Back to School

Back to School. For many of us, it is that time again. I'd like to take a few minutes and share with you some of my favorite Back to School money-saving and time-saving tips that are sure to save you some stress and cents. Your wallet will thank you!

• Invest a few dollars in some reusable containers. These save the cost of rebuying sandwich bags and save on waste, too. Using plastic containers also allows you the option of sending leftovers for lunch.
• If you do use sandwich bags, get the most for your money by washing them out between uses.
  
• Do you enjoy baking? Make a big batch of cookies or muffins over the weekend and store them in your freezer in a sealed container. Then just pull a few cookies out each night for the next days lunch. Muffins can be easily thawed for a quick yummy breakfast.
• Don't buy individual servings of snacks. Instead, buy the larger boxes/bags at a better price and split them yourself.
• Prefill your childs juice/water bottle halfway the night before and pop it in the freezer. The next morning top it off. This keeps the drink cold and doubles as a freezer pack. It also eliminates the need for juice boxes which are much more expensive than the larger bottles of juice.
• Never pay full price! Shop your grocery store's sales ad and combine them with coupons for even greater deals. Often I can get certain foods for pennies and sometimes even FREE!
• Stock up on school supplies over the summer when all the great back to school sales are going on. Most school supplies don't have a shelf life, so get enough to last throughout the year. Being able to pull out a notebook in November that you bought for $.10 in July sure beats having to run up to Walmart and buying the same one for $.97!
• Wait until school supplies go on clearance to pick up backpacks and lunch boxes. These can be found for up to 75% off when stores start making room for Halloween items. Here's another tip: Buy 2! Backpack straps can break halfway through the school year and many lunchboxes are left in classrooms and on the bus. These items are hard to find throughout the year at a good price since they are only sold seasonally at many stores.
• Buy school clothes out of season. Pick up summer clothes for a great price in July and stock up on fall items in late September. Even better? Consignment shops and garage sales are a great option for younger children who do not care about name brands or an item being brand new.
• Start or join a carpool! This will save on gas for many families at once.
  
  What are your favorite tips?