| |
|
|
|
|
| Ring the Bell...School's IN! |
 jennysulpizio writes, "That's right, it's time for school once again. It's time for the homework, car pools, and for me, the commencement of those wonderful morning arguments with my daughter over her choice of clothing. Yes, the smell of a new school year is definitely in the air, which also means that my sanity is on its way back to being restored. This is a good thing."
|
Now, don't get me wrong, I love my kiddos (with a capital "L"), but it always seems like the last couple of weeks of summer are the hardest on all of us. Does anyone else experience this or am I alone in the land of the temporarily insane? To make things worse, I always feel like I'm scrambling to get everything they need prior to the first day of school. From clothes to shoes, backpacks to lunchboxes, the supply list seems like a mile long. And when you have more than one child of elementary age, the quasi-budget I "sort-of" have gets thrown out the window pretty easily. What's a parent to do? I mean, back-to-school shopping can be quite a strain on the ole pocketbook if you're not too careful… but I've got some tips so hang on.
Let's break it down, shall we?
Surviving Supply Lists
Does my child really need 12 glue sticks? Apparently so. The best thing to do with the mile-long supply list is to head to the dollar store. Paper, folders, staplers, calculators and even glue are much cheaper to buy at markets like these. Often times, supply lists request that you purchase facial tissue, hand sanitizer, paper towels and the likes. Grab these while you're there too and save some moola in the process.
Backpacks/Lunchboxes/Water Bottles
Do kids need new lunchboxes each and every year? According to my hubby, the answer would be "no." According to my panic-stricken kids upon hearing this reply, the answer would most definitely be "yes." As in a rolling-of-the-eyes-huffing-and-puffing-with-an-exclamation-of-"duh"-kind-of-"yes!" So I broke down and got them the latest and greatest in lunchboxes so they wouldn't be scarred for life. It's the little things we parents do to make our kids happy, right? Head out to Target or Wal-Mart to find the most up-to-date character items for lunchtime supplies and backpacks as well. Most styles sell for about $9.99. Or go "big" by checking out the great line of snacking/eating accessories at Pottery Barn Kids...very cute and customizable too. But whatever you do, make sure to get your kids approval BEFORE purchasing these items. Lunchboxes and backpacks are serious business.
Shoes
Kids need shoes. And if you have daughters, they need lots of shoes! Hit up Payless, Shoe Carnival, and Famous Footwear who all have fabulous BOGO deals and savings going on right now just in time for the start of school. Old Navy, Marshall's and Ross can also offer some cute styles for less.
Clothes
Get the basics. Do your homework and collect all the mailers and coupons you receive from the big-name department stores. Download those fabulous apps on your phone that check prices on specific items that numerous stores carry. Use social media couponing sites to find the latest and greatest deals. Be an informed shopper and stick to your budget despite the numerous cries your kids will belt out to get what they want. If you're on a tight budget, get some basic starters like jeans and tops and save items like jackets for later on in the year when it starts to get cooler.
Hopefully this has provided you with some decent advice to prevent stress and overspending, and get your kiddos ready for the upcoming school year. Remember to have fun with these items and with your kids while shopping. Make it a special day where you attend to each one of your children separately. One-on-one time with your kids is especially fun, creates great memories, gets them excited for the school year, and reduces unnecessary stress that we mamas just don't need!
How about you? Any great tips on back-to-school shopping?
|
Posted on Aug 12, 2011 13:38pm.
(Return)
|
Please login to post a comment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
