Back to School Shopping-Ways to Save

It seems like stores start Back to School Shopping earlier and earlier--as if they don't realize that kids do not want to think about going back to school in July--summer isn't even half way over yet! As annoying as it is, the reality is that you have to get school supplies by early August or it's all gone. But you don't have to break the bank to do so. Here are some ideas to spend less:

• Know the prices and shop the sales that really are a good deal
• Go in with another family and shop in bulk
• Reuse last year's stuff--you don't have to buy a new backpack every year
• Don't buy everything on the suggested school supply list--your child is probably not going to use 2 packs of graph paper anyway
• Buy during your state's "Tax Free" week if they have one
• Consider buying online--more than likely if you go into a store, you'll buy more items
• When your child is old enough, give them a budget amount for supplies--they can be very creative on where to cut back
• Use paper bags from the grocery store to cover books vs buying the cloth book covers--your child can decorate the book cover too
• Wait until late October or November to buy the fall clothes--they'll  be on sale then

You Never Told Me That!

If you have a student in your house heading off to college in the next month, you've probably figured out how to pay for college (or at least the first semester) and are in the midst of getting dorm supplies. Unless you've been through this before, you might think that you're done--all the boxes are checked. However, there are some conversations you still need to have with your student--that involve finances and might be difficult conversations:


Who pays child’s spending money? If you are giving the student their spending money, be clear on how much, how often and what happens if they want more. If you are requiring the student to supply their own spending money, help them decide how much they need--are they earning it over the summer or are they working during school? Either way, help them create a budget.
What happens if child fails a class? Be clear on expectations--is there a certain grade point that is expected if the parent is paying for college? How will the parent know what the grades are (only the student will have access to their record)?
How many years can child attend college? If the parent is paying for school, is a 5 year plan ok--or 6...7?
Who pays for Study Abroad, Summer Classes/Internships? Most study abroad programs will cost additional money beyond the normal tuition costs--into the thousands more. Summer classes can cost $1000 for one class. Some internships which offer college credit can cost thousands of dollars. Be clear on who is responsible for paying for these.
What happens if child gets into trouble—Speeding tickets, DWI, Citations etc? Be clear on who pays for lawyer's fees and what if any action will result, i.e. car being taken away, student has to return home.
What about Spring Break? Who pays for Spring Break?

Dealing with your child leaving for college can be an emotional time, full of exciting times getting ready for their new life. Having conversations on the above topics will help to ensure that all financial expectations are clear and will avoid having to deal with discussing it while they are at school in the midst of one of the situations.

Is Your Pet in Your Spending Plan?

I am unabashedly a pet lover. We currently have 3 dogs, a cat and fish. We have had in the past: hamsters; guinea pigs; pet rats (don't ask); bunnies; a lizard; multiple fish; hermit crabs and a beloved first dog. While I truly value the "invaluable" impact these animals have had on our lives, it took me a long time to realize how much they cost and to plan for those dollars. Not including pet costs in your Spending Plan will derail the plan quickly. Take a look at how much pet cages, food, accessories, toys and vet bills have cost you in the past.  Then add the line item in your Spending Plan for pets. It wouldn't hurt to add another $20 to it and save that money up for emergency vet bills--which are not an "if" but a "when". Then see if there are any cost savings measures you can take. I make my own dog treats and get flea/tick med's from Costco. I encourage responsible pet ownership which includes ensuring you have the money needed for it (along with the time and patience!)

Homemade Dog Treats: Combine 1 1/4 cup of grated Cheddar cheese, 1/4 lb of softened butter, 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour, and 1 crushed clove of garlic until well mixed. Add mile to form to dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. On a floured board, roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut using cookie cutters into whatever shape you like and bake in ungreased pan at 375 for 15 minutes. Keep refrigerated after cooking. (recipe adapted from Family Fun magazine)

How an Email Can Save You

No one really wants more emails to read through--but here's one that could protect your home and possibly your life. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is the government agency in charge of investigating the safety of thousands of consumer products and protecting us from products that could be a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical risk. According to the CPSC:

 "The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years."

You can easily sign up for their email alerts on recalled products at www.cpsc.gov. There are typically 1-2 emails a week. You can quickly glance at the item being recalled and delete it if you don't have that item. If however, you have a recalled item in your house, which could cause a fire or injury, you now have the knowledge you need to avoid that risk.  For example, a recent recall involved a folding step stool where at least one person broke a leg when the stool broke. Don't be a victim of a preventable injury--sign up for the email and protect your family and home.

Frugal Gifts for Mother's Day

While flowers and gifts are traditional ways to show your appreciation for your mother on Mother's Day, there are alternatives to spending big bucks and shower her with things that most most Mom's really want:

1) Weed the garden for her (make sure you know which are weeds first)
2) Wash and vacuum her car
3) Let her sleep in
4) Find that book or magazine that she's been trying to find time to read, sit her in a comfy chair and let her have that hour to read
5) Take her to a museum
6) Show her how to use a feature on her computer that she never had time to figure out
7) Fix--and clean up--a nice dinner
8) Find a nice garden in your area and surprise her with a picnic lunch there
9) Find a new app for her phone and show her how to download it
10) Write her a card, poem, story about a funny memory you have of her--us mom's are saps for these and will be tenderly reading them for years!