Anonymous wrote:I would complain to the school. That is a bunch of BS that they will bill you. The purchase isn’t authorized. Free school lunch is one thing, but the extras are entirely separate and kids need to either bring money for them or have money in their school account that the parent puts there for them to spend.

The schools can’t find enough people to drive the buses, serve the lunches, and even, teach. But, you need to add lunch line purchase police because you can’t tell your kid “no?”

18:58 again and this was two years ago so I don’t know if it’s still the case but I turned off autoreplenish. We found out they could still charge after the account went into the red. They thought they had money since they kept buying and no one stopped them. Eventually I’d get an email saying the account was overdrawn and we owed. It was a good learning experience for my kids to watch what they spend.

Anonymous wrote:Op, high school is tough. Unless your kids’ doctor has expressed some diet related concern to you just let them have their cookie to get through the day. Imagine how you would feel if someone took away your daily coffee/tea/treat. And It’s way cheaper than Starbucks.

Only if they buy one thing. Mine used to buy more than one or accidentally buy a double lunch on top of the lunch they brought because they didn’t realize how much that extra serving of chicken, a cookie and a drink cost. Some days the bills were $10+. I also had auto replenish and noticed I was sometimes getting $20 added more than once a week. This was years ago and I ended up showing my kids the itemized list so they could see how this was adding up. I gave them a set amount they could spend on extra food and anything over would come out of their savings or checking accounts. This worked well.

Anonymous wrote:I would set a $ limit I was comfortable covering. $2 a day, $5 a week, $20 a month or whatever works for you. If it was over that limit and I got a bill they would have to pay me back. If they don’t have the funds to reimburse me they’d do chores to work it off.

This. $20 a month and they can spend when they choose. But it doesn't get replenished until the first day of the following month.

I have literally never looked at the accounts to see what was purchased. I have it set to autofill when the balance gets below a certain amount and that's it.

As nasty as school food it, I just want them to have something to eat so they aren't starving. My HS kids take their lunches and sometimes buy a snack/treat. My MS kid buys lunch most days. No clue how often he adds on a treat.

What age? Sixth grader versus high schooler is a different touch.

But either way be careful about over controlling food. Serve healthy meals for breakfast and lunch and explain good choices but don’t prohibit or micromanage.

What is your objection? The amount they’re spending or that they’re eating junk?

I would complain to the school. That is a bunch of BS that they will bill you. The purchase isn’t authorized. Free school lunch is one thing, but the extras are entirely separate and kids need to either bring money for them or have money in their school account that the parent puts there for them to spend.

Set a budget with your child. If they go over it, they repay you. Then it's up to them to decide when it matters most to them to use, whether it's worth spending money on the treat v. something else, etc..

Op, high school is tough. Unless your kids’ doctor has expressed some diet related concern to you just let them have their cookie to get through the day. Imagine how you would feel if someone took away your daily coffee/tea/treat. And It’s way cheaper than Starbucks.

This isn't hard.

Tell your kid no

I told them how much I would allow and they followed it. If they didn’t, I would not have funded their account

We don't limit it. Somehow, the kids do that just fine on their own.

I would set a $ limit I was comfortable covering. $2 a day, $5 a week, $20 a month or whatever works for you. If it was over that limit and I got a bill they would have to pay me back. If they don’t have the funds to reimburse me they’d do chores to work it off.

How do you, if at all, limit the number snacks your child can purchase at school?

The school provides lunch but offers seltzers, fries, chips, cookies for about $1.50 to $2. They just bill the parents and won’t tell the kids no because it is a state funded lunch and they don’t want to embarrass any kid.

Our kid purchases junk food several times a week and we don’t know how to limit it without creating another battle front. We have tried saying Wednesdays only but there is often some reason why a snack was needed on Tuesday.