Have I been sleeping in a cave for 100 years? It sure feels like it.

I just read that Americans are expected to spend $75.8 billion getting their kids outfitted to go back to school this year. And by outfitted I mean set up with electronic gear, shoes with all the bells and whistles (I like those sneakers with little wheels embedded in the soles), backpacks and, of course, school supplies. Yikes! That's a whole lotta money.

Granted, I don't have school-aged children anymore, but come on! The average elementary school kid's must-haves this year totaled $649. For middle school students that number jumped to $941. And for high school kids the number is $1,402 each, according to the ninth annual Backpack Index Survey from Huntington Bank in Columbus, Ohio.

Look, I'm open to being proven wrong. But is this anywhere close to reasonable? Perhaps if you felt you had to purchase an entire school year's worth of pencils, pens, crayons, paper, notebooks, binders, calculators, printer cartridges, shoes, jeans, slacks, sweaters, blouses, shirts, socks and undies. But I find that to be a little ridiculous in that kids grow and styles change. And quite frankly, who wants to do all that laundry?

Spreading the cost of these items over the course of the school year seems more reasonable to me, except for notebook paper, notes, pens and paper. Those items are so cheap at office supply stores at the start of a new school year that you would be smart to stock up for the entire year.

So am I missing something here? I'd love to go head on with any family to prove that I could get the kids looking mighty fine and get them all the stuff they need for a lot less than the statistical per-child average.

While we're on the subject of school, let's throw fundraisers into the discussion.

Every year about this time, I get a flood of messages that are some variation of the following: "I am so sick of my kids bringing home catalogs full of cheap, overpriced stuff that the school expects us to sell. How can we deal with this? I'd love some advice and insight on how other parents do it."

I remember those days. Of course, I wanted my kids to win the prize for being the best little fundraisers, which added to the pressure we already felt from the school and Little League. I pity all of my co-workers, neighbors, friends and relatives who got caught up in my web of obligation.

I'm married to a guy who is a big old softy when it comes to children bearing boxes for sale to raise money for their schools and teams. I think we still have some World's Finest Chocolate bars left in the refrigerator from last season, and probably a tub or two of cookie dough in the freezer, too. Oh, and gift wrap and candles.

Now that I think about it, maybe I haven't moved beyond the pressure of fundraiser season, after all.

So, how do you deal with fundraisers? I can't think of a better place to unload, share, question or plead your case for your fundraiser of choice than by joining the conversation on EverydayCheapskate.com.

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.