Well, it's official. The kids are back in school. While my daughters (and I!) are happy to be back in class, my pocketbook is still reeling. Aside from Christmas time, back to school is the most expensive time of the year. I've discovered a few ways to reduce the cost while still sending my kids off to school fully prepared and in style.
School Supplies
The list of school supplies required by my daughters' teachers seem to get longer each year. So I try to reduce the sticker shock by buying supplies throughout the year, rather than all at once. Whenever I'm at a dollar store (I love shopping at dollar stores), I pick up a box of markers or a notebook or a bottle of glue. I hardly notice the extra dollar or two throughout the year but I would definitely feel the extra $40 if I were to wait and buy everything in August.
I do, however, have to keep the extra school supplies hidden from my daughters. If they knew they were there, they would want to use them right away.
Keep your eyes open throughout the year for bargains on backpacks and lunch boxes. In May, we found a great Rugrats backpack for Abbie that was only $2. Katie found a cool dragonfly backpack for $4 a few weeks later. Although it was still several months before back to school time, we bought these backpacks. I figure I got both backpack for less than the cost of one full priced backpack in August. The girls hung their new backpacks in their closets until last week.
School Clothes
A few weeks before school started, I got together with my sister, one of her friends, and my neighbor for the "Great Clothes Exchange". We had all packed up last year's school clothes that our daughters (we all have girls - eight total) had outgrown. We "shopped" through each others stuff. Because the girls are all various ages, shapes and sizes, there was ample clothes for all. Truly, my girls got more clothes than they need -- certainly more than I would have bought them. All the other moms were grateful to receive the hand-me-downs and glad our own kids' clothes could be used by someone else.
School Lunches
Our school charges $1.85 per day for school lunches. That's $37.00 per month! I don't think so. My kids pack their lunches and are more than happy with this arrangement. Apparently, school lunches haven't improved much since I was in school. To save even more on school lunches, my aforementioned neighbor and I have been stocking
Go To Page: 1 2
