How to SAVE Money going back to SCHOOL

Back to School - To-Do List.

1. Empty backpack from June. Put the contents aside; we will get back that. Bring the bag outside, and scrub it with your hose and dishwashing liquid. Rinse, then repeat. Put in the dryer or put on the clothesline. Is the backpack still in good shape now that it has been washed and dried? If not, maybe it is time to get a new one.
2. Now let's look at the contents. Do the pens still work, do the pencils have good erasers and are the highlighters still working? For the younger kids, are the crayons broken, or can they be used? 
3. Do you need notebooks or binders? Do you need paper? Maybe a new zipper pouch for pencils, pens, erasers, crayons, etc.
4. Set up "To School/From School two Ziploc (gallon size) bags. Write on one that says "Take to School for Teacher" and the other "Give to parents." Check each night.
5. Binders can be washed too and reused.
6. Now you can make of list of what items you need to replace. From pens to crayons, binders to paper. 
7. Buying new school clothes is something I never understood. The shorts and tops they have been wearing all summer are just fine. It will be warm until October, and I will only replace items if they have outgrown them or the shoes are worn. Maybe get some newer sweaters/long sleeve shirts as the weather gets cooler.

For many, money is tight right now; everything has gotten much more expensive, from gas to groceries, commuting into Boston for work with MBTA having issues on Orange and Green lines. Saving money is easy if you already have some items for back to school.

Be sure to compare the big retailers (Target, Walmart, Staples, and Amazon) prices. Check with the school on what is needed. Have you seen the list of items these retailers suggest? 

Good luck in the new school year.