Parents know putting three kids through public school can be expensive.

The Swiateks in Allen know exactly how much.

At The Dallas Morning News' request, the family agreed to keep a tab on how much they spend on school-related expenses for their three children.

VERNON BRYANT/DMN

Beth and Ed Swiatek — parents of Rachael (left), Joel and Erin — are keeping track of school-related expenses, which have grown to more than $5,000 so far this year.

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"It's been an eye-opener when you actually look at the numbers and add it up," said Beth Swiatek, who says she takes pride in spending money wisely.

Rachael is a high school senior, Erin is a high school freshman and Joel is in sixth grade.

Before the school year had even begun, the Swiateks paid nearly $2,800 to ready their children for the school year. That total did not include school clothes, but it did pull in the first payments for the two oldest children to go on a band trip. That trip to Hawaii will cost $2,200 per child.

The family made a decision to scrimp on other items so they can splurge on the trip. But most other items on the Swiateks' list are typical of families with multiple children in school.

Once school began, some of the charges through the fall were small. Required reading books for Erin cost $10. A school spirit shirt for Joel set the Swiateks back $13.

But then bigger amounts popped up, like senior photos for Rachael ($128). By October, the family had spent $2,387 more. That doesn't include the kids' private band and dance lessons.

The Swiateks said they can pay the school-related expenses because they make cuts elsewhere. Erin and her mom made the mum for her homecoming dance, for example.

Rachael will get her first high school yearbook this year, because the family decided to spare the expense of the previous ones. Half of Joel's field trip ticket to see the King Tut exhibition was covered by the school's PTA.

"It all comes to prioritizing and choices," Mrs. Swiatek said. "Every family has to set their own priorities and choices, and then live within that."

A few weeks ago, Mrs. Swiatek's children surrounded her as she laid the receipts on a table and calculated the total.

"How much did I cost? How much did I cost?" the children asked.

A lot, their mother responded.

"I was kind of surprised at the numbers," Rachael said.

The Swiateks will continue to record school-related expenses, and The Dallas Morning News will periodically check in on the total.