Spirit week at most schools looks something like this: pajama day, twin day, decade day, color wars, and a school spirit Friday. Of those five days, most families have one shirt that actually requires a purchase. Pajama day uses what kids already own. Decade day is a trip to the thrift store. But color wars or school spirit Friday? That is the day where someone has to organize a shirt order, collect sizes from 200 families, hit a school calendar deadline, and make the math work on a PTO or class budget.

That is who this guide is for.

The Two Models: Class Pays, or Families Buy

Before anything else, the organizing question is who is paying for the shirts. Most schools land in one of two places, and the answer changes almost everything about how the order works.

The Class or PTO Buys the Shirts

In this model, the class budget or PTO covers the shirt cost and distributes them to students. This is common for color wars where the whole point is that every kid in a grade shows up in the same color. You cannot have a color war if half the class opted out because parents did not or could not submit payment in time.

The advantage is simplicity on the distribution side: you order a set number, you hand them out, done. The challenge is budget. At $8 to $14 per shirt for a quality screen-printed tee on a bulk order, a class of 30 runs $240 to $420 before you factor in any extended sizing. PTO-funded school-wide spirit shirts for a school of 500 students is a much larger line item.

For class-funded color war shirts specifically, this model makes the most sense because full participation is the goal. A shirt that half the class is wearing is not spirit; it is just a Tuesday.

Families Buy Their Own 

For this model, the organizer sets up a purchase window, collects payment and sizes together, places one consolidated order, and distributes shirts when they arrive. This can even be a fundraiser. You can price the shirt slightly above cost and put the margin toward class funds, or you can pass the exact cost through to families.

The advantage is that you’re not fronting the money and you’re not holding inventory risk. The challenge is the collection process: you are chasing payment and size information from every family simultaneously, on a deadline, with a school calendar event at the end of it that will not move.

Both models work. The right choice depends on whether your class or PTO has the budget to absorb the cost upfront, how important full participation is to the day’s activity, and how much administrative lift you want to put on families.

What the Shirt Needs to Do

A school spirit Friday shirt and a color war shirt have slightly different jobs.

A school spirit shirt is meant to build community and carry the school’s identity. Parents will wear it to events. Teachers will wear it on Fridays for the rest of the year. It needs to be something people actually want to put on again, which means quality matters more than it might for a one-day event shirt. A soft, well-printed tee in school colors with a clean logo or mascot design will get worn consistently. A thin blank with a faded print ends up in the back of a drawer.

A color war shirt is more functional — the color is the point, not the design. It needs to arrive on time, fit correctly, and be bright enough that the color reads clearly on the field or in the gym. Kids are going to run around in it and probably spill something on it, so durability matters, but the design can be simpler than a school spirit shirt.

For both: parents will want it to fit their kid now and ideally survive a school year of washing. Teachers will want it to fit comfortably for a full day of standing and moving. Anyone ordering needs to cover the full size range from youth small through adult 3XL, because schools have small kindergartners and tall high school teachers in the same building.

The Size Range Problem

This is the part that catches most first-time organizers off guard. A school shirt order is not like an office order where everyone is an adult with a predictable size range. You are ordering for:

• Elementary students in youth XS through youth XL
• Middle and high school students who may need youth medium all the way to adult 2X
• Teachers and staff who run the full adult size range, including extended sizes
• Parents and community members who buy for themselves if it is a spirit shirt

Most vendors carry youth sizing alongside adult sizing across their catalog, with adult sizes running into extended sizes (2XL and above) adding an additional charge per shirt, which is standard across the industry. Make sure to check with the specific vendor on sizing and minimum and maximum orders, so whether you’re outfitting one classroom or an entire school, the order size works.

When you set up your size collection, separate youth and adult sizes explicitly. A form that just asks for “size” without specifying youth or adult will generate confusion and wrong orders. A dropdown that lists YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL separately from S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL takes one extra minute to build and saves you a dozen emails afterward.

Lead Time and the School Calendar Problem

The school calendar is set by the administration, usually months in advance. Spirit Friday is on the Friday, usually before break. Color wars is the last week of school. Those dates do not move because your shirts are running late.

This is why guaranteed delivery matters more for a school shirt order than for almost any other custom apparel situation. An estimate is a projection. A guarantee is a commitment. Those are different things, and the difference shows up when something goes sideways in production.

The practical timeline for a school spirit or color war shirt order:

Six weeks out: Ideal. Standard production, time for design revisions, size collection deadline has room to breathe.

Three to four weeks out: Manageable. Confirm your delivery date in writing before submitting. Get your artwork finalized before the collection window closes.

Two weeks out: Rush territory. The 5-day rush tier works here if you submit a clean file. Factor the upcharge into your per-shirt cost before you communicate pricing to families.

One week or less: Super Rush or Shirts in a Day. You need finalized artwork ready to submit with no revision rounds. These tiers exist, and they work, but they are not where you want to be on a school order if you can avoid it.

Collecting Sizes When You Don’t Have a Captive Audience

Whether families are buying their own shirts or the class is ordering on their behalf, someone has to collect size information from every household. This is the part that takes the most time and generates the most follow-up.

What actually works:

One form, one deadline, in the channel parents actually use. If your school communicates through ParentSquare, Remind, or a class email list, that is where the form link goes. Not the school newsletter from three weeks ago. A Google Form with a size dropdown (youth and adult separated) and a specific cutoff date and time. Make the size question required so no one submits the form without answering it.

A size chart linked in the form. Parents ordering for young kids especially will guess wrong without a reference. A single line in the form — “not sure of your child’s size? Check the size chart here” with a link to the vendor’s chart — reduces the wrong-size rate and reduces the number of unhappy parents after distribution.

A hard cutoff you actually hold. “Sizes due by Friday at noon” needs to mean Friday at noon. If you extend once, you will extend again, and suddenly you are submitting your order with two weeks left instead of four. Pick a date, communicate it clearly, and order on the next business day after it passes.

A buffer for the non-responders. Roughly 10 to 15 percent of families will not respond by the deadline no matter what you do. For a class-funded order, decide in advance what happens to those kids: do you order a default size from your buffer, or do they get whatever extra is left after distribution? For a family-purchase model, non-respondents simply don’t get a shirt, which is cleaner but requires clear upfront communication.

Youth sizes lean small. Order at least a few extras in YL and YXL. Parents of growing kids consistently underestimate how fast children move through youth sizes, and YM fills up fast.

Vendors Worth Knowing

BlueCotton is the strongest fit specifically for school orders where the date is fixed, and the size range needs to cover youth through adult 3XL under one order. In-house production means guaranteed delivery rather than an estimate; the 6-piece minimum means a small classroom order is as viable as a school-wide run, and the full youth and adult size range is available across their catalog. Free shipping on standard orders to all 50 states, no setup fees, and per-shirt cost decreases with quantity. Their Shirts in a Day, along with varying shipping options help provide a wide set of options when looking at juggling parents, deadlines, and costs. 

Custom Ink is the most familiar name for school orders, and their design tool is easy to use with a school clip art library built in. Pricing is transparent and standard delivery runs approximately two weeks. Worth asking whether your specific delivery tier is guaranteed or estimated before committing if your spirit week date is close.

Rush Order Tees is the right call when the order starts later than it should. Delivery as fast as 2 business days on their rush tier, youth sizing available from YXS through YXL, no minimums on most products. Rush pricing carries a premium on large orders, so get a full quote before committing.

The Short Version

One shirt, one day, one hard deadline. That is the actual shape of most school spirit week orders. A single color war shirt or school spirit tee that needs to fit every kid from kindergarten through 12th grade plus their teachers, parents, and in some cases, community members, arrive before a date the school calendar locked months ago, and either come in under a class budget or be priced fairly enough that most families will actually buy one.

The vendor that fits that shape is one with the full youth-to-adult size range, a guaranteed delivery date rather than an estimate, and rush options with known upfront costs for when the collection process takes longer than expected.

The post Custom Shirts for School Spirit Week: What PTO Organizers and Class Parents Actually Need to Know appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Some people take lunch packing extremely serious. Each day they send their little ones off with a lunchbox that is packed with every food group on the pyramid. Me? Well I just want to make sure what I send them with, they actually eat!

Nothing is more painful than finding out at parent teacher conferences that your chid has been tossing their lunch in the trash every day. But if that has happened to you, or if you are just trying to get more creative with lunch ideas- try these out!Mini Berry Muffins & Fun Fruit

Catsadillas

Pasta wtih Zucchini, Squash & Carrots

Pirates Lunch

Chicken Cobb Salad Kabob

Pizza Muffins

Veggie Pinwheels

Lunchbox Filled With Love

Mini Heart Pocket Sandwiches

Pepperoni Pizza Kabob

Panda PB&J

Pizza Dippers

Froggy Sandwiches

Taco Bar

Bagel Kabobs 4 Ways

Don’t forget to check out 30 Days of Kid Approved Lunch Ideas for more inspiration!

The post 15 Quick & Fun School Lunch Ideas (Your Kids Won’t Throw Away!) appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

 You are getting ready to send your child off to college. Before you start helping them pack their belongings, there is one thing you need to do.

You need to help them create a budget. You need to teach them how to manage their money so they can learn the tools they’ll use long after they graduate.

WHY DO COLLEGE STUDENTS NEED A BUDGET?

The truth is everyone needs a budget. It does not matter your age. If you are dealing with money, a budget is necessary.

1. Allows you to control your money. Rather than your money telling you what it wants to do, you get to tell your money where it needs to go. You are always in control when you have a budget.
2. It teaches financial skills. A budget helps ensure that expenses such as rent, tuition, food, insurance, transportation, and housing are paid – before spending money on the fun stuff. (It also helps to make sure you don’t spend more than you make.)
3. Makes you aware of where your money goes. When you use a budget, you see how you spend. It is very simple to see if too much is going toward dining out when you should be building your savings.
4. Helps you track your goals. You need to cover expenses but you should also work on building savings at the same time. Your budget allows you to not only see those goals but track them in real time.

DOESN’T A BUDGET MEAN YOU CAN’T HAVE FUN?

Not at all! If anything, your budget will allow you to have guilt-free fun.

For example, the budget may allow you to spend $50 a week dining out. That means you can go to dinner with friends once (possibly twice) a week and enjoy yourself. You won’t be left wondering how you are now going to make rent.

WHAT TYPE OF BUDGET SHOULD YOUR STUDENT USE?

There are various methods of budgeting such as the 50/30/20 and the zero-based budget. For most college students, the zero-based is the simplest and easiest to follow.

The reason is that you track everything. You give every penny a job. That means if you earn $1,500 for the month that you “spend” the entire $1,500.

You will first cover the needs (food, shelter, transportation) and then your wants. If there is money “leftover” after this is done, it can be added to your savings.

You can use other types but if you have never budgeted before, using this method is the simplest.

WHAT SHOULD A COLLEGE STUDENT INCLUDE IN A BUDGET?

The budget will vary for each person, as the income and expense will be different. However, these are the most common categories that need to be included in a budget:

• Rent
• Renter’s insurance
• Car payment
• Car insurance (also saving for annual renewal fees)
• Food
• Clothes
• Utilities (phone, electricity, gas, water, etc.)
• Tuition
• Fees
• Entertainment (movies, games, concerts)
• Dining out
• Emergency fund savings

Again, you may have items that are not included above or see some that you do not need.

However, the most important thing of all is that every penny is given a job. Account for everything you will spend each month so you never have too much month and not enough money.

HOW DO YOU KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BUDGET?

For most college students, apps or digital trackers are the best options.  But, before you rush and sign up, keep the following in mind.

1. Cost. Many apps are free and they will work perfectly fine. Other apps have a monthly fee attached to them. If you plan to use one of them, make sure you include that as one of your regular expenses. However, do not let the cost alone be a single factor when it comes to clicking the sign-up button.
2. Security. Your security trumps all else. You need to make sure the app uses encryption as well as two-factor authorization.

Some of the best apps include:

• Mint
• You Need a Budget (YNAB)
• PocketGuard
• Mvelopes

However, your student may also like the traditional paper and pencil method – and that is OK as well.

Find the right one that works best for your student. That is all that matters.

TEACHING THEM TO BUDGET

Knowing you need a budget and where to track it is just the beginning. You need to teach your child how to budget.

Start by looking at each category that they need on their budget. You may already know the cost for each category but if not, you may need to make phone calls or do research to know.

For example, you know the rent for the apartment is $850 a month but how much are the average utilities? Ask the manager for these costs so you can include them in the budget.

Next, decide how much they want to allow themselves to spend on food. Show them how much a meal costs for a single person at each restaurant you eat at so they can create an average.

You will then have them decide how much “fun money” they want to include as well. You can base this on them wanting to go to the movies two times a month, one concert a month, or attending three events.

Now you can see the expenses for your student. Add their income to the budget and deduct the expenses. They will see if they are operating in the black (money left over) or in the red (spending more than they make).

Show them how to adjust the numbers by increasing their savings or lowering the amount they can spend on clothes – until the budget equals zero. Zero meaning they are spending every penny they earn.

And making them keep track now will help ensure they stay on track well into the future.

The post A Parent’s Guide to Setting a Successful Budget for a College Student appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

You just paid your heart-attack-inducing tuition bill — but the college costs have just begun. You still need textbooks, a computer, clothes, office supplies, and stuff for your dorm room. But how are you supposed to make your new residence homey when your bank account has already taken a beating? Don’t worry — you can deck out your college dorm room at the dollar store!

Create Your Dorm Room’s Theme at the Dollar Store

Whether you’re going for a glam, sporty, minimalist, or cute dorm room vibe, you can create your theme with supplies from the dollar store. Budget-friendly necessities like wastebaskets, storage containers, and lamps are available in different styles to match the look that you’re after. And, if you can’t find what you want on store shelves, embrace your inner crafter and make it! The dollar store has loads of crafting supplies.

If you have an idea for dorm hacks, dollar stores can help. And, of course, the web is full of dorm room ideas. You can make it a DIY project where you use basic items like a picture frame, paint, even oddities like Halloween decorations, and other inexpensive dollar store buys to create your own dorm room decor.

Pick up some spray paint, washi tape (sometimes known as decorative tape), shelf liners, confetti, and other adornments. Then, apply them to mirrors, picture frames, canvases, wooden items, or even unconventional materials like cereal boxes and tin cans. You now have decor that’s unique and fits in beautifully with your dorm room’s theme.

Also See: Thrift Store Hacks

Organize Your Dorm Room Using Dollar Store Finds

When you have a small space, you have to make the most of every square inch. Affordable finds from the dollar store can help you organize your dorm room — and keep it tidy. Collapsible storage bins come in a variety of colors and can hold practically anything. Use them for cleaning supplies, school gear, snacks, and more.

You don’t need to have a great idea or be a master of amazing dorm hacks. Look at what other students are doing and see how you can put your own spin on them.

And don’t be afraid to use storage as dorm decor. An attractive wire basket makes for a great throw blanket holder. You’ll feel cozy just looking at it — and your blankets will have a home. Glass jars can also do double duty. They can hold anything small like paper clips, cotton balls, or even candy to power through those late-night study sessions. And, they’ll look great on your desk or shelving.

The bottom line? There are lots of dorm room organization hacks waiting for you at the dollar store. Go get ‘em!

Use Dollar Store Buys to Decorate Your Dorm Room on the Cheap

You’re going to spend lots of time studying and hanging out in your dorm room. That means you want it to be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Thankfully, the dollar store has many cheap (but awesome!) treasures that you can use to make the space your own.

Small, colorful rugs help to define areas within a tight space and add visual interest. You can also snag an assortment of picture frames, mirrors, wall stickers, and canvases to make your dorm room feel like home — no matter where you look. Just remember: don’t use nails to hang your decor! To spruce up your place without destroying the walls, use self-adhesive hooks or hanging strips.

Want to set a relaxed mood and have a backup lighting source if there’s a power outage? The dollar store sells flameless LED candles and color-changing tea lights. You’ll love to kick back under the soft glow — and your campus safety department will love that you’re not actually burning anything!

Clever Ways to Use Dollar Store Items in Your Dorm Room

If you’re a DIY person with a creative streak, you can really personalize your space. There are loads of clever ways to use dollar store items in your dorm room, limited only by your imagination. To spark your thinking, consider using:

• An over-the-door plastic shoe holder to house decorative items like photos, knickknacks, or jewelry
• A plastic cutlery tray to organize makeup and office supplies
• A trash can as a planter for silk flowers (no watering, no mess!)
• A plastic dish rack to hold your school notebooks
• An overturned basket as a nightstand

Want more inspiration? If you’re short on cash but rich in time, Pinterest has more ideas than you could ever implement!

Dorm room glam on the cheap

Getting a college degree can be an expensive endeavor. But — decking out your dorm room to your liking doesn’t have to be. By shopping at the dollar store and using your imagination, you can create a perfect space for your life and your studies. And, if you’re looking for more great, budget-conscious finds, consider grabbing some of your dorm room gear from a thrift store.

–By Laura Gariepy

The post Deck Out Your College Dorm Room at the Dollar Store appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

If you’re looking to save money this summer, mark your calendar for the tax-free holiday weekend. Generally held in late July or into August as shoppers load up on back-to-school necessities, tax-free sales weekends are now available in 16 states. But there’s plenty to take advantage of even if you don’t need to prep for the coming school year, including technology, clothing, and more.

Sometimes these are called a sales tax holiday and in other cases, it’s a tax-free weekend. No matter what the name is, you can expect to not pay state sales tax on any qualifying item during the tax-free shopping period.

What is a tax-free weekend?

A tax-free weekend is a period where shoppers do not pay the state’s regular sales tax on certain items. Which items are exempt vary from state to state, so it’s important to check the rules for the stores in your area.

Many retailers run big sales during tax-free weekends to entice shoppers and increase their sales volume. Savvy shoppers can score great deals on items on their shopping list by taking advantage of the discounts and tax savings (of course, it has to be an eligible item).

The length of time for the discounts can vary with two days on the low end for Iowa shoppers to seven days for the residents of Maryland. On average, tax-free weekends are three days long for most states that take part.
Which states have tax-free sales holidays?

There are 16 states that offer tax-free sales holidays. Each state has its own set of rules for what is included under the tax-free umbrella. The states with tax-free holidays are:

Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Iowa
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia

Each state has its own set of rules for the specific items exempt from tax and the cost limit per item. For example, Florida has a $60 limit per clothing item while Iowa puts that limit at $100.

Some items you can buy during a tax-free weekend include clothing, footwear, school supplies, books, and computers. Rules vary from state to state, so check with your local state on what’s exempt and what isn’t.
And, of course, the sales tax rate varies by state so the value of a sales tax holiday exemption varies from state to state. The good news is that every retailer in those states has to play along during the exemption period.

How to plan your shopping list for a tax-free weekend

Getting ready to shop on a tax-free weekend requires organization. First, you need to find out what items are included under the tax-free umbrella in the state where you plan to shop.

You will also need to figure out the maximum number per item you can spend tax-free. Keep in mind that luxury clothing and footwear are typically not tax-free, even if the price falls below the threshold limit.

Next, make a list of items you need to buy for each member of the family. Organize each list by family member and include sizes and any preferences. This will make it easier to search for sales on items for everyone. Don’t forget to include how much you plan to spend to ensure you stay within your monthly budget.

Grab the sales circulars for the stores in your area (digitally or whatever’s shown up in your mailbox) so you can get a sense of the sales on tax-free weekend. Over the years, it’s become more and more of a “shopping event,” so retailers have boosted their sales to get a piece of the action. Keep an eye out for special discounts and coupons for shopping during sales tax holidays.

Don’t forget to check for deals at online-only retailers where you can score big discounts in addition to a break on sales tax. Look for free shipping and don’t forget to go through a cash-back portal to maximize your savings.

Best things to buy during a tax-free weekend

Tax-free weekend sales usually correspond with the beginning of the school year. This means you can take advantage of back-to-school sales and pay no sales tax, which is a double win.

Depending on the state where you shop, not all these will apply to you. If you can get a tax break and a sale, here are some of the best things to buy during tax-free weekend:

1. School supplies

Back-to-school sales are the best time to buy supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, and glue. Even if you don’t have kids heading to school in the fall, you can stock up on rock-bottom prices on supplies for your home office.
Look for discounts, compare prices, stack sales with coupons, and enjoy the tax break on your purchase. Check with your state on the rules for school supply tax breaks and be mindful of any cost thresholds to avoid surprises at checkout.

2. Clothes

If your state offers a tax break on clothes so parents can outfit kids for school, this is an excellent time to take advantage of the discount. You can scoop up fantastic deals on clothes for kids and adults since retailers run back-to-school sales.
This can be a great time to pick up warmer weather clothing such as tank tops, T-shirts, and skirts. As the weather gets warmer, you can layer them under heavier clothing such as sweaters and jackets.

If you want to plan ahead, consider buying a size bigger for your kids to get deals on spring and summer apparel for the following year. Many retailers also start clearing out summer styles to make room for fall looks, which means even more savings.

Combine sales, coupons, and other discounts and pay no tax on your purchase for even greater savings. Keep in mind that luxury items are not included in the tax-free umbrella. Check with your state for limits on clothing purchases.

3. Shoes

Just like with clothes, tax-free weekend is a great time to stock up on shoes. From sandals to tennis shoes, you can get a variety of shoes for the entire family. Look for sales, discounts, and coupons and be mindful of price limits.
If you have growing kids, look for sales on shoes one size bigger and stock up for next year. This way you’re not scrambling and paying full price when you find out their shoes are suddenly pinching their toes.

4. Computers and tablets

If you live in a state that offers a tax exemption on computers and tablets, you can save big. Since these items can be pricey, getting a tax break will save you significant cash.

The states that offer a tax break on computers are Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Always check with your local state’s office for price limits and exclusions.

For example, if you plan to buy a laptop, you can stack sales with no sales tax to compound your savings. Let’s say you want to buy a laptop that retails for $900 and you live in Tennessee. With no discounts, while paying sales tax, the purchase will cost you $963. During the state’s tax-free weekend, you score the same laptop on sale for 20 percent off and pay no sales tax, saving you $243.

Items that have the biggest break on a tax-free weekend

The more expensive the item, the bigger the tax break. Tax rates vary from state to state so how much you save will depend on the tax rate at your local store. Since big-ticket items like computers cost several hundred dollars, you will save the most tax on those purchases.

With back-to-school sales, you can save big on supplies, clothes, and shoes to get your child ready for school. Avoid buying things not on your list since impulse spending will negate any savings on the purchase.

Shop smart

If your state takes part in the tax-free weekend holiday, it can be a great time to buy certain items for back to school such as clothes, shoes, and computers. Not all states participate, so make sure you check the rules for your location.

How much you save depends on the deals you score and the tax rate in your state. However, this can be a great time to stock up on school supplies and clothes, especially bigger sizes for growing kiddos.

Retailers run a number of discounts and sales to entice shoppers so you can save on things you were already planning to buy. Avoid impulse purchases as they can cost you more in the long run.

–By Veneta Lusk

Have you shopped on a tax-free weekend in your state before? What was your experience? Share in the comments.

The post The 4 best things to buy on tax-free weekend appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Back to school season is upon us!  Kids will start returning to class sooner than you realize!  Some of you start school by August 1st and others still have plenty of summer left, as school does not begin until after Labor Day.

No matter when your district begins, it is a time of the year when families are faced with a lot of expenses.  And, if you have more than one child, it costs even more!

With three kids of our own, I have to do what I can each year to get everything they need – without blowing our budget. I save money all year long, but I am not about to spend more than I need to!  No way!

When you think about buying back to school supplies, you probably think about big-box stores.  But, the truth is that some of the best deals can be found at Dollar General!

As school starts here on August 14th, my kids and I are already looking for the things they need.  I was able to find all of the supplies I know they’ll need — and I did not spend much at all!

Also see: How to find penny deals at Dollar General

DEALS ON THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES YOU NEED

My kids like name brands – as do a lot of parents.  But the thing is that some of the store brands work just as well as those that cost more! Look at everything I was able to get — for less than $30 (that included the backpack)!

I was able to find everything right now too because I used the school supply list feature Dollar General has online.  You enter your zip code to find your child’s school to find out exactly what you need to buy!  No more waiting until the school sends out an email or registration.  That means you can start shopping now (and save some money too)!

If you don’t know already, every week throughout the year, the Dollar General Penny List discounts some merchandise to $.01, which can help with your budget. Also, there is often a $5 off $20 digital coupon that you can find online to save even more!

AFFORDABLE LUNCH OPTIONS

I pack lunch for my kids each day.  They say they are selective (I call them picky eaters).  After using the lunch boxes all year long, we usually need a new one to start out the school year.  My youngest found a pink and green one (shocking).

Then, she wanted to look around for some snacks and things she could take with her.  She found granola bars, protein bars, and fruit cups.  She also grabbed a bag of her favorite — almonds!

Lunch on a budget works for me!!

Also See: DIY Glam School Supplies

SUPPLIES

As a mom, I know how challenging it can be to find budget-friendly school supplies, and one of the things I appreciate most about shopping for school supplies at Dollar General is the variety they offer. From basic items like notebooks and pencils to more specific supplies like calculators and backpacks, I can usually find everything my kids need for the school year in one place. This saves me time and energy, as I don’t have to run around to multiple stores to cross items off my list.

Another aspect that I value is the quality of the school supplies at Dollar General. As a cost-conscious shopper, I was initially hesitant about the durability of the products, but have generally been pleasantly surprised by the sturdiness and longevity of the items I’ve purchased.

HELP YOUR TEACHER OUT

I have great admiration for our teachers. They truly love what they are doing.  These kids are not just faces looking up at them.  They care about each and every one of them.

That love means these teachers often spend much of their own money getting supplies.  They don’t want any child to go without and so if that means covering some basics, they gladly do it.  That is just the way they are.

Dollar General is helping by offering a 20% discount to teachers!  Just show your school badge at checkout and you’ll save 20% on stationery!  Just one way Dollar General is giving back to all of you for what you.

My family also does its part too!  One thing I have done for years is pick up extra supplies for my child’s teacher when I get the things my kids need for the first day of class.  In January, I send them a little thank you basket filled with things that they may need more of – such as wipes, kleenex, and hand sanitizer.

This year, my daughter decided she wanted to take a basket to her teacher on the first day of school. I thought it was a fun idea!  In addition to the above, she found dry erase markers and pens.  Then, she thought her teacher deserved a sweet treat – chocolate!

DOLLAR GENERAL PAYS IT FORWARD THIS YEAR

Dollar General is not only helping teachers, but they also have established the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.  Literacy is something I think many of us take for granted.  There are countless children who have been left behind and struggle with the basics of reading and writing.  Thes are fundamental to success.

It breaks my heart to learn of adults who cannot read or write. I wish I could help them all. But, I am not a teacher (and I know that is not my calling).  But, there is still something I can do.

I can support the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.  The fund helps people across the country learn to read.  The foundation was established in 1993 in honor of J.L. Turner.

J.L. Turner is the co-founder of Dollar General.  And, he was functionally illiterate as he had only a third-grade education. He is the exception as most adults who are illiterate are do not find the same type of success.

I agree with supporting adults who need to learn to read, and the simple way I can do that is by satisfying my sweet tooth!   Dollar General gives 100% of proceeds from the sale of specially marked Dollar General Fudge Dipped Shortbread, Caramel & Sea Salt Bar, and Milk Chocolate Bar.

Back to school is not just about my kids and my budget.  It is about the teachers. It is about supporting those who may struggle.  Dollar General is the one-stop place where I can take care of all of these things.

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When it comes to packing kid lunches for school, you might be looking for something other than the standard PB&J sandwich. Packing a school lunch that is nutritious and that your children will actually eat can be a daily challenge for many parents. My kids certainly agree. 

Of course, the fact that they are picky eaters certainly doesn’t help matters at all either!  I am always finding new things I can create to send them to eat for lunch.  Add in the fact that my son has sensory issues with food, and it makes for an even greater challenge!

It is not even just finding things; it is finding items you can put together to give your kids variety while ensuring that they eat healthy foods.  Here are 30 different complete lunch ideas you can use to create 30 different menu combinations for your kids!

As a bonus, I’ve included a printable so you can build your own lunches from all of these ideas.  Take the parts you want from each meal to put together a meal your child will love!

Other helpful articles:

• How to Store Your Kids’ Lunch
• Back to School Organizing Ideas
• Create an After School Snack Basket

LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS

Day 1 – DIY Lunchables: celery sticks with cheese, grapes, goldfish crackers, and water. To keep it all organized, check out these adorable silicone cupcake liners!

Day 2 – Mini Corndog Cupcakes, carrot sticks with dip or hummus, sliced strawberries, fruit snacks, and juice. Check out these cute little travel containers that you can use to tote condiments for dipping!

Day 3 – Homemade Spaghettios, crackers, cucumber slices, mandarin oranges, and milk.

Day 4 – Ham and Cheese Butterfly Sandwich, baked chips, sliced peppers and dip, kiwi and water. You can find some adorable sandwich cutters.

Day 5 – Lunch Meat and Cheese Rollup, fresh broccoli, Rice Krispie treat, sliced cherries, milk.

Day 6 – Mini Tortilla Pizzas, watermelon, brownie, side salad, CapriSun.

Day 7 – Bagels and Cream Cheese, blueberries, carrots, water.

Day 8 – Grilled Cheese Sandwich, cookie, orange slices, sliced cherry tomatoes (and dip if needed), juice box.

Day 9 – Hot Dog and Bun (make sure you include containers with condiments), goldfish crackers, raspberries, celery stick, water.

Day 10 – Cereal (buy milk at school), banana, water.  You can use a container such as this, and your child can add the milk for an instant bowl.

Day 11 – Chicken Nuggets, Cheez-its, cucumber (dip if needed), sliced apples, Rice Krispie treat, and milk.  Tip:  Cook the chicken nuggets. Store in a thermos and they will stay warm until lunchtime.

Day 12 – Yogurt with granola, peaches, sliced peppers (with dip), fruit snacks and juice.

Day 13 – Quesadillas, crackers, pineapple, cheese stick, lemonade.

Day 14 – Soup (use thermos shared on Day 11 above), crackers, applesauce, juice.

Day 15 – English muffin pizza (warm English muffin with pizza sauce and cheese in the oven for 10 min), apple chips, carrots, pretzels, water.

Day 16 – Ham and Cheese Pinwheels, baked chips, applesauce, broccoli, graham cracker (add frosting for a sweeter treat), milk.

Day 17 – Submarine Sandwiches, pretzels, banana chips, pickles, fruit roll up, lemonade.

Day 18 –  Wraps (lunch meat and cheese), popcorn, sliced peppers, watermelon, milk.

Day 19 – Cheese and crackers, mixed fruit cup, cucumber slices, granola bar, water.

Day 20 – Hummus and veggie sticks, sliced apples, go-gurt, juice.

Day 21 – Tuna sandwich, chips, grapes, carrots, Rice Krispie treat, milk.

Day 22 – Pancakes (heat and wrap in foil or another package to stay warm – make sure you send syrup), banana, granola bar, milk.

Day 23 – Uncrustables (be careful about peanut butter at your school), veggie sticks, pudding cup, strawberries, and lemonade.

Day 24 – Grilled chicken pita pocket (add in veggies for additional crunch), baked chips, apple slices, cookie, water.

Day 25 – Chef Salad with croutons, mandarin oranges, cheese stick, juice.

Day 26 – Cheeseburger bites (include the condiments), baked chips, carrots, peaches, milk.

Day 27 – Frozen pizza (cook and wrap in foil to keep warm), celery sticks, applesauce, goldfish, lemonade.

Day 28 – Baked ravioli, side salad with dressing, watermelon, cheese stick, water.

Day 29 – Egg salad sandwich, Cheez-Its, pickles, banana chips, brownie, milk.

Day 30 – Cheese sandwich, cauliflower, kiwi, pudding, water.

There you go — 30 days of complete kids menu ideas – ready for you to use!!  You can also use our free printable to create your very own lunch plan!  Just choose one main course, a fruit, a veggie, one side, and a beverage to make a meal customized to your own kid’s tastes and dietary needs!

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Every parent can probably agree that saving money on back-to-school shopping is important. A quick search will yield countless articles with many of the same tips. But I’ve got a simple trick I use to ensure I always pay less for our school supplies!

Although it’s common knowledge to shop the sales, reuse what you can, and shop thrift stores, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on these ideas and see if there’s anything new that can save you money. You can read more about these money-saving tips below:

• Tax Free Back to School Weekends
• Back to School Money Saving Clothing Hacks
• Why Your Child Doesn’t Need New School Supplies

But, there is one way to save money that many parents don’t know. Keep reading for more information!

MY FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL MONEY SAVING HACK

The one thing I do every single year that saves me money on everything I buy for back to school is to buy and use…

Discounted gift cards

That’s it. That is the one thing I can do to guarantee that I never pay full price for anything. Not only that, but when I can find a great deal and combine that with my discounted gift cards, I save even more money! If you’ve never used them before, you probably have a few questions. Allow me to help answer these for you.

ARE THEY LEGIT?

Absolutely. But don’t just purchase from any site. Make sure you use one with a strong reputation. The only one I use is Raise. I use them because they stand behind every transaction. I purchased a card that never arrived and they refunded my money—no questions asked!

CAN YOU USE THEM ANYWHERE?

Some of the cards state that they are valid for redemption only in the store or online.  It is important that you read the fine print before you place your order. When searching, you can narrow down the results by physical cards vs. electronic codes.

The physical cards are sometimes plastic and other times are a printable version that comes to you on paper. Both work the same way as the barcode can be scanned. The electronic ones will include the number you will enter into your account at checkout.

ARE THE CARDS FOR STORES WHERE I’LL SHOP?

There are hundreds of retailers available. Some of my favorites include Target, Kohl’s, and The Children’s Place. You can filter your search for just about anything you need. If a retailer is out of stock for some reason, set up an alert so you are notified the moment one is available for purchase.

HOW MUCH ARE THEY DISCOUNTED?

The amount of the discount varies, but you can find them marked down as much as 4%-5% off the face value. Many of them are discounted at around 1%-2%.

Make sure that you sign up for the site’s email newsletter, as they sometimes offer additional discounts to subscribers, which can make good deals even better!

There you go! The simple thing I do every time I get ready to go back to school shopping for my kids is use discounted gift cards from Raise. This hack is so simple and can save you money that could be better used for sports gear or family vacations!

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Back to school is expensive for parents. There are pencils, notebooks backpacks – and clothes!  It can all add up very quickly.    Fortunately, you don’t have to overspend when it comes to school shopping.  There are simple tricks anyone can use to save money on back to school clothes.

Back to school season is upon us.   Each year, the average family spends more than $670 on all of those supplies, clothing and other items that are needed!  That can really hit the budget!!!

While most of us know how to find the deals for the school supplies, what can you do to save money on back to school clothes?  Simple.  We’ve got some easy tips you can follow below to help you get the most out of your school clothing budget!

Also see: Saving Money on Your Back to School Supplies

SAVING MONEY ON BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES

1. Use discounted gift cards

One of the smartest ways to save money is shop sales.  That makes sense.  But, what happens when the items you need never go on sale — ever.  It doesn’t mean you can’t get a deal.  You just have to be creative!

My trick is to shop using discounted gift cards!!  Sites such as Raise, sell gift cards for less than face value.  For example, you may find a $100 Target gift card for $90.  The value of the card is still $100, but you didn’t pay that much for it.  You still get $100 in products but only had to pay $90.

There are countless cards available so you can find them for all the stores your kids love most!  No reason to pay full price for those things they want.  Ever.

2.  Shop at home first

Before you head out, take a look at your child’s closet and drawers.  Have them try on those clothes to see if they still fit or not.  You might find that the shorts and tees will work for a while and you do not need to purchase those.  However, her tennis shoes may be completely worn out, and you need to buy them.

As you do this, make a clothing list of what you need, including the sizes, so you know what to buy when you shop.  There is nothing worse than picking up a pair of jeans for your child, to realize that he or she did not only not need them, but you picked up the wrong size!

It might also afford you the chance to wait to shop.  If your child doesn’t need any new clothes to start the year, you might be able to wait for a month or so, which might help your budget!  There is no rule that says kids have to have all new clothes to start the school year out, right?

We have a helpful Back to School Clothes Shopping List that will get you organized so you don’t forget to buy a thing.

3.  Shop Thrift Stores

You can sometimes find amazing items at second hand (or thrift) stores.  Sometimes, kids have outgrown clothes long before they wear out.  This can be a great way to find some deals on items (especially if you need something for only a few months).

Also See: When Is the Best Time to Shop at Thrift Stores?

4.  Stay at Home

Often, you can locate online coupon codes to save on your purchase. If you are lucky enough, you may even score free shipping with either another code or by hitting a purchase minimum.  It not only helps you save money but can help avoid those crowds (and even save on fuel costs).

It can also be great to order items for your kids to try on at home.  Then, if they do not fit, you can return them to your local store instead of mailing them back.  This way, you can get in and out of the store very quickly!  I’m all about spending as little time in a store as possible (avoids tempting impulse purchases).

Just make sure you use a site, such as Ebates, for example.  They will pay you CASH BACK on every single purchase  you make!!

5.  Put your Phone to Work

There are many great apps you can download to help you find coupons and discounts.   One of my favorites is CouponSherpa.  They have retail coupons which you can pull up right at checkout. The cashier will scan your phone, and you can save – without having to clip a thing before you leave!

6.  Shop The Sales Tax Holiday

Many states offer a sale’s tax holiday to help reduce the burden to families.  We pay nearly 9% for sales tax where I live, so that can add up to significant savings when we shop over that weekend.  Find out if your state is participating by reviewing our 2019 Sales Tax Holiday Shopping Schedule.

7.  Clothing Swap

Find friends who have kids who might be a size larger or smaller than your kids and do a swap! You set up a swap party with your friends and ask each person to bring no more than 10 – 12 items.  Then, you all enjoy snacks and drinks, while you visit and catch up.

Take turns and “shop” from what one another brings to the party.  You get rid of clothes that do not fit and can go home with some which do!  Then, donate the leftover articles to a thrift store or charity.

8.  Recycle Clothes

Just because you have a short-sleeved shirt doesn’t mean you can’t wear it in the winter.  Add a long-sleeved tee underneath, and you’ve got something new for fall and winter!  It is a simple way to extend the life on a favorite shirt.

9.  Shop clearance

A simple way to save money on back to school clothes is to hit up the clearance racks!!  It is still warm outside (and will be for a few more months). And, your kids will probably wear tees and shorts for a few weeks anyhow.  When the jeans and shirts hit the store shelves, stores discount summer apparel – allowing you to save!

Grab a few new items to start off the school year.  And then, wait for discounts and deals on the other things they might need later in the season.

10.  Always shop off-season

You may not be able to do this right now, but when you shop ahead for the next season, you can save.  For example, winter items go on clearance in January (which never makes any sense to me).  If you can find jeans, coats or other items, pick them up one or two sizes larger for your kids and hold onto them for the following winter.

11.  Keep your budget in check

Sure, your kids might want the $150 sneakers, but if your budget is $50, stick to it.  They might think it is the end of the world if they don’t have the best, but you need to make sure you don’t overspend.

If your child wants something at a higher price than what you are willing to pay, you can always allow them to cover the difference.  They might learn that they really don’t want that item as badly as they thought when they have to cough up the cash for it.

The post 11 Tricks for Saving Money on Back to School Clothes appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Back to school is a fun time for kids and parents. If you are like most, you want to mark the occasion by taking some photos before they leave to get on the bus!

These fun printable back to school signs are a perfect way to remember this day!  But, what makes it more fun is when you have the matching last day of school sign you can use in May or June too!

Yep!  You can not only find the first day of school printable signs but also the matching last day of school printable too!  When you hit download, you’ll get them both!

Since different schools have different names for classes, we’ve included several options.  You’ll also find the numbered grades as well!!

• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• Transitional Kindergarten
• First Grade
• Second Grade
• Third Grade
• Fourth Grade
• Fifth Grade
• Sixth Grade
• Seventh Grade
• Eighth Grade
• Ninth Grade
• Tenth Grade
• Eleventh Grade
• Twelfth Grade

You can find the signs RIGHT HERE!  You’ll get both the first and last day of the school year (so you won’t have to go looking for one in May or June)!!

Make sure you share your pictures with us on Facebook and Instagram with the #PPM hashtag as I want to see those adorable smiling faces!

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If you have to pack lunches for your kids, you may do what we’ve done forever here.  We use plastic baggies and they throw it all away — along with your money!

Rather than toss containers, why not invest a bit more upfront and find items that you can REUSE!  We found some cute items you can use for storing lunch for kids!  Sure, they cost more now, but just think about how much you will save (and what you will keep out of the landfill)!

Make sure you also grab our FREE School Lunch Ideas printable to come up with some fun ideas for your kids!

SIMPLIFY BY PLANNING LUNCHES ONCE A WEEK

Before the week starts, create a school lunch station and snack station.  Pre-package your snacks and meal ideas so that they are ready to grab all week long!

We’ve found some fun ways you can do this:

• Create a Snack Basket
• How to Create a School Lunch Station
• 30 Days of Lunch Ideas

HOW TO STORE YOUR KID’S LUNCH

HOT FOOD STORAGE

My kids like to take things like mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, soup and more.  However, it hasn’t always stayed warm until lunchtime. One way to do this is to spend more on an insulated thermos.  They are a bit pricey, but being able to send your child a hot lunch (that you know is good for them), is well worth it.  There are not too many of these options out there, so this is the best we found right now:

Foogo Insulated Thermos.  This item comes in various colors and are perfect for packing warm foods, that will stay warm.  You can also visit Walmart to find this same item (and can opt for in-store pick-up).

Heated lunch box.  These are pretty awesome because you can heat your meal before you leave in the morning and it will still be warm come lunchtime.

COLD FOOD STORAGE

If you send something that needs to stay cold, such as yogurt or cheese, then you will want to make sure to use some type of an ice pack.

Chilled Bento Box.  Simplify things by using a Bento Box with built-in ice packs!  We’ve used these for a while, and they are great!  They keep everything perfectly chilled and ready for lunch!

Lunch Chillers. Toss these into your lunch sack and keep everything perfectly chilled!  I use a few of these and rotate them in and out so I never have to worry that there isn’t one frozen and ready to go.

Rubbermaid Lunch Containers.  While I’ve used the above, these are by far my favorite!  The ice pack and containers snap together to keep everything chilled.  Put it into your lunch bag, and you’ll have perfectly chilled cheese and other healthy lunch items.

SANDWICH STORAGE

If your kids take a sandwich to school, you may use plastic baggies.  Those go into the trash every day.  I know some bring those back home and they are reused the next day, but that may not happen all of the time.

You can use reusable baggies and even plastic cases to keep that sandwich from coming into contact with other food and ensure the bread does not dry out before lunch!

Reusable baggies.  These can be the perfect solution for many.  I like to find the ones that are made by other moms (as I help support them).  They come in all sorts of fun colors and styles.

Plastic storage.  Some kids may be a bit rough with their lunch sack, so they may need something a bit more sturdy to store a sandwich.

CONDIMENT STORAGE

My kids like to take along ranch dressing, ketchup, and other sauces for lunch.   These little containers make it easy to send this along with your kids to school!

Plastic containers with lids.  These are BPA free and are perfect for the dips and sauces you need to include with your kids’ lunch.  They can be used in the microwave and are dishwasher safe.  Best of all, when they start to get “icky” you can toss them and grab another one.

Easy Lunchbox Mini Dippers.  This is a smaller set (also BPA free).  The only thing to note is that they are NOT microwave safe.

BENTO BOXES

I know many parents love these boxes for sending lunch, as they have compartments to place each of their child’s foods.  It is a simple way to avoid the need for smaller containers, as it is all in one.

EasyLunchBoxes Bento Box.  Bento boxes are a great option to have each food in its own compartment.

Bentgo Stackable Boxes. These are so cute and offer 2 ways to store foods for kids – to keep items separate.  What is even better is that it includes the silverware they will need!

BAGS & LABELS

Once you have the food in the containers, kids have to get them to school!

Mabel’s Labels.  Kids lose things.  A lot.  We’ve used Mabel’s Labels for years –  and that helps our items get returned to us!  No more lost and found for us!  We label thermoses, lunch bags, packpacks — anything that our kids take to school gets a label!!

Lunch Bag.  Sadly, not all lunch bags are created equal.  We’ve purchased inexpensive bags from big-box stores and they rarely make it a year.  Once we invested in quality bags from Lands’ End, we’ve had no issues at all!  They hold up to everything our kids put them through.

A small investment early in the school year can save you money in the long run by not paying for foil, baggies and paper sacks!  Not only that, you are doing your part to help the environment too!! Win-win!!

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You’ve done it! You’re either in college or you’ve gotten your child to college. Either way, you deserve a pat on the back for all your hard work getting here. College expenses are vast and can be overwhelming.

When it comes to college budgeting, the most important piece is making sure your child is an important part of the conversation—if not the primary participant. They should be an active and responsible party in their finances and their education in order to have the most success at both.

When you sit down to talk about finances with your child, here are the major discussion points: expenses versus income. College has a lot of one and not very much of the other—we’ll let you figure out which. It’s important to understand them in depth and stick to a plan about both.

COLLEGE EXPENSES

Educational Costs

The biggest expense through all of college will be the education itself—financial aid is designed for class costs and room and board. But remember, you must refile for the FAFSA each year you want to use those funds.

The price of education spans more than tuition—it also includes school supplies, textbooks and electronics, which are a mainstream need in the current education system. The funds from a 529 Plan can often be put towards most of these, but you can also get a break by buying used textbooks at a fraction of the cost, and shopping sales for good or possibly refurbished electronics.

And though it may seem counter-intuitive to start paying against student loans before school is even over, any dent you can make in that debt can make a difference. Plus, it’s great to get into the habit of making small payments each month before they become necessary expenses.

Cost of Living

Throughout college, students have a plethora of housing options. The benefit to living on campus is that the rooms will most likely come furnished, with a laundry option and meal hall. Most of the campus living amenities are factored into tuition/room and board.

However, it’s common for older students to want to live off campus to exercise their independence. Off campus living has the potential to utilize a portion of your educational savings, but you’ll need to check with your financial advisor or professional for the exact parameters. Students living off campus will need furniture and a larger budget allotted for groceries and utilities, but the benefit is excellent preparation for life after college of managing budget, time and responsibility.

Another reality of college expenses is going out. Socializing is an enormous part of the college experience, and it should be intentionally budgeted for. You and your child can determine a reasonable number, but be sure to prioritize entertainment expenses as a part of the budget to teach financial discipline and decision-making skills.

COLLEGE INCOME

Education Maintenance

For most students in today’s higher education system, their primary source of income is financial aid. It’s important to treat this as a source of income that has the same level of responsibility and expectation as a “job.” Because in its own way, scholarship maintenance is a job. Make sure your child understands the relationship between education and cost.

This will look different for your situation, but it’s an important conversation to have. For instance, if you’re paying for it, your child will need to understand that they’re an investment of yours. Whereas if they’re paying for it or taking out financial aid or utilizing scholarships, they need to understand the weight of that responsibility.

Explain that each time they opt to skip class or put minimal effort into an assignment, they’re throwing away money—either yours, theirs, or a donor’s—that they cannot get back.

Second job

If you and your child determine that they need a larger budget, perhaps for living off campus, make sure they can handle the balance of school work and a job on or off campus. Working while going to school can be challenging, but when the expectations of both are clear, it can be done.

The money made through a job at a campus bookstore or in a local restaurant can help fund “fun” money or could be enough to put towards savings or loan repayment later.

Internships

Internships, even (or maybe, especially) unpaid are a new necessity it seems. Many jobs in the American workforce request experience for even entry-level positions. What industry-specific internships lack in income, they make up for in networking and experience.

Connections are a new type of currency in the workforce, so while it may seem short-sighted to choose an unpaid internship over a paying server gig, the potential long-term payoff has a much greater opportunity. Students can start laying the groundwork for these opportunities by connecting with and participating in extracurriculars around their major.

It’s beneficial to revisit these topics on a yearly basis, to look at how expenses and needs change as your child’s college experience does. As long as the lines of communication are kept open, the financial future will remain much clearer for everyone involved.

The College and Career Planning team at CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a 2018 National Parenting Products Award winner. In addition to college planning help, CommunityAmerica provides a full suite of financial products, including checking, savings, mortgages and a variety of loan products to meet consumer and business needs. As a not-for-profit financial institution, CommunityAmerica offers highly competitive rates on deposits, loans, and fewer, lower or no fees at all. For more information, visit https://collegeroadmap.communityamerica.com/.

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At this point in your child’s journey to college, here are a few things that should be in the works already (but if you haven’t, take the time now to jump in!):

• Started a savings plan specifically for college
• Talked with a financial planner
• Begun cultivating your child’s interests through classes and clubs
• Researched resources like college calculators and checklists

PLANNING FOR COLLEGE IN HIGH SCHOOL

If you’re just now starting the process . . .

That’s okay! Any amount you can put into savings will make a difference in the long run, regardless of how big it is. Here are the three biggest steps you can take today to make a dent in your college plan:

Open a savings plan

As soon as you can, start a savings plan for your child. A 529 Plan allows you to have multiple contributors, so any birthday gifts, parental contributions or paychecks from part-time jobs could go into this account tax-free and accrue interest.

Meet with a professional

Utilizing resources like a financial planner or a college planner can get you on track towards the right goals. Make sure you are using your final years of saving opportunity wisely by consulting with the people who do this every day.

Create an activities resume

Just like a job resume, start logging your child’s activities, interests and how much time they spend doing them. You’ll be able to see gaps in time, but also it will come in handy when the time comes for scholarship applications.

High School by the year

Each academic year of school has a different goal, so it’s essential to plan for and approach them differently.

Freshman

• Set up a four-year plan of study

By now, your freshman probably has an idea or inkling of what they may like to do, and where they may want a career to take them after high school. Even if they don’t have the exact map plotted out, you can still plan high school courses around a general idea. For instance, if they’d like to pursue something in the math or sciences, then each semester of high school should have at least one course in one of those two disciplines.

• Talk to a guidance counselor

This free in-school resource can lead you towards resources, answers, and opportunities that you may not find elsewhere. Take advantage of it!

• Understand college options

Start looking into what kind of school your child may want to explore—a 4-year university; a 2-year college; or maybe a trade school? Whatever path they are leaning towards, make sure everyone in the family understands the criteria and expectations for admission to the program and tuition options. Do they offer many scholarships? What about programs like Missouri’s A+ Program? Ask many questions, and ask them early.

Sophomore

• Buckle down academically and financially

January 1 of the sophomore year starts the financial year that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will use as a base when evaluating your eligibility for financial aid in two years.

• Continue the activities resume

Keep tracking activities that your child is involved in—and invite them to take responsibility for it. They should track what they are involved in; like communities, clubs, organizations and more. This “activities resume” will inform scholarship research and academic path.

• Start scholarship research

Start reviewing scholarship requirements; not with intent to apply but to understand what all is needed to prepare for application. Be ready to gather what’s needed for the applications, ask for letters of recommendation in a timely manner and note what scholarships funds will cover.

Junior

• Take standardized tests

This will most likely be the ACT but check into your preferred colleges to make sure what their test requirements are. If you haven’t taken any standardized tests yet, it’s important to take the first one in the fall of your junior year.

• Make your school list

Put together the list of top schools—anywhere from 3 – 5. Know where you want to apply, what the important dates are and visit the campuses. As well, have 2 or 3 safety schools ready to apply for. Now is a time that a cost comparison calculator becomes a true game-changer. You need to have an idea of what it could cost to attend any school that ends up on the list.

Senior

• Fill out the FAFSA

Start to understand what financial aid looks like for your family, based on the net price of your top schools and what you’ve been able to save. When you start to fill out the FAFSA, don’t be intimidated—seek help! The FAFSA needs to be filed annually, and it opens every year on October 1.

When it comes to scholarships, understand what they cover, what requirements you need to meet to maintain eligibility, and if there are strings. Not all financial aid is free—for example, student loans are an “aid” but are not free money.

• Apply to school!

It’s the time now to get your applications in. National Decision Day is May 1^st. After you choose your college, make sure to write down important dates like new student orientation and housing deadlines. But also remember to weigh your options. The money you’ve set aside in a 529 Plan will wait for you if you choose to put off college until you’re more financially, academically or emotionally ready for college. You’ve invested a lot into this decision—you should be confident in it when the time comes.

• Plan out finances

If you have decided college right after school is best for you, now it’s time to plan out what four years of finances may look like. Consider not only tuition and room/board, but also groceries, textbooks (buy used!), trips home, school supplies, a social life, and as always, plan for the unexpected. Once you determine the total expenses of life in college, decide if this means a job for your student, who will set the budget and other important questions.

Through all of high school, keep these things top of mind for college prep.

Check in with your child on how they feel and what the plan is.

Keep good academic habits in practice.

Start researching scholarships and financial aid options.

The College and Career Planning team at CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a 2018 National Parenting Products Award winner. In addition to college planning help, CommunityAmerica provides a full suite of financial products, including checking, savings, mortgages and a variety of loan products to meet consumer and business needs. As a not-for-profit financial institution, CommunityAmerica offers highly competitive rates on deposits, loans, and fewer, lower or no fees at all. For more information, visit https://collegeroadmap.communityamerica.com/.

The post Planning for College When Your Kids are in High School appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

When your child is accepted into college, your first thoughts are probably tuition. Once that shock wears off, you’ll need to consider the necessary supplies for your student’s success. Save yourself a headache and use a college dorm room checklist to get started.

Then, you’ll have to start paying for college basics.  You’ll need to budget for additional, but necessary, expenses.  You want to make sure you are ready for these and you don’t forget to include everything on your list.

Read more:

• What To Know BEFORE You Pay for College
• Fun Gift Idea for Your College Freshman
• How You Can Save on Expensive College Text Books

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BUY FOR COLLEGE

Essentials your student needs for college

There are the essentials such as an alarm clock, a desk lamp and maybe even a mini-fridge. You can also help prepare your student with a care package or going away present filled with these often overlooked but ultimately highly appreciated items:

• First aid kit
• Umbrella
• Filtered water bottles
• Cleaning supplies
• Earplugs
• Basic tool kit or multi-tool
• Toiletries

Another smart consideration for your student is signing up for Amazon Student. With two-day shipping, subscribe-and-save options, streaming of music and movies and the first six months free of charge, it’s worth looking into.

Also, suggest that your child call their future roommate ahead of time to coordinate some of the bigger items. When I headed to college, I purchased a microwave and futon and my roommate got a printer and mini-fridge that we could both use.

College textbooks

Depending on the course load and how many credit hours a student takes, college textbooks can cost well over $1,000 dollars a year. Due to copyrights, specialized materials, and even sheer volume, the cost of textbooks has only increased in recent years.

Some classes use books that contain removable pages, which double as worksheets. For the courses that don’t require customized books, there are many money saving options.

Around 70% of students believe that older editions of their required texts are usable. If there are multiple editions of the book, it doesn’t hurt to send an email to the professor or to their TA inquiring if an older edition will suffice. If this isn’t an option, skip the lines at the bookstore and use the web to broaden your search.

Websites like Big Words is a trusted online option for buying (and selling) college textbooks. Big Words does the searching for you while BookRenter provides the service its name implies. Encourage your student to sell their books back at the end of the semester. Many parents mistakenly believe that their student ought to hold on to their textbooks, which quickly depreciate. And, of course, there’s also the growing trend of e-textbooks.

Check out all of the ways you can get cheap (or even free) college textbooks.

Reliable Technology

With technology so highly integrated into today’s college experience, a student with reliable equipment at their disposal has an edge in the classroom. Granted, there are computer labs and printings stations on every campus, but let’s face it, laptops and tablets have replaced the college-ruled notebook. Professors record podcasts of lectures, provide PDFs of study guides and some even require discussion through online forums.

Spend the money on a dependable laptop or tablet, but take advantage of back-to-school sales. Big Box stores like Sam’s Club and Costco are also worth looking into as well. If you don’t find what you want there, contact your school’s IT department.

They can typically provide university sanctioned promotion codes to stores or websites for equipment and for necessary programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite. For peace of mind, don’t overlook purchasing an external hard drive and a USB stick, just in case.

Lab Fees

If your student is taking chemistry, art or biology there may be additional course lab fees.  These can add another $50 – $100 per course.  The good news is that if you buy a lab coat once you can use it again and again.  The bad news is that lab fees will need to be paid each time the new class begins.

Room and Board

Chances your student needs a place to live.  The options are in the dorms or off campus.  You will have to check with the rules for your school as sometimes, lower classmen must live on campus so you don’t want to look for a house or apartment just to find out they can’t live there.

The costs vary greatly depending on the needs of your student, but when adding up the college costs, don’t forget to budget in housing.  It will cost more than you may realize.

Social expenses

If your student pledge a sorority or fraternity, get ready for annual dues and event expenses. Is he or she planning to join clubs and other groups? There will also be entertainment, games and other activities your student will partake in outside of class.  All of these different events can quickly cost a lot of money.  Make sure you are prepared for them.

Click here for friendly advice from the CommunityAmerica Credit Union Savin’ Mavens. This post was written by Maven Kat Hnatyshyn, a branch manager at CommunityAmerica.

The post College Costs Beyond Tuition – What You Need to Pay For appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

It is 4:00 p.m.  Your kids come rushing through the door from school, and the first words you hear are “Mom!!!!!  I’m Hungry!!”  They run to the pantry or fridge and then stare blankly at what is inside.  They aren’t sure what to have to eat.  You intervene and help them figure something out, and finally, after 15 minutes of empty stares, your child finally finds something to eat.

Fortunately for us, this is not the case!  My kids never have to ask what they can eat for a snack nor do they say we’ve got nothing to eat.  How?  Simple.  We use a snack basket.

I’ve used this practice since my oldest was around two years old.  I found a wicker basket and filled it with mom-approved snacks.  When she was hungry, we would go to the basket to find something to eat.  We’ve kept this going, and now all three of my kids use our snack basket.

Since it worked for us, maybe it will work for you too!

WHAT IS A SNACK BASKET?

A snack basket is just what it sounds like – a basket filled with snacks.  You can add anything you want your kids to eat, and leave out the things that you don’t!  It makes grabbing a snack after school or when running to practice very quick and easy.

HOW TO MAKE AFTER SCHOOL SNACK BASKET

It is simple to make one yourself.  It will take a few minutes each week to stock it and then, your kids will know what to grab to eat after school or on the way out the door to soccer practice (which saves you time and sanity).

To start, pick up snacks that your kids like to eat and that work for you.  You will want to purchase items that don’t need to be refrigerated such as apples, bananas, crackers, cereal treats, and other healthy snacks.  While it is convenient to purchase pre-packaged snacks, that can cost you more money.

Rather than get individually wrapped packages, you can purchase a large box.  Look at the nutritional information to find out what they recommend as a serving size.  It could be a number, such as six crackers,  or serving size, like 1/2 a cup.    Use snack size baggies or small containers and fill them with the amount for each serving. Then, add them to your basket.

The reason I recommend measuring serving sizes is to help make sure kids don’t overeat.  It also makes sure they get a portion that is appropriate for their age and weight.  When my kids were younger, the bags were not filled quite as fully as they are now that they are older.  They also know they get one snack.

CREATE A FRIDGE SNACK BASKET

Since some snacks have to be refrigerated, you’ll want to have a second snack basket or location in your refrigerator.  Add cheese sticks, fruit, yogurt sticks and cups and other healthy snacks to create yours.  That way, your kids know they can go to either the fridge or the pantry to find a snack that is mom-approved.

SNACK BASKET IDEAS

When it comes to the snacks to add to your basket (either fridge or pantry), it can be challenging deciding what to add.  Here are a few ideas you may want to use when making your snack basket:

• Graham Crackers (mini or full-size)
• Vanilla Wafers
• Club Crackers
• Ritz Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Rice Krispie Treats
• Nutri-Grain Bars
• Fruit Snacks
• Apples
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Cheese Sticks
• Danimals
• Yogurt Sticks
• Yogurt Cups
• Cheese Cubes
• Celery with cheese or peanut butter
• Carrot sticks
• Pretzels

Kids love the independence it provides, letting them decide what they want without having to ask.  But, at the same time, they are only getting items that are approved by mom.  It also saves time after school and when rushing out the door to soccer or piano practice.

It makes your after school routine a bit simpler and keeps you on schedule.

The post How to Make a Healthy Snack Basket appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Back to school is a fun time for both kids and parents.  While it can be enjoyable to get all of the supplies and clothes, getting organized and back into your routine can prove to be a challenge.

One way to make your days (and evenings) better, is to get organized.  We’ve rounded up some of the most brilliant back to school organizing ideas you’ll find anywhere!

Also see: How To Organize Kids School Papers and Artwork

BACK TO SCHOOL ORGANIZING IDEAS

Snack basket for simpler after school snacks.  Fill Ziploc bags and find other snacks to have handy for after school.  Makes them quick to grab when running to practice too!

Organize clothes for the week by using a hanging sorter.  Have the kids plan their outfits for the entire week and place them into each section. No worries about what they will wear every morning.

Homework Nook with Supplies.  All of the supplies they will need in a designated location in your home.

Keep school papers organized  easily!  Drop all of your papers into one box all year long and then, at the end of the year, sort them by year for each of your kids.  30 minutes and you’ll be DONE!

Homework Station – daily checklists, supplies and more all in one location.

Simple school supplies organizer  with a shoe organizer!  Hang it on a closet and fill with all of the supplies the kids need for homework — or for when they run out at school!

Backpack Organization Center where the kids can hang their backpacks after school — and can find them every morning when it’s time to head to school!

Custom wall calendar  that will show all of your family’s activities at at glance!  If this how to is a bit too much, try one of the simple dry erase calendars available at most stores.

School Routine Clock so your kids know when it is time for everything from homework to going to bed!

After School Schedule to remind your kids everything that they need to each night before they go to bed.  What a simple way to teach them responsibility (printable form available at this same link).

Create a Homework Caddy to store supplies that you can set on the table for homework time – and put away when you are through!

School Lunch Guide with ideas you can use to create your own kids’ lunch!  Even considers those kids who have allergies or sensory issues too!!  Get a free printable you can use at home by clicking on this link.

Create sponge ice packs so they are ready for lunches

Organize shoes so you can find them every morning

Create an in-box where kids can place papers that need to be signed

Lazy Susan Homework Caddy that can remain on the kitchen table.  That way, the kids can find their supplies when they are needed.

Paper Wall Caddy to organize school papers, bills and more — keeps them off of the kitchen counter.

Family Command Center  to get your entire family organized.  They will know where to find papers, notes and everything they need.

Lunch Bins so the kids can pack what they want for lunch (source: Facebook).  Add a number to the front so the kids know how many of each they need to pack for school every day.

The post Back to School Organizing Ideas appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Not too long ago, I shared my secret tip to save money on every single purchase you make when shopping for back to school.  I still say that is the best way to save money, but sometimes, there are a few other things you can do to find some great online deals.

You all know about signing up for email alerts and following sites, such as this one.  But, that isn’t a guarantee that you will always find the absolute lowest price and help you stay on track with your back to school budget.  For that, you need more help.

Enter – Wikibuy.

I’ve partnered with this on-line service to help you find the lowest price on everything you need for your student for back to school.

WHAT IS WIKIBUY?

If you have not heard of Wikibuy it is a Chrome plugin you add to your browser.  Then, when you shop online, at stores – such as Amazon, for example – it does a scan online for the same item sold by other retailers.  If it finds a lower price, it alerts you!

That way, you don’t ever pay more than you need to. And, when it comes to back to school shopping, we all can use all the help we can to keep those costs as low as possible!

WHAT DOES IT COST TO USE THIS TOOL?

That’s the best part of all.  The extension costs you nothing.  Zero. Zilch. Nada.  And, then when you use the app to make a purchase for the lower priced item, you STILL pay nothing more than the cost of the product.

Wikibuy charges customers absolutely NOTHING to use their app.  They are passionate about saving money and want to make it easy on you.

WHICH RETAILERS DOES IT REVIEW?

When I am shopping online, I stick with retailers I know and trust. Those are the only deals I share with you because I know you want to know your information is safe.  You, like me, want to know that you will get the product you want from this on-line retailer.

Wikibuy agrees. They make comparison shopping a one-click effort from a vetted list of thousands of e-commerce sellers, including major retailers, brands, and other small retailers.

DOES PENNY PINCHIN’ MOM REALLY USE THIS?

Absolutely!  This year, I created my kids’ must have school list.  When you click on any item, you will see they have scanned other retailers searching for the lowest possible price.

Here is just one example.  The pencils my kids need for school are Ticonderoga.  And, since I’ve got 3 of them, I purchase a larger quantity.  It could take me a lot of time to try to find a good deal.  But, with Wikibuy, they do the work for me.

As of the time of this post, you can see that Ebay offers the lowest price on the pencils.  (Since this is always updated in real time, the totals you see may differ from what you see in this image).

In this case, the difference is $0.28.  But, you know what?!?  That is MY $0.28!!!

Like I said above, I’ve put together my own back to school list complete with the binder, backpack and some of the other supplies I know my kids will need (as I wait for the finalized list to be sent out).

In addition to using my list, it works when you are shopping online.  Too!  Here’s how that works:

When you are shopping, and click on a product, check the “W” icon in your browser bar.  If it finds the item elsewhere, it lets you know!  Click over to buy directly from the link they show you.

There are a lot of different tools you can use to save when you shop online.  You should give Wikibuy a try when picking up all of your back to school items!  You’ll love the ease — and especially the savings!!!

The post Simple Way To Get the Best On-Line Deal on School Supplies appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Shopping for school supplies can be fun, but it can be expensive. And of course, the prettier the supplies the more you end up spending.  Fortunately, that doesn’t need to be the case if you use some of these simple glam school supply hacks!

Kids love shopping for their school supplies.  And of course, they are often drawn to the items that are not plain, but rather have characters, designs or other features to make them unique.  As much as you would like to get them, they are rather expensive.

That is where I come in.  I wanted to create some fun school supplies that would not cost a fortune but still allow your child’s personality to show on through.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GLAM SCHOOL SUPPLIES

GLAM TAPE

You can turn any old scotch tape into a fun, and personalized tape with just a piece of scrapbook paper, and some scissors!

Disassemble your tape. Remove the roll, and then remove the paper insert.

Trace that paper insert on the back of the paper you want to use. Make sure you flip the paper insert from the tape to be upside down too. Trace it with a pencil and cut it out. Put the paper back in the dispenser and then add your tape and you’re done!

Look how pretty that is! You didn’t have to pay extra for special, designer tape, but you have customized, adorable tape that took five minutes and next to no money!

GLAM NOTEBOOKS

Notebooks are pretty boring for the most part.  And, the ones with the glitter and designs are rather pricey.  Here’s how to glam up your notebooks a no cost at all!

Use a sharpie (we used gold!) and some cookie cutters to transform these notebooks from plain to glam in no time!

See how fun these turned out to be? Just a few minutes, and some cookie cutters, and these were totally transformed! Let the kids decorate their own, even, and their notebooks will be a work of art!

GLAM STAPLES

Even staples come in fun colors these days!  But, don’t spend a fortune buying them – make them yourself!

Colored staples are my weakness. I don’t know why, but I always want to buy the brightly colored staples that cost four times as much. No more! Use a sharpie, any color, and just color those staples! Look how much they look just like the ones from the store!

DIY BINDERS

Binders get super expensive, super fast. Stick with the plain binders, and add a fun customized paper insert that will glam up any binder in an instant.

CUSTOM PENCILS

Yellow pencils can be SO boring!  Make your own washi tape pencils in just minutes!  Get creative and have fun with lots of different ideas!

CUSTOM LABEL

It is important to label your kids’ items.  You can create custom labels through sites such as Mabel’s Labels and apply them to anything and everything.  But, if you are on a budget, something simple works too!

Rather than use a sharpie to write your child’s name on things, you can print out this label to use instead! It works perfectly on books, lunchboxes and more!!  Use tape to apply it to a notebook or binder or find a luggage tag and attach it to your child’s backpack!

The post DIY Glam School Supplies appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Heading off to college for the first time can be a scary endeavor.  There are a lot of changes.  This little freshman starter kit basket is a simple way to say you care – while making sure they have the things they need!

While many may have a part-time job, but money may still be tight. They may not have the extra funds to get some of the things they will need.

This Freshman Year Starter Kit Gift is a great way to say you care, and provide what they need before they leave, in a fun way! I love putting these together, and you will too! Each kit can vary for your student’s needs, but this is my basic kit, and typically what I always include.

Other posts you’ll want to read:

• 25 Unique Gifts for Teen Boys
• 25 Gift Idea for Teen Girls
• Helping your College Student Live Within Their Means
• Tricks to Saving Money on College Text Books

FRESHMAN YEAR STARTER KIT SUPPLIES

Small Plastic Crate
Flip Flops
Roll of Quarters (for laundry or vending machines)
Kleenex
Highlighters
Can Opener
Ear Plugs
Sticky Notes
First Aid Kit
(other items you may want to add)

While you can fill your basket with anything you’d like, there are reasons why I listed these things:

First Aid Kit.  This is something that most people don’t think about.  It gives your student some band-aids and other things they may need.  I do this because I’m contributing to the safety of the student.

Sticky notes.  These are more than necessary in college. You can never have too many!

Earplugs. These are a must have if your student lives in the dorm and/or has a roommate.  They help drown out noise if you need to study – but also help if you are trying to sleep and there is a party going on above your ceiling.

Can opener.  This seems so simple, but a can opener is often the one item student’s don’t think about taking with them.

Roll of quarters (not pictured).  Always a must for doing laundry!  They can also come in handy when they need a quick soda or snack from the vending machine.

Highlighters.  These are like the hair ties of college life. You always have millions, and they disappear every time you desperately need just one.

Kleenex.  Help against a pesky cold, or even allergies. They’re just nice to have on hand, and something a college student doesn’t normally have.

Flip flops.  These are needed for showers.  By tossing in a pair they will have dedicated shower flip-flops.

Plastic crate.  Not only does this serve as a great way to give the gift, but it is also a storage item for a small dorm room.

We’ve also designed and included a FREE printable label for you to pair with your gift, just like we did!  Click the image below to download it your computer so you can print it for your crate.  I recommend using card stock, but regular printer paper will work as well.

(Click image to download and print)

Now, you’ve got a perfect gift for your favorite college freshman!

The post College Freshman Starter Kit Gift appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Back to school can be very expensive, especially if you have more than one child ready to start classes.  In fact, the average family with kids in grades K-12 will spend an average of more than $625 just to get the items they need!  That really can hit the budget hard.

There are things you can do to save on your Back to School shopping.  We’ve got ten tips anyone can use, no matter where you live, to lower your spending.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING

1. Follow Penny Pinchin’ Mom!

Once again, my team and I are helping you get the items you need, at the lowest possible.  Each July, we go to work finding the deals and sharing them with you.

2. Shop at home first

Before you head out, take inventory of what you have on hand.  One great thing to check is backpacks.  These tend to be some of the most expensive items, so you may want your kids to start the year out with the one they used last year.  Then, when they drop in price and begin to move to clearance prices (in mid-September), go and get one.

Also look through your child’s closet.  Most kids will wear shorts and tees when school starts.  See if the items they already own will work for a few weeks, and then when you see those summer clothes discounts pop up, stock up!  You will also want to make a list of the clothes they need, so you don’t forget!!

I also recommend seeing if you can use last year’s supplies.  If they had a scissors, they can use it again.  The pencil box may just need to be cleaned up, but it could be used again this year.  Track down the manual pencil sharpener (empty the shavings of course) and then you’ve got that done.  Right there,  you can find three items to mark off of your list – and they cost you absolutely NOTHING!

3. Follow the sales (also called loss leaders)

No rule says you have to do all of your shopping in a single day.  If you see the pencils you need on sale this week at your local store, pick them up.  Then, grab the crayons next week when you find a hot deal.  Keep a list of the items you buy, and then, when it is time to hit the store for your final shopping trip, you will only have to grab those few things you need, which may have not ever really gone on sale.

These items that are really low in price are what are called loss leaders.  These are items which retailers know they will make no money, but they are used to get people into the store to do more shopping.  Just grab those items each week and avoid the rest of the other store deals.

4. Use those coupons

Back-to-school season is the time of year when retailers tend to release many coupons. These can make the price of jeans for kids drop to as much as 60% off of retail. You can find uniform essentials as low as $5 – $6 each. When you see those coupons, grab those pieces you need!

You can also find coupons for the supplies you need for your kids.  It is common to find Target Cartwheel offers that you can combine with manufacturer’s coupons for even greater savings.

Also See: Back to School On a Budget with Dollar General

5. Shop the Sale Tax Holiday

Each summer, certain states suspend the collection of sales tax on school supplies, clothes, and even electronics.  Shopping during these weekends can easily save you money.  Find out your state’s sales tax holiday and requirements so you can plan your shopping trip accordingly.

6. Share packaging

I have three kids.  They all need pencils.  Rather than get them each their own set of 10, I can often find a better deal if I pick a 30 count instead.  We then open and rubberband the number each of them needs to add to their supplies for their classroom.  We find that doing this is often much more cost effective than getting them each their own item.

7. Use Rakuten

While your local stores may have discounts, sometimes there are better deals online.  And, when you shop through a site such as Rakuten, you will not only find coupon codes and offers, but you will get paid to shop!  Rakuten pays shoppers a percentage of each sale back in the form of cash!  You can’t beat getting paid to shop.

Sign up with Rakuten right now and find out how you can get a $10 bonus!!

8. Price match

Many stores price match, including Target and Walmart.  This year, even Staples offers a 110% price match guarantee.  When you can put this to work for you, it means you can shop at one store and get all of the deals you will find at other stores!!

Just make sure you know how the price matching works at each location before you shop (no need to have surprises when you get there).

9. Use apps

Check out apps such as Ibotta and Checkout51.  You can often find a way to get a “double dip” on a deal.  That means you may find the same discount on both Checkout51 and Ibotta, so you can submit your receipt to both and get double the cash back!

10. Use gift card sites

You can find discounts on gift cards at sites such Gift Card Granny.  You can purchase regular value cards at a discount.  Sometimes you can find them up to 20% off or more!!  Then, use the gift cards for all of your school shopping.

11.  Consider refurbished electronics

This is a great way to get a new computer or tablet for your kids for school – without paying too much.  Refurbished often gets a bad rap as people think it means used.  It merely means that it was purchased and returned.

Once the box is opened, stores cannot sell the item as new and must discount it for resale.  You can find amazing deals in the Amazon Warehouse!

11. Get your kids involved

Kids don’t often realize how much items cost.  Set a budget for them, so they know how much you will pay for things, such as shoes.

If you can afford to pay just $75 for a new pair of tennis shoes, let your child know that they can get what they want, but they need to cover the additional cost. So, if they want that $100 pair, that means $25 comes out of their own pocket.  That makes them think before they shop and have to part with the money they earned from their allowance.

12.  Know your budget

Before you head out to shop, know how much you have available to spend and take only cash.  When you use cash, you won’t be able to overspend and will always stay on budget.

13.  Shop after the sales end

While you can often find great deals in July and August, sometimes, you can find better deals if you wait until after school starts.  For example, notebooks sell for around $0.18 – $0.20 at Target during August. In mid to late September, then you’ll find them priced at $0.10 or less!

Go ahead and buy the few things your child needs to start the school year and then stock up on others in September.  That way, you will have supplies to replace those that run out in January, and can even get a head start on the next year’s back to school list.

14.  Don’t forget the consignment stores and thrift shops

All too often, parents rush to the big box stores to find clothes and backpacks for their kids.  However, consignment stores and thrift shops often have clothes that are in great shape at a fraction of the cost.   Just know how to make sure you get the best deal when shopping at your local consignment store.

Also See: When Is the Best Time to Shop at Thrift Stores?

School shopping doesn’t need to break the bank.  Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll get the kids back to school on the budget you need.

The post 14 Money-Saving Hacks for Back-To-School Shopping appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Most kids need a regular schedule.  They get this during the day at school, but what about when they get home?  You will want to develop your own after-school routine that your kids can follow.  Trust me; you will be thankful you did.

There is a lot of great information out there to help make your morning routine go more smoothly.  However, what about after school?  The kids come bursting through the front door, and then chaos seems to begin.  There are shoes, backpacks, homework, and snacks. It all can quickly drive mom insane!

The trick is to create an effective after-school routine or schedule.  When you have one, everyone knows what to do and can help keep a good rhythm running in your house.  Of course, you may need to tailor this to each child, depending upon age and maturity.  Even my own kids are different.  That means the way I run our daily routine differs a bit for each of them.

Also see: Tips from working moms on decluttering your kid’s room

AFTER SCHOOL SCHEDULE

No matter your child’s age, there are things each of them can do.  For us, it is simple,  they have three things they need to do the minute they walk through the door:

PUT YOUR BACKPACK WHERE IT BELONGS

The first thing to get kids in the habit of after coming home from school is putting away backpacks. Find a designated spot in your house where your child’s backpack will “live.”  It could be a hook on the wall, in the hall closet, or on the floor by the entryway.  In our house, my kids put their backpacks on the bench in our hallway.

PUT YOUR SHOES WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM

To make the morning more efficient, have your child take his or her shoes off, along with any belongings, and set them near their backpack or another place. That way, there is no rushing around the morning to find that sneaker that is hiding beneath their bed.

GRAB AN AFTER-SCHOOL SNACK

Kids are usually hungry when they come walking through the door. Have a snack basket filled with “mom-approved” snacks ready for them.

SCHEDULE SOME DOWNTIME

Whether it is right when they get home or later in the evening, give your kids some free play time.  It may mean playing outside, watching one TV program, or limited time on a tablet.  Kids need a chance to do what they want each day. I personally like having downtime after snack time, and I try to limit devices to try and sneak in a few minutes to check in and see how their day went.

As adults, we need a break after a long day, and our little ones are no different.

COMPLETE YOUR HOMEWORK

For some families, kids must do their homework as soon as they walk through the door after school. For others, it happens after dinner time.  There is no right or wrong time to do your homework. Find the time that works best for your family.

If there isn’t an activity, I’m a big fan of getting the homework folder out as soon as they come home to check homework assignments to gauge how much time to set aside, plus check if there are any important papers to send back or class events happening tomorrow that need attention.

PACK TOMORROWS LUNCH

Afternoons can be difficult balancing homework, activities, and getting everything prepared for the next day, but if your kid is taking their lunch to school, packing a lunch bag the night before is a great way to cut down on it stress the following morning.

DO YOUR CHORES

Kids have things they need to do each day.  It might be cleaning their room, unloading the dishwasher, or taking out the trash.  It may also include helping with dinner by setting the table and doing the dishes.  It can be helpful to keep a list of chores displayed so your child knows what he or she has to do each day.

The above is a guide.  You know your kids and your family’s routine.  There may be days when you have practice or games that throw your after-school schedule out of balance.  Those are the days when you may need to be more flexible. It might be the day of the week when they get to skip the chores to allow more time for homework.

While this is all great, it is good to help teach your kids how to do this themselves.  My kids are very visual.  They will do everything they see on a sign or a list much more frequently than they do if they have to remember on their own (or even if mom has to tell them).

AFTER SCHOOL ROUTINE CHECKLIST DOWNLOAD

The printable checklist is a simple way to help kids remember what they need to do when they get home from school and make mom’s life a little easier.  We have ours hanging up in our pantry.  This way, they see it when they grab their snack, so they remember everything they need to do.

Get your Free After School Routine Chart

It really makes our afternoons so much better!  Here are ways to help ensure your kids use this after-school checklist:

• Laminate and attach it to the refrigerator with adhesive magnets.
• Put it in a photo frame and use a dry-erase marker for them to check it off daily.
• Print out copies and give them a new one to use every single day (I’d print in black and white to save money on printer ink).

Whatever you do, try to set a routine for your kids.  They need to know what comes next, and it really helps reduce stress (and even tears)!!

The post How to Create an After School Routine appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Looking for Healthy after school snacks? Look no more!

Looking for a delicious after school snack for your kiddo? Look no further than this list. I have rounded up 20 of my healthy and delicious after school snacks, that are not only cheaper than store bought, but also kid friendly.

Make sure to leave a comment letting me know which is your kids liked the best.

Baked Apple Chips

Peach Mango Fruit Snacks

Mango Fruit Roll Ups

3 Ingredient No Bake Cereal Bars

5 Ingredient Granola Bars

3 Ingredient Rice Krispie Treats

Granola Snack Mix

Peanut Butter Banana Rollups

Oven Dried Apple Chips

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip

Chewy Granola Bars

Silly Apple Bites

Banana Sushi

Watermelon Fruit Leather

Peanut Butter Cheese Crackers

Raisin Newtons

Apple Sandwiches

Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries

Strawberry Fruit Snacks

Cheesy Crackers

Ants On A Log

Cinnamon Apple Chips

Looking for more inexpensive and healthy kids snacks? Click here.

The post 22 Healthy & Delicious After School Snacks appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Chalkboard Cookies with edible chalk are so much fun! They can be the perfect way to send kids back to school — with a sweet treat!  You can use them for birthday parties, thank you gifts for teachers….the ideas are just endless.

Best of all, both the chalkboard and the chalk are edible!  It’s true!  I was inspired by a similar tutorial over at Ashlee Marie.  However, I wanted to do something that was a bit simpler (which I know you will also appreciate).  It took some time and a bit of experimenting on my part, but in the end, I found the perfect way for you to make this too!

Other fun recipes to check out:

• Crazy Candy Cupcakes
• Skittles Popcorn
• No Churn Cookies ‘n Cream Ice Cream

Print

Chalkboard Cookies With Edible Chalk

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Chalkboard Cookies With Edible Chalk is a fun treat for back to school!

• Author: Sammie
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 13 mins
• Total Time: 43 mins
• Yield: 24
• Category: Dessert

Ingredients

• Pillsbury Refrigerated Sugar Cookies
• White Candy Melts
• Milkshake Straws
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
• 2 Tablespoons of milk
• Black food coloring

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

EDIBLE CHALK

1. Melt a bag of white candy melts in a double boiler until smooth.
2. Put some sugar in the bottom of a cup.
3. Use a large spoon, and press the melted candy melts into the milkshake straws. You will only be able to get the candy melts about three to four inches into the straws.
4. Once you fill a milkshake straw with the candy melts, put them down into the sugar in the cup and then chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
5. Once they are completely cool, and hardened, remove them from the straws by pressing the flat end of a skewer stick in firmly until they pop out of the straws.
6. Keep the chalk in a cool place until you’re ready to use.

COOKIES

1. Bake the sugar cookies as directed, and allow them to cool to room temperature.

CHALKBOARD ICING

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the powdered sugar, corn syrup, and milk.
2. Once the frosting is thinned out nicely, add several drops of black food coloring and mix well.
3. Apply the frosting THINLY to the top of your cooled cookies.
4. Allow the frosting to dry completely before using the chalk on the frosting. This should take 2-3 hours minimum.

Notes

Stack cookies in an airtight container.

The post Chalkboard Cookies With Edible Chalk appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Back to School time can be fun and thrilling for kids and parents alike.  It can also be stressful and scary for your kids as well.   Not everyone is ready to make the transition back to school.  There are some things you can do to make this time of year FUN for your kids!  Here are ten ideas you can do celebrate the time of year.

Check out these other ideas to help you get ready for Back to School:

• Creating an After School Schedule
• Organizing Ideas to Help You Get Ready for your School Routine
• 30 Days of Lunches for Kids

CELEBRATING BACK TO SCHOOL

1. Have One Last Blast of Summer Party

Invite friends and family over and get outside.  Have ice cream, frozen treats and enjoy the end of summer.  There is nothing like having one last party before school begins.

2. Make notes for lunches / pack a special treat

Sometimes it is hard to let go of mom.  Sending encouraging notes in your child’s lunch box can be just what they need to get through the rest of the day.

3. Have a special back to school breakfast

On the first day of classes, make breakfast extra special.  Make your child’s favorite breakfast or even a fun place setting to mark the day.

4. Take a photo

We’ve taken pictures of our kids on the first day of school, just like most.  However, why not let your kids take a picture of YOU!?  They will love the chance to capture mom or dad on this occasion too.

5. Create a countdown board

Use poster board and staple papers with numbers on them.  Each day, let your kids pull off the prior day’s number.  When it gets to zero, have a fun treat to give to them.

6. Have the Back-To-School Fairy pay your kids a visit

My son’s kindergarten teacher did this and it was just so cute!  She sent home a note from the back to school fairy which was filled with words of encouragement.  A couple of nights before school started, we snuck into his room and left the note on his bedside table and sprinkled confetti under his pillow to show that she stopped by to see him.

He was so excited when he woke in the morning and saw that she had been there.  You could swap the note with a small trinket or toy instead.

7. Measure your kids

Measure your kids before they leave on the first day of school. Measure them on both the first and last day of school so they can see how much they grew during the school year.

Put this somewhere they can see it.  For instance, we use the inside of our basement door.  Then, they can see how tall they were at various stages of their lives.

8. Break the Rules

Why not let your kids break some of your rules.  Maybe they could have junk food for breakfast?  Perhaps they want to stay up 30 minutes later.  It’s just one day where they can decide what it is that they want to do.  When we do this with our kids, their faces light up!

9. Have a special snack waiting

When your kids get home from that first day of school, have a special snack waiting.  That might mean cookies and milk or even stopping by your favorite ice cream parlor for s scoop.  Anything like this can make the day more fun!

Read more:  22 Healthy After School Snack Ideas for Kids

10. Find that special outfit or new shoes

Take your child shopping to find that PERFECT back to school outfit!  I remember being excited to go back to school so I could wear those items my mom helped me find.

Read More: Smart Hacks for Saving on Back to School Clothes

BONUS IDEA:  Painted Hands

Along with the measurements, why not get your child’s handprints etched in…..well…..paint!  Take a black piece of paper and then paint your child’s palms white.  Have them press down to leave a mark.  You’ll be able to watch your child grow each year through handprints too!

The post Ten Fun Ways to Celebrate Back to School! appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Whether you’re working or a stay-at-home parent, back-to-school season can get rough. Between strict schedules, meal planning, homework, and maybe even extracurriculars, life just gets a bit chaotic.

Luckily, technology can make things a bit easier on parents. With all the apps available today, there are loads of great free tools that can help you handle everything from schedules to meal planning. Here are seven of the best free — and really cheap — tools to try this year to end the back to school chaos.

Read more:

• How to Ease into a Back to School Schedule
• Saving Money on Back to School
• How to Create an After School Schedule 

TOOLS TO CALM THE BACK TO SCHOOL CRAZINESS

1. Google Calendar
 

While there are plenty of great calendar apps on the market, Google’s still takes the cake. Available for iOS and Android, the interface is great on just about any screen. It lets you choose different views, from one month to a daily agenda, or a custom view like two or three weeks. Plus, you can easily share Google Calendars with a spouse or your older kids, so that everyone syncs up seamlessly.

One of the best things about Google Calendars, though, is the ability to set up multiple calendars. Use one for work events, one for personal appointments and one for the kids’ school schedule. You could even keep a separate calendar for each member of the family. Each calendar will be color-coded, so you can get an at-a-glance idea of what’s coming in any given week.

Two other great Google Calendar features reminders and repeating events. With reminders, you can set up alerts on your phone for repeating or one-off events. You can even make sure Google keeps reminding you until you check the reminder as complete, so you don’t accidentally blow off making that important appointment. And with repeating events, you can quickly add regular events to your calendar.

2. Google Keep

Again, there are multiple note-taking apps on the market, but Google Keep is definitely worth checking out. This simple app lets you take notes or create to-do lists that look like sticky notes. You can organize them by category, and you can even color-code the notes to match your calendar colors.

The best thing about Keep is that you can share notes with others. You can, for instance, keep a running grocery list in a Keep note that you share with your spouse. That way whoever has time to stop by the store on a given weeknight has the list ready to go.

3. Cozi

Cozi combines some of the functionality of Google Keep and Google Calendar. It comes in a free and paid version. The free version runs ads. The paid version comes with additional features, including a birthday calendar and contact list.

If you want to keep just a single shared family calendar, Cozi is a great option. Like Google Calendar, it lets you share your calendar with a spouse or multiple family members. The calendar app is slightly less user-friendly than Google’s — but only slightly. It does include the additional feature of a meal planner, which is great for busy parents. Plus, Cozi lets you keep categorized shopping and to-do lists, making it a good all-around organization app.

4. Pepperplate

This meal-planning app can take some time to set up because you’ll need to build or import your own recipes. But you can import recipes from a web link, making it an easy option for organizing all those Pinterest recipes you’ve been meaning to try. Once you get your recipes into your recipe box, you can tell the app which recipes you’re shopping for this week. Then, it’ll automatically generate a shopping list to use at the grocery store.

As far as meal-planning apps go, Pepperplate has great reviews. It doesn’t do the planning for you, but it’s a good option if you already have a go-to bank of recipes you use on busy weeknights.

5. Asana

Asana is a free to-do app is great for busy parents who want to track both work and home tasks. As with many of the apps featured here, you can share this one with a spouse or older kids. Asana lets you assign tasks by person and give tasks a due date. You can also organize tasks by category or project, making it easy to work on the most important projects first.

One of Asana’s biggest strengths is ease-of-use in a mobile format, though you can also access it by desktop. Plus, it allows you to sort your to-do list in a variety of ways, from tasks by due date to tasks by assignee to tasks by project.

6. Chore Monster


Want to get your kids doing more chores this school year? Try Chore Monster. This easy-to-use app lets you as the parent assign and create point values for various chores. You can have certain chores your kids must do, and certain chores they can choose to do. When the child completes the chore, you check it off, and they earn points.

What do they do with all those points? It’s up to you! Add rewards that kids can purchase with their points. Rewards could be physical or monetary, or you could just give kids extra screen time. The cool thing is that you can assign some rewards with a low-point value, so kids can pick them up often. But you can also help kids grasp the idea of saving by giving them a few high-point-value options, like a big weekend camping trip or an expensive new toy.

7. Evernote


Evernote has been around a while, and it’s a classic. Many moms swear by it, and it does have a bunch of functions to try. You might use it for keeping track of online articles you want to read while waiting in the school pickup line. Or you can use it to get rid of all that paper-based clutter kids bring home from school.

With Evernote, you can store scans or photos of paper items, so you can easily upload the school calendar and menu to an online format. You could also use Evernote to store scans of special projects or papers your kids bring home, so that you’ll hang on to them without having to find a place for thousands of pieces of paper every single school week.

More from Credit.com

• The Best Business Credit Cards in America
• The Best Premium Credit Cards in America
• The Best Student Credit Cards in America

This article originally appeared on Credit.com.

The post 7 Tools to Calm the Back to School Chaos appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

I remember when my kids were little and we were getting them ready for their first day of kindergarten. I wondered if I had done enough to prep them for what they were going to experience.  I worried about them being ready to attend school all day.

I mostly worried about their learning experience.  Did I set them up for success by educating them myself at home?  Would they struggle or would they excel?

I know these are things all parents think about.  Did you do enough to help prepare your preschool student to get ready for kindergarten?

There are actually simple things we can do as parents to ensure that they are in fact ready for that next big step in their lives.

THINGS TO DO TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR KINDERGARTEN

1. Give them a head start with numbers and letters

Many parents think that their kids will just learn this in school, so there is no need to teach them about this at home.  Children should be able to identify the letters so that they can start to understand the sounds that those letters make.   While teachers will do this, it can actually put your child behind other students and require additional catch up, which may leave your child feeling discouraged.

There are many things parents can do to help their kids.  One of the simplest ways you can do this is by signing up for ABCmouse.  This is an amazing online application which gives kids a kick start in learning important lessons which will help set them up for success in kindergarten.

You can sign up right now and get 2 months for just $5.  That is only $2.50 per month!  That will allow you to really dig in and make sure that it is the right fit for your child.  If you like it, continue at just $7.95 a month.

I love that you can access this on your phone or tablet.  So, you could be sitting at the doctor’s office and instead of touching all of the germy books and toys, your child could sit next to you and be learning (while they think they are just having fun)!

>>> Try ABCmouse for FREE for 30 days!! <<<

2. Have them practice writing their name

They all know their name, but have your child learn how to write those letters to spell it.  Most kids will probably have already learned this in preschool, but it is good to have them keep practicing.

Don’t expect perfection – not at all.  Just have them practice the letters over and over again so that when asked to write his or her name in school, your child can do so with pride.

To save money, use a dry erase board with lines instead of purchasing specially lined paper, which you will throw away.  You can find these for around $5 or so at many stores.

3. Introduce sight words

When your child starts school, this will be one of the first lessons.  It will include very simple words such as and, the, by.  While your child will learn to read in kindergarten, having some basic understanding of some simple sight words can give them a head start in learning to read.

There is no worry about the fact that these words are just memorized. Honestly, that is what you want.  You want your child to see the word “and” and then be able to recite it to you, just by recognizing the letters.

You can come up with your own way to teach these to your child. If you want some help, you can find books such as this 100 Write and Learn Sight Word Practice Pages or even fun flash cards (which fit into your bag).

4. Read. Read. Read

Yes, I meant to write that one three times because it really is that important.  You can never read too many books to your kids.

This establishes the understanding of the importance of reading.  There may be days when you don’t really need to use math, but you will read something every. single. day.  Reading well sets up the foundation to help your child better learn other subjects such as math, science and more.

5. Learn to Button, Zip, and Tie

Start working with your child to teach him or her how to button and unbutton their pants and shirts.  Help teach them how to connect and use a zipper. This way, he or she will be able to take care of these tasks in school (such as when a bathroom break is needed).

While many kindergartners struggle with tying shoes, you can still begin teaching your child about it.  There will be a lot of frustration, but with practice, your child will catch on.

6. Eat lunch out of a lunchbox or on a tray

If your child has not attended a program where lunch is served away from home, this may be something scary to him or her.  Buy the lunchbox and pack up the type of lunch you will send each day and enjoy a picnic with them.

Help your child learn how to open the containers and the importance of eating all of the food you send so they have a full tummy for the entire day.

If your child will purchase lunch at school, practice having him or her learn to pick up their plate of food, drink, and utensils and place them on the tray and carry it.  It will help them have confidence when they arrive at the food line on the first day of school.

7.  Know you are always there for them

Just as you may be nervous to send your child off to school, your child may feel the same.  If he or she is very attached to you, the idea of being away from you may be frightening.

Give your child extra love and hugs while you work through the transition.  If your child cries, don’t tell them that it is wrong.  Instead, encourage your child with your words of support and understanding.  Remind them how you have left them with grandma and always come back to pick them up.  Give them all of the love and support they need to help them feel safe and confident.

These are some of the things you can do as a parent to make sure your kids are ready for the fun and exciting time of kindergarten.  As far as mom having some boo-hoos of your own – I send my hugs your way.

SOCIAL SKILLS YOUR CHILD SHOULD KNOW BEFORE KINDERGARTEN

These were a few other thoughts submitted by some of our readers – and I think they are great!

8. Understand right from wrong and respect authority.

When your child starts school, he or she will have many situations being thrown at them.  They need to not only understand right from wrong but also respect authority figures other than Mom and Dad (or their guardian).

Enforce rules at home and work with him or her to truly understand and learn to respect authority figures.

9. Take turns and play well with others.

This is tough for many kids to learn, so if you feel a challenge here, you are certainly not alone.  Help your child learn to share and take turns without being bossy or rude to the other kids.

10. Be willing to take some risks.

Kindergarten is very scary and can create a lot of anxiety in children.  Help your child learn how to make decisions on their own, but realize that this is a slow learning process.

11. Have empathy and know how to express it.

It is important that children learn how to express feelings is another skill children need to learn.  They need to express how they feel.  Otherwise, it could lead to hitting or other negative behaviors.  This can lead to difficult social interactions with other kids as well as adults.   Help them learn how to be constructive when it comes to expressing his or her emotions, but still be respectful of those around them.

12. Be able to work without supervision.

Your child’s teacher is going to have several kids to look over at once.  That means your child may need to work on his or her own, without the teacher standing there supervising.  Your child needs to be able to do the work assigned without needing to be constantly supervised.

The post How to Help Your Preschooler Get Ready for Kindergarten appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Back to school is coming up — soon!  It can be stressful to get everyone back into the routine, but there are things you can do to help make a more seamless transition from summer to school.  It starts by getting organized.

After a summer filled with lazy days and dips in the pool, it can be tough to get everyone back into the groove of a new schedule and routine.  With a little careful planning, you and your kids can make this back to school season less stressful and more enjoyable.

HOW TO GET INTO YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL ROUTINE

Plan your shopping trip

There is nothing more fun for kids than heading to the store to get brand new school supplies and clothes.  But, before you head out, make sure you only buy what you need.

Look around your house to see if there are things you can use from the prior year.  Even if you need to replace items, you can sometimes find the best discounts a few weeks after the school year starts.  For instance, if you need a new backpack, start the year with the older one and wait until they are on sale.  Then, replace it with one that costs much less!

Review the school supplies list for your child’s class.  Find the scissors, pencil cases and other items that are left from last year and use them again.  Get your kids involved since they need these things. It will be fun for them to help gather all of the things they will need to make going back to school as stress-free as possible.

When making your list, don’t forget to check out your child’s closet.  Make a list of exactly what you need to buy for each child. Our clothes shopping list is the perfect way to make sure you don’t forget anything you need!

Start your Back to School Routine early

Around 7 – 10 days before school starts, you will want to get your kids into this schedule.  That means following school bed and waking times. Have your kids get up, eat breakfast at their school times and be ready to go out the door by the time they would usually leave.

The way we do this is we ease back into that bedtime.  For example, if school bedtime is 8:30 and they are up until 9 or 9:30 in the summer, we start to back down bedtime by 10 – 15 minutes each night so that they get used to going to bed a bit earlier.  Make sure they do their full bedtime routine, including setting out clothes or getting backpacks ready, in addition to regular bedtime rituals.

Also, you want to east them into waking earlier in the morning as well.  If your child currently sleeps in until 8:30, you need to ease them into getting up at 7:00 for school.  On the first day, wake them up at 8:15 and then wake them 15 minutes earlier each day, until they are getting up at 7:00 a.m.

Change your eating schedule

Most kids eat right after they get up in the morning. If that means sleeping later in the summertime, they will also have breakfast and lunch at later times as well.  Get your kids into their school schedule by having them not only eat breakfast as soon as they wake (see step above) but make sure lunch is around the regular time they eat at school as well.

You will also want to eat dinner each evening at the same time, so they have time to relax before bath and that earlier bedtime!

Create a family calendar that is visible

Talking about all of the school activities and events being on a centrally located calendar that the entire family can view and update.  That way, everyone will start to watch the calendar and will know what is going on from registration to practices and even that first day of school.

Read More:  Tools to Calm the Back to School Craziness

Get papers ready

If you know you have to show residency, vaccinations, health or physical forms when you register, start to work on the list now so that you have it ready when you enroll.  There is nothing worse than getting to the school to realize you’ve left important documents at home.

Create a school center

Find an area where you can set backpacks, shoes, coats, etc. every day so that they are ready to go in the morning. Each night, get your kids into the habit of putting everything they need there – saves time and chaos in the morning.

Read More: Organizing the Entry Way

Work on school lunch ideas

If your child does not eat lunch at school, it means you need to pack one for them every day.  Kids don’t always make the healthiest decisions when it comes to food, so mom and dad will need to help.

Come up with 10 – 15 different lunch menus your kids will enjoy.  Then, plan your weekly shopping trip to include the product you will need for their lunch.

You can use our School Lunch Ideas planner to create different meals for your kids.  This post even includes 30 days of wholly planned menus, doing the work for you.

Stay home

If possible, do not plan any last minute vacations right before school begins. Trips and vacations sometimes take some recovery time (sleep and attitudes) after you get home.  Keeping a simple, stay at home schedule can help ensure your kids are not overstimulated or tired, which can also help that back to school routine.

The post Easing into Your Back to School Routine appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

School may have just ended for your little ones, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start on shopping for the upcoming year. Lucky for you, along with the summer heat, seasonal children’s consignment sales are just around the corner.

Not familiar with these fabulous resale events? I have two words for you: super savings. That’s right. Children’s consignment sales are stocked full of previously loved top brand apparel and shoes your kids love to wear and are overflowing with gently used book bags, lunch boxes and books (not to mention toys and baby gear). You’ll shop hundreds of items in one trip and save 50 to 90 percent off of retail pricing.

These special sales events really do have it all—think thousands and thousands of items—and these tips will help ensure you make the most of them to save more money.

Other helpful articles:

• Easy Hacks for Saving on Back to School Clothes
• Why You Have Money Hiding in Your Closet
• Using Pinterest to Save Money

CREATE A LIST

Don’t forget, kids’ consignment events offer you the chance to get an entire season of clothing in one trip. Of course, that means you need to be prepared to maximize on that opportunity. Inventory Sarah’s closet and dresser drawers to determine what clothes and shoes she may be able to wear into the fall. Mark down the items you have and those that you’ll need for your growing girl.

KNOW HOW THEY’LL GROW

Yes, little Benjamin is going to grow this summer–the question is how much. If you know your child’s current height and weight, you can easily predict what size he’ll wear in the coming year by using this helpful age growth chart.

PRIORITIZE AND PLAN

Winter jackets, baby gear, shoes, and school supplies like backpacks and lunch boxes are in high demand at children’s consignment sales. If these items are on your list, plan to head to those sections first.

BRING A BAG (or two)

Most children’s consignment sales do not provide shopping bags or carts. Make sure to bring your own. Some shoppers even use wagons, laundry baskets or rolling suitcases to tote their finds.

SIZE UP AND DOWN

As with our own clothes, children’s apparel sizes vary by brand. Some run large, some run small. Make sure to check out the clothes one size down and one size up from what your son will wear to see if any will work for him.

KEEP THE KIDS AT HOME

No matter how well behaved your kiddos may be, it’s best to leave them home. You’ll want to focus on the shopping task at hand without having to worry about them or their whereabouts. Remember, there may be thousands of items to pick from and you’ll want to be able to move through the aisles quickly.

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Don’t recognize a brand? Wondering about a price? Upload the Amazon app to your smartphone to research items before you buy them.

GET THE SOOP ON SALES

You can find seasonal children’s consignment sales in nearly every city and town these days. Scope out the upcoming consignment sales in your area and plan to attend as many as you can!

Consignment Mommies is the nation’s leading children’s consignment resource. The website lists nearly 2,000 children’s consignment sales events with 25,000 ratings and reviews provided by consignment shoppers and sellers. Visit ConsignmentMommies.com and become a Facebook fan.

The post Consignment Store Shopping for Back-to-School appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Each fall, it is time to get ready for school.  The kids may not be ready to go back, but ask parents and they may have a different take on that.  However, one thing they both know is that it is time to get school supplies.  If your budget is tight, it can be stressful as you try to figure out how to pay for shoes, clothes, backpacks, and all of the supplies they need.

The truth is, you don’t need to buy your child new supplies.  Of course, they will need pencils and other things that have been long since used up.  However, one way to save a good deal on school supply costs is to recycle school supplies.  This is a great way to not only save money but bring new life to items that normally may have been cast aside!

Read more:

• 10 Ways to Celebrate Back to School
• Easing Back into Your Daily School Routine
• 30 Days of Kid Approved Lunch Ideas

RECYCLE YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO SAVE MONEY

Binders

Take the binder from last year and scrub it clean from marks and smudges.  If you find that the outside is ripped or torn, pick up some fun colored duct tape and create some designs to cover it up!  Add some stickers to the binder and you’ll have a one of a kind binder – that cost you very little money!

Notebooks

If you ever look at these when they come home at the end of the year, it seems there is always papers left in it unused.  Rip out all of the used papers and toss them into the recycling bin.  If it is a spiral book, clean out the paper from inside of the spiral.  If there is still half of the book left, you can send that to school with your kids to use again.

Backpack

There is no need to buy a new backpack every single year.  If you spend MORE up front and purchase a quality backpack, you will end up saving money in the long term.  If your kids do need a new one, wait until mid-September and then buy one as they will be on sale and reduced for quick sale.  Just use some fun duct tape or fabric scraps to repair tears and rips until you can get them a new one.

Pencil case

Every year kids seem to need a pencil case. Rather than buy a new one, just find last year’s box and clean it up.  If the kids want to make it personal, use washi tape or stickers to give it their own special touch.

Pencils

These get sent home at the end of the school year.  Rather than buying new ones, just sharpen them and add a cap eraser.  You’ll have pencils that still have a lot of writing left in them!

Lunchbox

Don’t run out and buy a new lunchbox.  Instead, just wash with a mild soap and water and allow it air dry.  If it is ripped, you might be able to stitch it to make it look new.  Invest in a quality lunch storage system that you can use day in and day out.

Scissors

If you ever notice, kids use the same size of scissors for several years in a row.   Find last year’s and clean them up.If they are dull, you can sharpen them with a sharpening tool.   They will be usable for several years.

Look through last year’s supplies to see what you can clean up and use again.  Or, if you find they need to be replaced, wait for a few weeks after school starts and you may find the prices drop even lower than you’ll find during the hot back to school shopping sales!

The post Recycle School Supplies to Give them New Life! appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

My husband and I began thinking about college for our kids when they were just infants.  We set up savings accounts for them and have been contributing regularly for years.

As great as that is and even though we have been planning for what will happen (sooner than I think either of us will ever be ready for), there may be a chance that one or all three of our children will still need to supplement college expenses by taking out a loan.

I know that this is the situation many parents also find themselves dealing with as well.  Sometimes, despite the best intentions and planning, there ends up being a shortfall in covering college.  It is also not only the cost of tuition, but there are books, supplies, food, and living expenses.  This can be a very large burden on many families.

For these reasons, many will need to take out a student loan.  The question then moves from “how to do I pay for this” to “where do I go to find a trusted lender?”  Let’s face it, there are a lot of companies out there which do not have your best interest at heart and would love to do no nothing more than to take your hard earned money.  I don’t want that for you – and of course – neither do you.

While my kids are not yet ready for college, I have a couple of friends who have been through this and they’ve shared their frustrations with the process and how it needs to be easier. I agree with them.  Fortunately, I learned about College Ave Student Loans and was able to pass this along to my neighbor (who’s daughter is graduating from high school this year).

One feature I was able to share with her was the new Parent Loan.  This offers savings over Federal Plus Loans.  These have no origination fee and a lower fixed interest rate than the federal program.  The College Ave Student Loans new parent loan offers qualified parent borrowers an average savings of  $1,000 vs. the Federal Direct Parent Plus program.  That is money right back in your pocket!  Check out their qualification tool so you can apply right now!

Another great thing about College Ave Student Loans is that they offer much more flexibility to fit your own financial situation when compared to other private parent loan options.  For instance, there is an option to get up to $2,500 deposited directly into parents’ bank accounts so they control the spending for extra education expenses like books, electronics, dorm supplies and more.  Not only that, but parents also have the option to start paying in full right away, or to limit monthly payments while the student is in school, and to pick their own repayment terms from 5 to 12 years.

College Ave Student Loans, a leading online student loan marketplace lender, and Experian®, a leading global information services company, are offering a limited time joint offer of a credit health check — a complimentary, personalized credit education session with an Experian Credit EducatorSM agent — to families preparing to pay for college. College Ave is collaborating with Experian to better support parents who may need to consider borrowing or cosigning a private student loan if savings, scholarships and federal aid fall short of higher education costs. Families who may want to explore private financing options should start getting ready now. The personalized credit education session offers an in-depth, one-on-one, 35-minute phone call with an Experian Credit Educator agent. During the session, parents will receive a copy of their Experian credit report and score and a personalized, step-by-step walk-through of the report, as well as examples of actions that may improve their credit score and insights for future credit management decisions. For more information about how to access the free credit education session, visit https://www.collegeavestudentloans.com/crediteducator.

College Ave Student Loans has really found the perfect balance  where they make the student loan process easy and simple, as well as affordable.  After all, they want the same thing as parents do — a bright future for their children.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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