Getting Back To School!

It’s that time of year again.  Back to school planning and shopping has begun – whether you are ready for it or not!  Here are some simple things that you and your kids can do to gear up and be ready for the first bell of the year.

Reuse/Recycle.  Have your kids pull out last year’s backpack.  Does it just need a little soap and water?  Perhaps the tennis shoes still fit from this past spring.  Can you find the scissors, pencil box and other items from last year?  If you can, try to reuse what you have to shave a few dollars off of your bill.

Watch the sales.  They are coming around fast and furiously already.  If you watch the weekly ad, you just might find an amazing deal each week and slowly build up those supplies.  Rome wasn’t built in a day and your back to school shopping doesn’t have to be accomplished in one trip either.

Clothing swap.  If your kids have outgrown last year’s clothes, check with friends who might have children who wear a size larger.  You can easily swap out child care, meals, clothes and toys and really save some money.

Start practicing now.  Of course, back to school also means a change in routine.  That means earlier to bed and rise.   About a week or so before the first day, start to get the kids to bed a little earlier and have them rise sooner.  Have them start a morning routine of getting dressed, eating breakfast and just being ready to go a little earlier in the day. That way, by the time the first day arrives, they are already a step ahead of the game and ready to go.

With a little careful planning, back to school can be relatively painless and even fun.  Of course, tell that to your kids, and you just might end up with a different answer.