Am I the only one who hates the "Box Top" competition?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to cut down on processed food, and manage this with my daughter's need for "box tops." Things like Kraft Mac and Cheese (we are no stranger to that), and other foods that kind of suck for nutrition have the "box top" that kids look for.

I am irritated that her teacher and classmates give her a hard time when she doesn't contribute enough cut outs.

Maybe I am shopping for the wrong items?

[Anonymous]

I get them off granola (cascading farms), ziplock bags and Avery school supplies.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry we don't buy anything with box tops because of dietary restrictions. I have never participated.

[Anonymous]

Zip loc bags, aluminum foil, sponges, Saran wrap.

[Anonymous]

Go-gurt

[Anonymous]

Land of lakes butter

[Anonymous]

Kleenex. But seriously, no one should be pressuring you (or your kid) to participate.

[Anonymous]

People worry about this?

[Anonymous]

Your daughter does not have a NEED for box tops. Don't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

I actually buy lots of box tops stuff. But I still can't be bothered to cut them off. I tried one time for a whole month to be super vigilant. I got 12. That's $1.20 to my kids school. Totally not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Our school doesn't seem to bother with this. They have it, but I've never heard anyone talk about it. But, I did notice that green giant blueberries have the box tops. I think I've seen it on celery before too.

[Anonymous]

I took over the box tops job for our school when I realized that nobody else was doing it. The box tops regularly bring in $1000-$2000 per year for the PTA and that's a lot to us. The pp who didn't think $1.20 was worth it is wrong. How hard is it to put them in an envelope and ask your kid to stick it in a box at school? If everyone in the school contributed 10-20 box tops per school year, we'd get thousands of dollars. Kids love going through the pantry to find items with the box top logo on them. Have your kids cut them out and bring them in. You don't have to do a thing.

I completely get not wanting the processed foods. Nobody is asking you to buy products just because they have box tops on them. I will buy generic if it's cheaper. But there are a lot of natural products with the box tops coupon - Cascadian Farms, Green Giant fresh produce, "Food Should Taste Good" chips. Also, like a pp said, many non-food items including Kleenex, Ziploc, Hanes t-shirts and underwear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually buy lots of box tops stuff. But I still can't be bothered to cut them off. I tried one time for a whole month to be super vigilant. I got 12. That's $1.20 to my kids school. Totally not worth it.

Let your school decide if it's worth it or not. Chances are it is.

[Anonymous]

Are you SURE the teachers and classmates are pressuring your daughter to contribute box tops? Or is it just your daughter pressuring you and yourself because she wants to help the class win bragging rights and the popsickle party?

My bet is on your daughter concocting this to try to fit in, maaaybe her friends. It is highly unlikely the teachers are pressuring her to make mom go buy a bunch of mac n cheese and sweetened cereal for box tops. I bet the teacher hardly mentions it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took over the box tops job for our school when I realized that nobody else was doing it. The box tops regularly bring in $1000-$2000 per year for the PTA and that's a lot to us. The pp who didn't think $1.20 was worth it is wrong. How hard is it to put them in an envelope and ask your kid to stick it in a box at school? If everyone in the school contributed 10-20 box tops per school year, we'd get thousands of dollars. Kids love going through the pantry to find items with the box top logo on them. Have your kids cut them out and bring them in. You don't have to do a thing.

I completely get not wanting the processed foods. Nobody is asking you to buy products just because they have box tops on them. I will buy generic if it's cheaper. But there are a lot of natural products with the box tops coupon - Cascadian Farms, Green Giant fresh produce, "Food Should Taste Good" chips. Also, like a pp said, many non-food items including Kleenex, Ziploc, Hanes t-shirts and underwear.

Actually, it is so much easier for the school if you tape or glue them here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/-/media/BoxTops/FlyersAndDownloads/Assets/CollectionSheets/BTFE_collectionsheet_25.pdf

If the PP got $1.20/mo. X 9 months for the school year x 28 kids in my DD's class = $340 collected PER class, and the school year is MORE than 9 months. FWIW, my MIL and neighbor gives them to us, too, so we fill about 6-7 of those sheets per year and eat very little junk food. Each sheet is $5 free to the school.