkies out there, (and I know you're out there because you commented on my school supplies article last year), the very coolest new addition to the school supplies aisles are Sharpie fine tip pens in an array of colors with a choice of either bold colors or pastels. Each package is nearly $8, but if you are serious about your obsession, that price is no object.
Book covers can also be found in the school supplies inventories, or if you like designer styles, eBay is a good place to shop. I have developed a sub-addiction to book covers. Now I'm not really comfortable holding a "naked" book, even if it has its own paper cover. So I now have myriad sizes and styles of book covers. I can cover regular sized paperbacks, trade size paperbacks, and small, medium and large hardbacks. I can cover books with everything from a Vera Wang print to a print of a troll with fluffy pink hair.
Journals and/or notebooks are another passion. Maybe this comes from having a choice as a child that was limited to Big Chief tablets or loose leaf paper. Spiral bound notebooks made an appearance when I was in elementary school, but my Mom didn't think they were a good value. Every year I indulge my inner school child with all sorts of journals and notebooks. There are Chinese style silk covered journals in my collection, notebooks of all sizes, and a treat I just found recently - Moleskines.
During the next few weeks I'll be picking up high lighters here, book covers there, crayons, fountain pens, rulers, protractors, and school glue. In the past, I've brought it home and squirreled it all away in the bottom drawers of my dresser. But this year I'm going to do things a little differently. I'm going to donate my collection from past years to the Salvation Army's school supplies drive and start fresh. Donating the school supplies from the past year is going to be part of my August ritual from now on. I'll still be able to indulge my school supplies fetish, but at the same time I'll feel okay about buying school supplies instead of feeling a bit guilty.
For all my fellow school supplies addicts out there, let the shopping begin!
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Comments: 47
Tamara - They are supposed to have so much more than we did, or even my daughters did. I feel for people with three or four kids to send to school. I bet your daughter is very excited about making the jump to high school.
It's tedious.
I like that you're donating your school supplies. That's awfully kind of you, Miz Vicky.
Lainie - I'm not completely charitable. I won't have room to store anything new unless I get rid of what's already here. You'll love the Ultra Fine Sharpies.
Vicky - I have to get rid of the old to have space for the new. I hope you try the new Sharpies.
Lindy, I do use the pens and some of the notebooks. I like to use graph paper and draw out blueprints for houses. But the crayons and most of the other things haven't been used.
BTW, that is a swell idea donating your old school supplies to the Salvation Army....I think I have some now that I will get together just for that!!! Thanks for the idea Vicky!!!
Ina - I think donating these things will keep the guilt away. I've had Van sack them up. Next time he's on that side of town he'll drop them off.
Phyllis - It's always nice to hear there are others out there with the same addiction. For one thing, the stuff is so much cooler than when I was a kid. We had very basic things to choose from like the Big Chief tablets and Bic pens. Don't forget your #2 pencils!
Jean - "Office Supplies" - can I borrow that label? It sounds much more grown up to say I'm shopping for office supplies. Good thinking! You're right about the Sharpies. How did we get along without them?
JW - Only one of many ;)
Corina - I wonder how long you can deny the temptation? I even find cool stuff in the grocery store's school supplies. They're everywhere at this time of year.
I will never run out of markers, glue sticks, crayons, spiral notebooks, colored pencils, etc.
Patricia - Open the pack and keep some for yourself ;)
Sue - I am familiar with the twitching symptom! I've been dropping hints near and yonder that I would love to have a leather bound journal for my birthday or Christmas. I'll write in it with my Sharpies! A different color depending on the mood of the day.
It can be as expensive or as cheap as you make it. Some people use only free resources like the library or participate in curriculum exchanges. Some people spend thousands.
I spend about $500 a year on books and curriculum for homeschooling. I like new-book smell.
I spend more on, um, office supplies. And field trips, activities, etc. I don't really know what I spend total in a year. If you consider opportunity cost of lost wages it gets depressing so I don't think about it.
I'm going to stock up on notebooks tonight. Hopefully they are still 5 cents somewhere. I need quite a few. That's great that you're going to donate your items for last year, even if it is just to perpetuate your shopping habit, that still counts. Enjoy your new supplies!
Melinda - I don't know what's up with the book covers, but now if I'm reading a book it doesn't "feel right" in my hands unless it has one of the padded book covers on it. I get obsessed over weird stuff.
Jennifer - Some stores around here sort of kick off their back to school push with what you're talking about, loss leaders. I try to use that opportunity to buy the spiral bound notebooks and loose leaf paper. I like rolling ball pens, too, and also fountain pens.
Marianne - They DO rock! Try the new Ultra Fines.
Adelaide - Thanks, Adelaide. I'm hoping by the weekend I'll be back on my feet and can go fight my way through the aisles and get some more things. I think I need a date book this year, too!
Roy - Yes, we did talk about hoarders, and I'd say I'm more a um... collector :) I do have plenty of wide open spaces in my house, no stacked up stuff and I hope I never get that way. We have a neighbor that's in his 80s that's a hoarder. You should see his garage, it's packed floor to ceiling and so is his house.
I also have an addiction to blank books and moleskines. I may do most of my writing online, but I always have to carry something around with me , too!
I have a fetish about buying stuff on sale. I don't even care if I need it. If it's on sale, I am there.
no, you are not alone...
I'm still pissed at the $3.99 spiral notebooks I had to buy my kid.
Let me clarify: I love office supplies when they're for ME.