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Back To School on a Budget

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The back to school sales are in full swing this time of year.  To get the most for your hard earned dollar I recommend making a list of the supplies you will need, or wait until your child starts school and receives a list from their teacher and then compare prices at the following stores:

Target, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, Office Depot & Toys R Us

That might seem like a lot, so maybe narrow it down to the 2 or 3 stores that are nearest to you.  You can compare prices without even leaving your home by looking at the stores websites.  You can look up their weekly ads, as well as look up individual items and their prices in their search box.  All the stores have the most common items on sale, crayons, notebooks, etc. and the prices should not vary much, so look for the items that your child might need that are higher in price, i.e. USB memory cards, binders, etc.

Lunches

If you will be packing your child’s lunch lets review what makes a successful lunch. 

The Well Balanced Lunch

Sandwich (turkey, tuna, egg salad, peanut butter & jelly)  Most of these can be made for between 25 and 50 cents or a cup of soup in a thermos costs for between 25 and 50 cents.

Balance the “main course” wth one or two of the following items.

Vegetable sticks, a muffin, popcorn, homemade cookies, canned fruit, applesauce, Jell-O, crackers, fresh fruit, trail mix

Beverage – Go for 100% fruit juice, milk or water.  To ensure that it stays cold wash the thermos, pour 1 inch of beveage into it.  Place the cup loosely over the top (to keep out freezor odors) and put the thermos in the freezer overnight.  In the morning fill the remainder of the thermos with the same beverage.  By lunch the ice should be completely melted and the beverage should still be cold.  Ask your child how it turned out so you can adjust the time if you need to. 

If at all possible do not use prepackaged individual sized snack foods and juice packs.  I know they are easy but are more expensive and not as healthy for your child.  If you have used these items in the past, just tell your child that things are changing this year!  Maybe have them help you pick out the extras that go into the lunch box so they still think they are getting a “cool” meal.  Maybe they could help pop the popcorm or help make the cookies.

Do you have lunch box suggestions?  Leave us a comment.

Katie
MomsFunMoney.com

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