First lesson: Practical economics

Tag : jogger shoes

"Hey Reece, look at the stuff that's on sale," says his mother,Kelsey.
More parents, 71 percent of them, according to a recent Deloitteconsulting firm survey, plan on spending less for back-to-schoolsupplies this summer than in summers past. Economic belt-tighteningnow includes belts.
Nationally, we'll spend an average of $594.24 on back-to-schoolitems this year, according to the National Retail Federation's 2008back- to-school spending survey conducted by BiGresearch.
Total spending includes clothing, shoes, school supplies andelectronics or computer- related products. All categories arebasically flat from a year ago as consumers try to combat risingcosts. The exception is computer and electronic gear, up about $22.
In the Western United States, the average back-to-school costs arehigher, $607.85. For clothing, excluding shoes, Westerners willspend an average $231.86.
"I usually try to stay under $250," says Kelsey, a Carmichaelworking mom, about the clothing budget.
Each summer, disagreements and generational takes on fashion andprices break out during back-to-school shopping. What with scouringmalls for bargains and compromising on purchases, back-to-schoolshopping can be a bonding experience between parent and offspring.
"Bonding? Is that what you call it?" Kelsey cracks.
The two are out for shirts and shorts because that's pretty muchwhat Reece wears. A trip for shoes will wait for later in theschool year.
"Shoes are expensive," says Kelsey. "His (Vans) run from $75 to$125."
Pushing a jogger-stroller carrying Reece's 2-year-old brother,Kohl, she's hoping her teenage son will choose colors other thanhis staples, brown and black. And that he finds shirts long enoughto cover his lanky, 6-foot-1 frame.
Reece's go-shopping attire is a brown T-shirt with a hole under theright sleeve. Underneath is a white T-shirt. He likes the layeredlook and prefers wearing white shirts under all his colored shirts.
True to Mom's description, he's also wearing brown shorts, brownballcap and black Vans with no socks.
At the "Three for $30" T-shirt rack, Reece explains he doesn't likepink, yellow or green and is partial to blue, brown, black andgray.
"I don't like plaid, either," he says.
Rummaging through a box on the floor and the entire sale rack, hediscovers four shirts he'll wear. Certain designs, along with theright colors, suit his taste. He doesn't always know why, he says,he just knows what he likes.
"Really, I only need about five shirts," Reece says. "One for eachday of the week and then wash them."
He does his own washing?
"He'll do the washing only when he's got nothing to wear," adds hismom.
Shorts for his 33-34 waist size are the next item of interest. Outof the stroller, little brother Kohl scampers through the Zumiez 70Percent Off section as Reece plucks a pair of brown shorts from anearby rack.
Nothing else piques his interest. The sales clerk rings up $86.18,and we're off to PacSun for more shirts and shorts.
Reece will be a junior at Mira Loma High School. That means historyand science classes this year. History he likes; science, he says,will depend on how it's taught. His strong subjects are math andEnglish.
He played junior varsity basketball last year and this summercoached swimmers for the Carmichael Beavers team. He worked as alifeguard at two pools in the Fulton-El Camino Recreation & ParkDistrict.
Snowboarding is his passion, and he'll need snow gear, including ajacket, this winter, he says.
Zumiez carries gear and clothing for skateboarders andsnowboarders, but PacSun started out as a surf shop and nowemphasizes both surfer and skater clothing.
Quickly sorting through stacks and stacks of brightly coloredT-shirts, he chooses two.
He then rummages through shorts, finding two pairs that meet hisrequirements. Nothing is tried on in the fitting rooms.
"I can just look at it and tell it fits," he says.
Mom and son get out of PacSun for $85.66. Plus, Kelsey is handed a$25 PacLoot card, good to use with purchases of $50 or more duringthe redemption period. She doesn't think she'll be back in thestore before it expires.
The day's back-to-school shopping total is $171.84.
"Got lucky today," she says. "Now we're going to get something toeat." About the writer: Call The Bee's Dan Vierria, (916) 321-1119.