Back To School Money Saving Tip Challenge!

Ok, I’m game to play!

• host a back to school swap with other moms/families- you’d be surprised at how many nearly new clothes your kids might still have in their closets. trade toys, books, clothes and more with other families (friends of your kids)

• buy bright stuff- the brighter the colors, the better. put all their new pencils, pens, erasers, markers, etc in a brightly colored backpack – it makes it that much harder to steal

Here’s a Tip- cash in on your kids old clothes, especially if they’re name brand. You can sell them on craigslist, ebay, local fb swap (most towns have their own “for free or cheap” swap group. You can also take your kids clothes to consigment shops which will give you some extra cash to buy new clothes (or gently used!)

I just go to the supply box, root through and find what we already have, and then simply buy what is leftover. I usually end up spending about 200 less per kid than most of my other mom friends.

If you’re down on your luck you probably qualify for Free supplies – you can get free school supplies from lots of different places:

• Churches
• Local Media- if you call your local news stations & talk to the assignment or education reporter they will be able to tell you school related supply events, like supply drives
• Chamber of Commerce- most towns have a chamber of commerce and they frequently hold events and supplies drives/handouts
• Sales Flyers- if you watch the sales there are a number of stores that offer doorbusters or .01 items like pencils, glue sticks, etc. These are basically free supplies!

• arizona
• colorado
• california (southern)
• dc metro
• florida
• georgia
• hampton roads
• hawaii
• illinois
• indiana
• louisiana
• michigan
• missouri
• new england

last year they distributed over 19,000 backpacks.

I take all the circulars and see what I need to buy and then go to Walmart and buy the things I need and they honor the competetor’s ads and I save myself from running around. I know I am getting the best prices and saving gas and time. During the summer I watch yard sales for back packs or messanger bags and clean then up and pay a dollar or 2 a piece, once I clean them they are like new.

This is a hard one for me, we have no children & it has been years since we were in school. However, this is the time of the year that we stock up on all of our office supplies. We compare all office supply stores, Target, Wags & Walmart and never buy without an item being on sale & a coupon.

A lot of times we will buy extra and bring them to our church to donate (they are soooo cheap). This is also the time of the year that we stock up on socks, undies and clothing items that do not go out of style (jeans,t-shirts………).

I take a few minutes to go to the children’s school websites to get the lists of needed items each school/grade requires. If you do not have a computer the are made available at major retailers i.e. Walmart, Target, kmart.

Then I check a couple of stores to compare prices online. I also order my supplies online to have them shipped to my house, saves gas and time. Many retailers offer free shipping if you order a certain amount, another savings, especially if you are buying for more than one child.

I do my clothes school shopping all summer long at garage sales. It is amazing how many almost new clothes you can get for really cheap. Especially shopping for fall and winter clothes because most people don’t think that far ahead, they are looking for summer clothes.

It is also fun for the kids because they can pick out things that they really like and you don’t have to pay tons for it.

There Rooms Get Cleaned Out Because They Want Lots Of Money For Shopping! Then We Go Online And Get Store Coupons For The Mall That You usually Cant Find Anywhere, And Then We Plan A Weekend And We Are Off For A Fun Filled Shopping Trip!

Hi all this is my first day here I am very excited to be with you..My back to school tip is we have 10 children and happen to live in Sedalia Mo(home to the state fair) the kids learned very young that if they saved money on back to school stuff, they had more money to spend at the fair they were given money and a list of what they needed, they didn’t need every fancy thing they saw, and learned to share a boxes of pencils etc.Now that they are older back to school is very easy!

His dad taught him about the turtle and all the meat as he helped him clean it. We took Pictures and found info on the internet. So we are almost ready for his science project.

So I feel like we already have a major part of his grade done. Like I said , It may not be the right subject, but I am excited, it won’t be the same old volcano!!!!
Thanks for listening
tlady0701

If your child comes home from school, and you notice they have lice, mix equal parts minerol oil, and alcohol, and apply it the the hair, completely covering it. Put a plastic bag over their head, and leave it on as long as possible, but at least 30 min. Then was the hair with shampoo, as you normally would. You may notice the oil may not completely wash out, and this is ok, cause the nits have to hatch. Repeat this same treatment in about 4-5 days, or when or if you see the nits have hatched. May be repeated as often as needed, since there is no chemicals that will hurt the child. You will also notice it will condition the hair. I have even used just the minerol oil after the treatment to keep lice from coming back.

Remember you still need to wash up all clothes and linen, to rid the surroundings of any strays.

As a homeschooler I don’t have to worry about the “back to school shopping frenzy”. But I did take a former foster child of mine shopping yesterday to help out her family. She is 15 and entering high school so she likes to use those mechanical pencils. My best tip is for prolonging the use of those pencils. Instead of buying the GIANT pack of pencils, get a smaller pack with maybe 5-6 pencils($1.50ish) and then a pack of re-fill lead($1.50), and then a pack of eraser toppers(.97). This will make those few pencils last all year.

I no longer have school age children, so I took clothes, back packs, supplies to the Salvation Army to hand out to those who really need help. I was one of those when I was young. We were very poor and if it weren’t for those hand outs, I wouldn’t have had anything.

Buy on the tax-free days when the school supplies are rock bottom prices, but buy extras of the items that are most likely to be lost, misplaced, stolen, or just used up. (They will be a lot higher, later)

At the end of every school year I always collect all useable leftover school supplies before my kids can loose them. There’s always paper, pencils, lunchbixes, backpacks, etc. That are very useable and thesavings are amazing when I don’t have to replace everything they’ll need.

Second hand stores are great for saving money. Most of them are probably picked over by now. School supplies are on sale just about every place.

what I used to do with my 3 boys and have taught my daughter in law, is get together with your childs friends moms and have a “supply share” party…bring the kids together for one last summer time hurrah and have each mom bring the school supply list that they can pick up from the store..ie..walmart, and split the list and each mom buy just certain items on the list, enough for the number of kids in your little group..ie…4 boxes of tissue, 4 boxes of crayons..etc and then the mom’s meet back for brunch or what ever and have a tag and bag party where ea mom brings in the new back pack and devides up the “loot” after its been properly marked with child’s name..or what ever is required in your specific school district…helps cut the cost and helps develope those school time friendships 🙂 Enjoy

Many years ago when I had kids in school, I would watch the ads and try to buy a years supply of paper, pens, pencils. crayons, etc. when they were on sale and then ration them out as needed throughout the school year. We bought clothes at garage sales and invested in a hair cutting kit. My dh gave our boys their haircuts until they went to work and paid for their own. He still cuts one of our son’s hair.–because the barber doesn’t do it right. LOL

My money saving back to school trick is… The last few years when school supplies go on sale (after school starts) I stock up on the stuff I know they will need. I just put it all I a tote and when they need something or the school year begins I already have most of what they need.

I usually keep old binders and pencil boxes, and I use the new colored duck tape to redecorate for new design. I plan to continue looking for new ideas

I try to keep binders and notebooks from previous years, and definitely look at thrift stores or yard sale for 3 ring binders in fairly good condition, and I use the new colored duck tape to redesign them and this also makes them sturdy and good for another year.. also, you can make collages on the front of them, use your imagination and design them yourself..

Our state has a “tax free weekend” close to the end of summer for clothes and shoes. You can save the amount you would spend on sales tax (7% in MS) by doing all of your school shopping then.

I bought backpacks and lunch boxes for my kids from LL Bean. Although they are a little more pricey, I haven’t had to buy a new one in 4 years and counting.Their warrenty is great! They will repair or replace item if it gets ripped or damaged. I have had 1 backpack repaired and 1 lunch box replaced.

I bought my kids at least three outfits each for school and at least $20-$30 in school supplies by going to thrift stores and going to the thrift stores that listed sales on certain items. For example: One local thrift store had all clothing items including outerwear and hats for 50 cents each item. I bought twenty T-shirts, 5 pairs of jeans,a skirt, two antique cameo barrettes, one package of 20 new hair-ties, one leather belt, and two record albums, a scientific calculator, four hardcover classic books which are required reading for school, several toys for my four-year old, a leather shoulder bag, and two random bags of school supplies for a total of $18.50. If I bought 4 items, I got the fifth free, saving me additional money. Had I gone to the local Wal-mart I would have had to spend approximately $350 for the same items. I also went to another local thrift store which offers a “bag sale” once a month. They hand you a standard brown paper grocery bag and you get everything you can fit in the bag for $1. I let my kids fill the bags and make it a challenge for them to fill the bag with only items they could use or wear at school and it could not be scratched broken or torn. The kids love the challenge and since they get to pick the items, they look forward to using the items. My kids are very good at choosing. My daughters found really nice binders, a huge bag of brand new pens, pencils and markers, a one gallon baggie of new crayons, etc. School shopping in it’s entirety cost me only about $100 this year.

I usually start in June when the flea markets, yard sales and church rummage sales begin. I buy the clothes and items that can work for us and then when I go through the clothes that are already have, if they don’t fit anymore, I donate to a local charity the clothes and even the book bags that they no longer want. I find the back to school sales at walmart for pencils and notebooks very cheap and buy enough for the school year.

My back to school tip is…I over buy every year thinking if anything happens, I will be stocked for the next year. this year, something finally happened. I almost had enough for all 3 kids. I only ended up spending 15.00 on markers and other items that don’t last long. I also wait until after school starts and I buy 3 ring binders and back packs on clearance. I have adidas and name brand back packs for $5.00. I store them in the top of the closet. if one breaks during the year or if they need one at the start of the next school year I have a $40.00 bag for $5.00. I usually have 2-3 back packs for each child.

Nana-Helping son to raise my grand-children and raised 3 children -learned not to buy to many clothes for school. In 2-3 months the children will out grow their beginning year school clothes. By just purchasing, sewing, or thrift storing 3 outfits that can mix and match, you will have been able to save back some of the children’s clothes money. Then when they have grown obtain clothes that fit and therefore not have to spend holiday money on updating clothing.

RE:Back To School Money Saving Tip Challenge!
I keep a large Mason Jar that I fill with whatever loose change I can find, hide it, and bring it out for special needs, impromtu date with the hubby, school fees of various sorts that I may not expected, etc. And sometimes its just rainy days fun $ =)

I have found if you buy, several school items at the time of no taxes you will have supplies for later and save on taxes too.

It has worked every single time and no notebooks are left in the locker because students just carry their portfolio all day.

To save money on back to school stuff why not shop at a thrift store, they usually have some name brand clothing. Reuse the supplies that your kids didn’t use the previous year. Have a sale on clothing/toys your child has outgrown. Many ideas to save money!!! 🙂

Some of the Goodwill stores have clothing that people donate that are brand new. Check out your local Goodwill Store

Last year was our first year (kindergarten) and I donated money and baking and stuff from Kleenex to toothbrushes in every aspect that was requested of me. Then, part way through the year, I began donating my time instead of my money. I feel much more worthwhile and have made lots of new friends and am a part of my child’s school. Not to mention the money I am saving.

I like to chop up a carrot into little pieces with a chopper and mix it into peanut butter then make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My son thinks it is crunchy peanut butter, its a great way to get him to eat his veggies. Cube up some cheese, cheaper than purchasing cheese sticks, a cutie, a V8 fruit fusion.

@LEONOR 319911 wrote:

I like to chop up a carrot into little pieces with a chopper and mix it into peanut butter then make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My son thinks it is crunchy peanut butter, its a great way to get him to eat his veggies. Cube up some cheese, cheaper than purchasing cheese sticks, a cutie, a V8 fruit fusion.

Oh wow I LOVE the idea of adding carrots to peanut butter! What a great way to get them to eat more veggies! Thank you for sharing.

These are all Fabulous tips that will definitely help our members save cash this back to school season!