Whatever happened to my FREE public education? Honestly, between "renting" the required text book; the locker, sports fees and equipment; yearbooks; required school agenda (which never gets used because of its inefficient format; necessitating the purchase of one that actually gets the job done!); and boxes of sanitizing wipes, paper towels, tissues and hand sanitizer required for the classrooms; composition notebooks, loose-leaf paper, graph paper, binders, pencils, TI-83 calculators and the like I am out more than $400 before I buy the first pair of new shoes (we'll not go THERE in this post).
So, how is a frugal mom supposed to save some cold hard cash this time of year? Glad you asked! And, BTW--you are going to spend much more than you save this time of year, so take an aspirin before proceeding:
For my college kid I employ the same strategy and even use this time of year to buy new toilet brushes (yes, they are on sale for $2 less than the normal price and I make a habit of replacing them every year at this time), wastebaskets, sheet sets, and small appliances are on sale too (for your personal use, as a replacement, Christmas gifts or wedding showers you know are coming up)
Happy Shopping!
Source: Posted on my blog: http://frugality-girl.blogspot.com/
By Diana from Prospect, KY
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Buying them each their own bath towel for the new school year and have their names put on them. I have established a storage crate by the shower which are hair towels (thinner, smaller) and bath towels, which must be used a week. If the white towel is dirty, then they are not showering when they shower. Towels are hung right from the shower. On a hanger on a hook, all available for them. I use a safety pin with a piece of t-shirt rag and put their names on it. Wash clothes are new per shower. I have less laundry! Same things goes for swimming towels. To the clothes line and back in their bags.
As a teacher and a mom, I found there were many ways to save money on school supplies. Firstly, there is no need to purchase everything new every year. Binders and duotangs can be reused many many times. Children do not need new crayons every year. Buy good quality supplies, as cheap glue sticks and crayons are frustrating to use.
Instead of hair towels have a bathrobe for each, after they dry off wrap their hair in the towel and put on their bathrobe. 1 towel per customer. Try buying a loofa (different color for each child) then you won't need so many wash cloths. The loofas (nylon) run around .99 cents each and have to be replaced every couple of months.
We have parking fees, drug testing fees, book fees, locks to purchase, sports laundry fees, classroom fees, senior DECA fees, and it is never done at that. Throughout the year we have more that comes up.
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