Buying school supplies in a frenzy the night before school starts seems to be a reality for many parents, and so is spending a fortune on them. This doesn’t have to be the way it is for your frugal family, however. Plan ahead and shop wisely and your child could start school with a backpack brimming with school supplies for much less than the child sitting next to him.
* Reuse last year’s items. Whether an item belonged to an older child or to your one and only – if it still works and is in good condition, there is no reason to replace it. Items like calculators, rulers, pencil boxes and sometimes even backpacks are good for more than one year. Use up pencils and pens before replacing. Make this into a “green” game about “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” if you need to get a reluctant child onboard.
* Shop sales. About mid-way through the summer, just as kids are beginning to relax and parents are beginning to wonder how many more days till school, most of the stores start seriously stocking school supplies. Start watching the sale ads around that time, because chances are they will be putting these items on sale to get the attention of those who plan ahead.
It’s completely normal to be able to purchase a box of crayons on sale for 15 cents that normally would run you over a dollar. If you purchase only what is on sale that week, and save the rest for another day, you could probably end up with all name-brand products for pennies on the dollar.
* Shop clearance early in the year. Some items, like backpacks, don’t often get put on a very good sale before school starts. However, if you shop for next year’s backpack in January or February, your chances of finding it on clearance are pretty good.
* Shop second hand. Always be on the lookout for good used items, such as backpacks, lunch boxes, rulers and calculators. Flea markets and garage sales could be a gold-mine of back-to-school bargains.
* Purchase in bulk. When you do find those necessities on sale, purchase them in quantity if possible. This will cover the need for replenishing mid-way through the school year when prices are at their highest and supplies are low.
* Buy generic. The store-brand crayons and pencils are usually just as good as the brands we all know and love at a fraction of the cost. Consider buying the cheapest version.
A frugal school year can be achieved with little effort if you plan ahead, know what you need and shop wisely. Involve your children in the effort and encourage them to earn some extra spending money if they want items that are not necessary or are above and beyond the bargains. Not only will your back-to-school budget stay on track, but your children will learn valuable financial lessons in the process.
It’s that time of year again, and the age-old question of what to feed your children for lunch while they at school is upon you once again. With all of the talk about the poor quality of school lunches, you may decide to start sending a lunch with your children. But if they are like most kids, their first choices may not be the healthiest or the least expensive.
To recharge them after a long morning and get them through the day, avoid sugary foods and provide at least one source of protein. Remember to pack a dairy product, use whole grains, and give them at least two veggie or fruit items.
Here are some simple ideas for keeping them healthy and strong while keeping your budget under control:
* Sandwiches – Peanut butter, deli slices, cheese, or even leftover meat loaf or roast beef all make great sandwich fixings. Pair them with whole grain bread, pitas or tortillas. Add the complimentary condiments in separate containers to keep the bread from getting soggy, and include a plastic knife for preparation.
* Jello – Most children adore a Jello snack in their lunch box, but purchasing these pre-made can get pricey. Instead, buy boxes of Jello powder and mix it up over the weekend to dole out each day. Use fruit juice in place of water or add canned fruit to the mix to take care of one of your daily servings of fruit. Invest in some small plastic containers that are about the size of the pre-made Jello cups to make it easier.
* Fresh fruit – Toss an apple, orange or banana into the lunch box each day. If it isn’t eaten at lunch, chances are it will get eaten after school. Fresh fruit is better than canned fruit and if sent whole it doesn’t require a special container of its own.
* Fresh vegetables – Baby carrots, celery slices, broccoli pieces, cherry tomatoes and even salad are easy to carry in a lunch box and can stand alone or go well paired with dip or dressing in a separate container.
* Soup – Mix up a batch of home-made soup or stew over the weekend or open a can of soup and heat it up to boiling before school. Pour it into a thermos and it should still be safely hot by lunchtime. Pair it with items that do not need to be cold to ensure everything in the lunch box remains at a safe temperature.
* Chips – You can avoid regular potato chips and still have a cheap, healthy addition to your child’s meal. While pricier, whole grain and baked chips will provide a nutritional advantage over the white flour and fried varieties. Purchase large bags of chips and dole them out in baggies or washable plastic containers each day to keep costs down.
* Milk or yogurt – Many schools will allow your child to purchase a container of milk, or you can send along a thermos of ice-cold milk. Send a container of yogurt; if frozen overnight it should be nicely thawed by lunch time and will help keep other items cold during the morning.
With many of these options, refrigeration or heating is required but probably not allowed. Investing in a good quality thermal lunch box, a freezer pack and a thermos to keep items hot or cold is well worth it. Use washable containers for each item instead of disposable baggies to keep your long-term expense down.
Making wise choices for your children’s lunches this school year will keep both them and your bank account healthy and strong.
One of the best things about heading back to school is the shopping spree a few weeks before. Unfortunately, with many families struggling to make ends meet, this may be a pleasure for more prosperous times. What can you do to make sure your child is well dressed while not busting your budget this fall? Here are a few tips.
* Sort through last year’s items – Pull out all of your child’s clothes and go through them. Items that still fit and are free from stains and tears can be repurposed for this year. Basic items are almost always in fashion and go well with newer updated items.
* Use hand-me-downs – If you have an older child of the same sex, pass their clothing along to the younger sibling instead of tossing them out. Just like last-seasons items, keep only those pieces that are timeless, fit well, and are free from stains and tears. Make sure that the younger child doesn’t feel like they only get their siblings cast-offs, though. Take him or her for a special shopping trip to get a couple of extra-special pieces.
* Bargain shop – From outlet stores to seasonal sales, there are always bargains to be had. Watch your local ads and sign up online for newsletters from your favorite stores so you will know when the sales are. You might even get some coupons out of it!
* Plan ahead – Begin planning for your child’s school year clothing the winter before and it will be much less expensive to send them off with a full new wardrobe. Styles really don’t change too much from one season to the next, so if you purchase from end-of-season sales you could get three or four outfits for the price of one.
* Buy used clothing – While your child might act like they are dying of embarrassment if they knew it, you can usually find some great pieces at second-hand stores and clothing trades. You might have to weed through a number of torn, stained or horribly-out-of-fashion items, but you are sure to find things like basic jeans, tank tops, t-shirts, turtlenecks, belts and possibly even barely-worn shoes.
* Learn how to sew – Unlike many years ago, it is rarely cost-effective to purchase new fabric and create items from scratch. However, it is useful to have sewing skills for making alterations to good used clothing. It is even possible to convert a larger item into an entirely different garment if the fabric is good. It’s also fun to add whatever embellishment is the latest trend. From patches to sequins, a needle and thread can go a long way.
* Splurge a little – If you can afford it, allow your child a set dollar amount, even as little as $20, to purchase one or two items that they adore and they consider “must-haves” for this year’s little fashionistas. This small splurge can make the entire back-to-school bargain hunting effort go much smoother and helps your child with their fashion self-esteem.
The bargain-conscious parent can be at peace with fashion-conscious kids with some planning and extra effort. It’s as simple as reusing items, buying bargains, and accessorizing with a few of the latest fashions. Your kids may not be ready for a runway, but they will be ready for the first day of school.
Are Your Children’s After-School Activities Blowing Your Budget?
Keeping your children involved in after-school activities is a good way to keep them busy and also from getting into trouble. However, sometimes too many activities can put strain on a family’s budget. There are several activities that your children can get involved in that will not put a strain on your finances.
* Many parents like to put their children in activities that cost a monthly fee. Such activities include martial arts, gymnastics or dance class. These monthly fees can eat away at a budget very quickly, so plan accordingly and consider registering your child in only one activity at a time. This may not be feasible if you have more than one child as the cost will increase with each child that participates. Some institutions, however, do offer discounts for family participation.
* Many schools have after-school activities such as sports. Most of the time, these activities are funded by the school with little investment from the parents. There are many different sports available for your children to try. Girls can go out for softball, cheerleading or volleyball while boys have their selection of football, baseball or basketball.
* Boy scouts or girl scouts have clubs virtually everywhere. Look online and find a scout near your home. These clubs are usually low cost and have great benefits. The purpose of the scouts is to teach your children morals and values; they supplement what you teach your children at home. Also taught in the scouts is leadership and teamwork.
* 4-H clubs are a good way to get children involved in crafts and taking care of animals. 4-H is not available everywhere but they do have a lot of science activities that most other organizations do not. Oftentimes they exhibit at the local fairs or craft shows.
* Musical lessons is another option, which children often do when they are inspired artistically. One of the best artistic ways for your children to express themselves is through music. This can be instrumental or vocal in nature. Many times schools will have these programs available or they can be found by searching your local phone book.
Keeping your children occupied after school can get pricey, especially if your children are involved in multiple activities. To ease up on your budget, try to keep children in one primary activity. Schools offer many different sports programs and there are many organizations that cater to children such as 4-H and Boy and Girl Scout clubs. Whichever activity you choose for your children, be sure to make sure they enjoy the activities, otherwise you could be throwing your money away.
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