Fundraising Fatigue

I knew the issue of fundraising had the potential to raise some temperatures (it certainly did mine), but I had no idea expressing my frustrations would elicit so many reader responses.

In a recent column, "School Fundraising? Phooey!," I suggested that perhaps, just maybe, there's too much begging going on by parents and children.

Specifically, I think there's too much fundraising in which our rugrats are being used as a tiny unpaid sales force.

Well, many people agreed. Others thought I should eat nails (okay maybe that's not what they wrote, but the tone of the e-mails communicated that point just the same.)

Here's what some of my fellow fatigued fundraisers said:

"The door-to-door selling by children (with or without a parent in attendance) is particularly annoying," wrote Rose Ingberman of the District. "When I lived in the suburbs, and a child came to my door selling overpriced candy, wrapping paper or whatever, I informed the parent that using child labor is illegal and that I was entirely willing to report their activities to Child Welfare."

Abigail Orday of Scarborough, Maine wrote: "Money is not the solution. It is our time, caring, and contributions as people, parents, and members of our communities that will make a difference, not only in our schools but in our smaller and larger worlds. And I think that wrapping, eating, or burning our way there is not the answer."

Leira Satlof of Santa Rosa, Calif., said: "Thank you so much for your column on school fundraising. It so precisely expressed my feelings that I clipped it, copied it and attached it to the eight (eight in the first five days of school) fundraising requests I received from my children's two schools."

Marta Burns of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. wrote: "What is really crucial and wonderful is to be able to greet each child briefly, and with interest and affection, setting their day off on the right track, sometimes overcoming stress they bring from home. This has blown completely out of the water by the teacher's being an accountant, bank teller, coordinator of purchase orders."

On the other hand, some people thought my mere mention of eliminating fundraisers was heresy:

Gia Torpey of Rockville, Md., wrote: "Don't go to the book fair and avoid the wrapping paper if you feel the need to do so. Keep your wallet locked and secured."

(By the way, I do give to schools. I just don't buy or sell overpriced products.)

I heard from quite a few leaders in parent organizations. For example, Jeanne Scaramuzza of Mount Prospect, Ill., wrote: "Our PTO would be happy to eliminate all fundraisers if we also felt comfortable eliminating all the programs and cultural enrichment and supplies and books and computer software and sound systems and gym equipment and classroom treats and reading achievement awards and field trip subsidies and assignment books and holiday baskets for the needy and teacher appreciation lunches and newsletters and teacher training that we provide our school. To eliminate these would eliminate our reason to exist, and negatively affect our school. But wouldn't it just be easier if we didn't have to work on all of these efforts and had no goals? I guess the lazy, self-absorbed parent would say so."

Laura Rosenfeld of Arlington Heights, Ill. wrote: "I understand how annoying it is to constantly be hit up for money, but I also understand that it takes a community effort to keep our schools not only solvent, but maintaining a standard of excellence. If I have to write one more check for gift-wrap to do that, I don't mind. My kids are worth it."

"Your article really hit a nerve," wrote Julie Schapire. "As a mom who has spent a lot of time fundraising for our elementary school, I really resent what you say about fundraisers. We are in a D.C. public school. We are so underfunded that the parents have to raise money for even the basics such as toilet paper! I feel sorry for parents in your school who are probably busting their 'you know what' and then have to read an article like this. I am sure that your family and children benefit from their efforts. It is a shame that you do not have more respect for their efforts."

My job is to not just inform you about personal finance issues but also to generate debate. Isn't this an issue worthy of discussion? Isn't there a better way to raise funds? That's all I'm asking.

In fact, I'm interested now in schools or PTAs that have found ways to cut back or eliminate fundraising events and still keep the money coming in. I'd like to share the success stories with other schools. So write to me at colorofmoney@washpost.com. In the subject line put "Fundraising Fatigue Fixed." Please include enough information so that I may contact you for an upcoming column.

Dumpster Diving

I'm two for two this week.

By that I mean two recent columns touched off a storm of mail. In addition to the school fundraising issue, I received many notes from people wondering about my objection to some money-saving tips sent to employees by Northwest Airlines from last Thursday's column: "Dumpster-Diving Advice Doesn't Fly"

I wrote about money-saving tips the airline, which I might add is having its own financial troubles and is under bankruptcy protection, sent to its employees who are facing possible layoffs.

The information Northwest sent out advised among other things "don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash."

I called it dumpster diving. Well, some penny pinchers were mad at me.

Jack Scheible of Springfield, Va. wrote: "I make a very good salary, but my wife still gets many of our clothes and toys from consignment stores and yes, I have actually gotten furniture out of a dumpster."

Beth of Denver, Colo. wrote: "While I would never pull a rack of lamb out of the trash, no matter how much I liked it, I do happen to have a coffee table with matching end tables that a friend's neighbor put out for the trash. I have been using them for six years now and they are still in good shape. Some people just don't come up with more creative ways to dispose of their unwanted belongings than putting them in the trash. It doesn't mean they are unsightly, contaminated or dangerous, just that someone was too busy to think of a better use of resources."

"I'm amazed that you object to dumpster diving," said Sara Solnick of South Burlington, Vt. "Just two weeks ago my colleague cleaned out his office and I saw many binders through the clear plastic bags he used. I "liberated" them and returned three of the binders I'd bought for my children at Staples. I saved $13 and reusing things is better for the environment. What's wrong with this?"

Clearly, I didn't make myself clear.

There is nothing wrong with dumpster diving. I'm a dumpster diver myself. Many times I've seen items set out for the trash truck that I've claimed, cleaned and either used myself or given away (again, AFTER cleaning or fixing it up).

What I was objecting to was that a company under bankruptcy protection, sent out money-saving tips, such as you need to pick through the trash, to employees it may be putting out of work because of its financial ineptitude. I was just in awe of the gall.

Let's Chat

Hopefully, you've had a chance to pick up "Your Little Legal Companion" by the publishers at Nolo. I chatted today at noon ET with two of Nolo's editors about the many legal and financial issues we all have to deal with now. If you missed the chat, you can always read the transcript, here.

And if you missed the column on this month's book club, click here.

Join me in two weeks on Sept. 14 for my next online discussion.

A True Monster House

I took my kids to see the animated movie, "Monster House." But what Marla Brin of Alexandria, Va., went through to renovate her home was a truly a monstrous house adventure.

Brin recently wrote about her renovation travails in "Hassles? You Can Count On It" (Aug. 24). She went through hell and a lot of money in the process.

Here is some of what she went through:

Contract price: $196,000.

Total price the contractor pressured her to pay as renovation progressed: $306,000.

Price she paid before firing the company 18 months into a "four- to six-month" project: $225,000.

Price she paid to redo all the work the contractor did that was not up to code: $169,000.

Trust me, this is a must read for anyone about to hire a contractor.

Tax Break or True Saint?

In July, I wrote about investor extraordinaire Warren Buffett, who has promised to give away most of his fortunate to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Columnist Allan Sloan took a deeper look into Buffett's donation and the motivation for it in "A Donation Without Calculation" (Aug. 29).

Sloan was out to find the truth behind Buffett's generous gift. Was it all just for a huge tax write-off?

No.

According to Sloan, Buffet is sincere about donating to charities because he believes it's the right thing to do, not because it's a great tax break.

Also, check out what I wrote back in July: "Lessons From Wealthy and Wise Parents."

Paragons of Parsimony

Here's more from the many entries I received in this year's Penny Pincher of the Year Contest:

Jane Kestner of Kensington, Md., loves it when large boxes are wrapped without using tape or stickers, so that the paper will still be unmarred and reusable after she irons out the creases.

Joy Campbell of West Hartford, Conn. wrote: "When I dropped a new roll of toilet paper in a sink and accidentally turned the water on, I did what any penny pincher would do. I squeezed it out, set it on a shelf to dry out, and every few days would unwind a few sheets and threw them over the shower curtain rod to speed up the process."

Roseanne Smith of Alexandria, Va. wrote about her mother: "When the cuffs of Dad's shirts got worn, Mom removed them, turned them around and sewed them back on. Dad sure got a lot of wear out of his shirts."

You are welcome to e-mail comments and questions to singletarym@washpost.com. Please include your name and hometown; your comments may be used in a future column or newsletter unless otherwise requested.