Ask any neighborhood kid and they will tell you that I am the first house they stop at when they are looking for buyers for their latest school or sport fundraiser. I always do my best to purchase at least one item per school/group. But lately, it seems that I'm spending way too much on fundraisers.

My children are only 4 and 6 so I thought for sure that I had many years before I would be out trying to convince my neighbors to buy cookie dough or the latest in wrapping paper. But in the past few weeks, I've been proven wrong!

Let's see what I'm selling (be sure to give me a call if you would like to purchase any items!)

1. Raffle Tickets for SYSL, I have a two booklets because both my kids are playing soccer. So, if I purchase the "best" deal per book then I will spend $15 each for a grand total of $30.

2. Raffle Tickets for the Elks Club - that's another $20.

3. Raffle Tickets for SPP's Fall Festival - 10 tickets for $10 (Are you seeing a theme)

4. Cheese Cake for Gymnastics (Last month they sold Champion Discount Cards). That will cost about $15 if I purchase one cake.

5. Cookie Dough and Cheese Cake for Libby's preschool. There's another $24 for 2 containers.

6. Current Gift Wrap Catalog for Southern Pines Primary to help pay for field trips since funding was cut this year. I'm hoping the school bond takes care of that problem. That's at least $8.00 for the minimum purchase.

7. The Scholastic Book Fair for Southern Pines Primary to help the library raise money (The have to sell $3000 to get 30% - a whole whopping $300!) I spent $30 - a book for each child and a gift certificate for the teacher.

8. And let's not forget SPP's Monthly Fundraiser Night at Moe's (which I enjoy and am a huge supporter of because I don't have to sell anything). But that usually cost about $12 if my husband's gone and $18 if he's home. The school get's 15% of the evening's sales. We've been average about $140/month. Not bad for showing up to dinner and hanging out with friends.

9. And of course, the QSP Magazine Sales are just around the corner. However, I boycott those after they did the big song and dance in front of all the kids at school about all the cool things they could win if they sold magazines. This sent my 6 year old into a frenzy and she wanted us to go knocking on everyone's door.

So, if I participate in everything at the minimal level I will spend $149 for fundraisers this month alone. Which is not something I budget for. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge supporter of helping groups and the school offset costs. But of the $149 I contribute to these fundraisers, less than half will actually get to the groups. That's my frustration with the whole process.

I know that some people don't mind selling stuff. But for me, it is difficult because we don't have tons of family in the area and most of my friends are trying to peddle the same goodies I am. So, I usually end up pulling out the checkbook and paying for it myself.

Personally, I would rather participate in a donation drive, write the check and get the nice letter with the organization's Tax ID # acknowledging my donation and be done with it. They get my money and I get a tax write off. Plus, it cost me less in the end.