Search Results for: blog back to school shopping tips

Part 2 : Take It Back, Use It Up, or Pass It On

Don’t let the excess in your life prevent you from living. Gather it from around your home and make it work for you. I am talking about all of the things that you purchased or were gifted but are not actually using. Clothing with tags still on them, cabinets full of health and beauty products, etc. These unused items are a waste of money and space, but they don’t have to be. Yesterday, I talked about ways that you can recover some of the money spent on these items. Today, I’l cover how you can put them to good use. … Continue reading →

Your Back to School Savings Strategy

The average parent spends $600 to get just one child ready for school in the fall. You can greatly reduce this cost if you follow our step-by-step back to school savings strategy. 1. Make a list Most schools post their school supply lists online to make it easy for parents to shop ahead. If yours doesn’t contact other parents to get an idea of what your child will need to bring to school in terms of pencils, notebooks, crayons, etc. Do the same with clothing. How many shirts, dresses, pants, socks, shoes and other clothing items will your child need … Continue reading →

Backpack Overload

If your kids are complaining that their backs hurt this weekend, it may be more than just a ploy to get out of chores. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), an alarmingly number of children is carrying way too much in their school backpacks. What’s more, the overload is resulting in serious injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 13,700 kids aged 5 to 18 sought medical treatment for backpack-related injuries last year alone. While backpacks are essential in helping students carry books and other supplies, doctors say parents need to teach their … Continue reading →

Ready, Set, School

Ready or not, the new school year is here. Whether you choose to celebrate by doing a happy dance at the bus stop or by ordering a double caramel macchiato on the way home from drop-off, don’t forget that the first week of school can take some getting used to, especially for young kids. To help ease the transition from freewheeling summer to pencils, books and teachers’ strict looks, consider the following: Free Movie Friday: In honor of surviving the first week of the new academic year, treat your kids to a fun-filled movie night. Turn your basement or family … Continue reading →

Easing Back-to-School Anxiety

It’s the day tissue manufacturers wait for all year: The first day of school. In just a few hours, millions of children from coast-to-coast will bid farewell to summer as they return to class for the new academic year. Whether your child is entering kindergarten or his senior year of high school, the first day of school can feel like an emotional roller coaster ride complete with excitement, anxiety, and fear of the unknown. Aside from cold season, this is the time of the year when makers of facial tissue are at their happiest. After all, not only are millions … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Breakfast Ideas

Now that the new school year is underway, my days as a short order cook are over… at least when it comes to breakfast. This summer, I could have easily earned employee of the month honors as a flapjack flipper at IHOP, but instead chose to use my pancake-making skills to keep my 7-year-old happy and full. Kids need a healthy breakfast in order for their bodies and brains to function properly. However, during the school year, this important morning meal often gets skipped in the interest of saving time or scoring a few more minutes of sleep. Ironically, eating … Continue reading →

Getting Ready for Back to School: Organizing School Supplies

I have to admit that as my children get older, the school supplies get easier…at least in the school system that they attend. They require fewer school supplies in high school, which makes my life easier and my pocketbook more full. However, I have always used a method of getting ready for school that not only saves me money but keeps us well stocked for at least a good portion of the school year. But it all begins in July. I regret not thinking about this last month but school was honestly the last thing on my mind. So perhaps … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Drama

As if parents don’t have enough to worry about as back-to-school season gets underway. Apparently, finding ways to pay for a mountain of school supplies, worrying about bullies on the bus, cajoling kids into bed at night and out in the morning, packing lunches, prepping outfits and finding the perfect bag, is not nearly enough for parents to deal with as September rolls around. Of course not. Now, we also have to figure out how to protect our kids from their own backpacks. Thanks to a new report published by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, moms and dads … Continue reading →

Prepping for Preschool

The countdown to the new school year is on. Most kids head back to class right after Labor Day; however, the back-to-school prep is already well underway in most households, especially in families that have first time students. The transition from home to school can be a huge challenge for preschoolers. One solution to reduce the anxiety associated with a new environment and schedule is to cover some basic lessons at home. For example, you might introduce a “letter of the day” lesson leading up to the start of school. Repetition plays a big role in a preschooler’s world, so … Continue reading →

Back to School on a Budget

The summer is coming to a close which means if your little ones haven’t already started back to school they will be soon. This is an exciting time as your children are starting on their new school adventures, but it can also be a very stressful time as it adds some pretty significant expenses on to an already tight budget. Stores everywhere are advertising their notorious back to school sales and it’s time to start collecting those ads! I am a bargain shopper. I’m all about getting the most bang for your buck. As a single mom, money is always … Continue reading →