As parents we all know that we often hear our own words out of our kids’ mouths. I have noticed lately that my bargain shopping habits are rubbing off on my kids! First my mom reported that when she was in a store with my daughter and couldn’t find a price tag on an item, my daughter said, “Well, let’s find a scanner and scan it!” (This comes from the fact that I’m always scanning things at Target to see if they have been marked down). Then I brought her with me this week to the big Target Toy Clearance and she was the best little savvy shopping partner…she kept finding toys saying “Is this one on sale?”, “Look for the red stickers!” and “Nope…can’t get that one…it’s not on sale!” And it’s not just my daughter that has inherited my shopping skills. I asked my son recently if he knew what “Clearance” meant and he said, “It is something that is wonderful.” Ha! I agree, buddy. When we play “store” at home, my kids always whip out pretend coupons with their pretend money. I just have to say that I am super proud of my little Savvy Shoppers! It may just be kind of cute now, but my hope is that they really are learning that saving money can be fun and that paying full price is overrated!
I Am Not Ready
I am not ready! Really, I am not ready and I am quickly running out of time. I can’t believe it is almost and I have done absolutely nothing to prepare. Seriously, where did this summer go?
Like most teachers, who have the summer off, I always have big plans. I am going to rest up and get rejuvenated. I am going to spend more time with my kids, we are going on a family vacation, hit the pool, go to baseball games, and do everything else you are supposed to do in June, July, and August. Oh wait, I am a teacher, what I meant to say is that I always have big plans for the summer, I am going to plan lessons, write new curriculum, brush up on my subject matter, put together new syllabi, and get all of my classes ready to go. This will be my ninth year teaching and every summer is the same. I have big ideas, have wonderful plans and then do nothing about it.
Seriously, I have to report back to school in exactly ten days and I have done absolutely nothing to prepare. I am teaching two new classes this fall and I haven’t even worked up a syllabus or cracked open a single book. I tried, I really did. I have the textbooks sitting out in plain view, I have thought about what I want to do with each of my courses, but other than that I have done nothing. The time always seems to get away from me. Honestly, I try not to even think about school during the months of June. That is my month to relax and rejuvenate. It is also the month that my boys usually have Scout camp and baseball. My goal is to start getting ready for the coming school year after the Fourth of July. Between the end of the baseball season, Scout camp for my oldest son, trips to the pool, a week in St. Louis, a book signing, and just staying home with the kids, I have done nothing. July has escaped my grasp and now I am staring August straight in the face.
In ten days I have to walk back into school and a week after that I have to teach my first class. Will I be ready? I hope so, but I am going to be pretty busy for the next ten days. Anyone know a good babysitter?
Silly Craze
I grew up during the Cabbage Patch years. Somehow I ended up with one, but don’t remember if it was something I had to have or if I just got lucky. I’ve see the Tickle Me Elmo, Zhu Zhus, Beanie Babies and so many others come and go. The current Silly Band craze is the first in which I have had children who want the product and for once, I have to hand it to our culture and the many companies who manufacture the bands. I am so thankful that we have a “hot” item that is not in short supply and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The first time I saw the bands I thought they were for hair (my bad) but soon was schooled on the bands. They are fun and my girls enjoy seeing how many they have and trading for different shapes, animals, words, etc. The bonus is I don’t have to wait in line at crazy hours to purchase it and they are easily affordable. Has the Silly Band craze hit your home yet?
Posted by Margaret Sarver
Is Couponing Worth It?
There was recently an article posted on Yahoo Finance titled: 8 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Coupons. If you are someone who never uses coupons, these could be some of your reasons why you don’t. Of course, those of us who use coupons disagreew with most, if not all, of thsi article. I of course find that I disagree more than agree with her. I’ll go through each point she makes to tell you why I disagree. .
1. You Have to Buy a Newspaper. Not necessarily. Many times, there are offers for free subscriptions. You can ask a neighbor or family member for the inserts if they don’t use them. So, don’t think you must buy a newspaper to get coupons.
2. Clipping Coupons Takes Time. Of course it can. If you only clip what you need, you can be done in a matter of minutes. If you clip all coupons, of course that can take longer. By claiming it takes to much time just says to me that this person wants things done for her. If you determine the time it takes to cut your coupons each week (probably less than an hour) and add up your savings, that is just money in your hand.
3. Getting a Newspaper Invites Other Advertising Into Your Home. I will say that this one confused me the most. She claims that having ads lying around invites you to spend where you shouldn’t. Any person who really is into saving money knows when something is a good deal and when it is not. I tell my children “NO” all of the time – no, you can’t have another glass of juice; no it is not time for a snack; no – you can’t stay up late tonight. As an adult, you have to know your budget and realize that you can’t have everything you want in life.
4. Many of the coupons will will be for things you neither want nor need. We can’t have everything we want, can we? Sure, some weeks will be full of coupons you need and others will not. You have to ride the peaks and valleys. Besides, if the coupon you need isn’t in the newspaper, you can always try to find it on-line and print it out before you shop.
5. Coupons can tempt you to spend grocery dollars on things you shouldn’t. Again, this comes back to self-discipline. If you see a coupon for something you would never buy, this does not give you the “OK” to go ahead and purchase it. You have to use self-control and only get the things you really need.
6. The same coupons tend to be offered over and offer again. I really don’t see any negative with this issue. If use certain products, I look forward to always finding those coupons in my newspaper. Of course, there are times when I do tire of seeing the same ones, but you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to saving money.
7. You might become a slave to coupons. Her rational here really made me roll my eyes. Every couponer knows when something is a good deal and when it isn’t. We know that we might get a better deal on things, but when we need things, we purchase them. Sure, we might not like having to pay full price for it, but we take the good with the bad.
8. Shopping takes longer. I honestly spend the same time when I shop using coupons or do not. I make my list before I shop and I take the coupons I need with me. If you have a coupon for dressing, then it really doesn’t make you search the aisles for your item — it is where you normally purchase your dressing. Now, if you are planning on trying to use all of the coupons you have in your possession, sure, it can take longer. However, most couponers are planners and know WHAT they are planning on purchasing. And, if I do spend longer shopping, it usually isn’t because I need to use coupons….it’s to give me some “ME” time.
You might agree with what this author says, you may disagree. Whatever your stance, I always tell people to do what works for them. For some, clipping coupons is too much work. However, for most of us, saving an additional $50 – $100 is just too much fun to pass up!
Beating the Back to School Morning Blues
I used to be a morning person. Then, I had children. Now, the thought of being anywhere before 9 or 10 a.m. makes me tired. Iâ’ve loved that all summer weâ’ve only had to be somewhere â”earlyâ” a handful of times.
So, you can imagine it made me a bit anxious while at school registration to realize that my daughter would be starting school before 8:30 a.m. each day. Okay, so I knew that school started around then as Iâ’ve seen the neighbor children walk to school for the past three years. However, something about holding the paperwork in my hands that stated the school start time made it more real.
Now, I know that plenty of parents get their children out the door much earlier than I will have to this school year, and they do it year round because they work. However, for us, this will be a bit of a shock to our systems.
 It isnâ’t that my children sleep in. (Wouldnâ’t that be nice!) No, they will likely have been up for a couple of hours before that school bell rings. Itâ’s just that we donâ’t get moving very fast in the mornings. On the mornings when we do have to be somewhere, Iâ’m afraid it isnâ’t very pleasant. I bark orders and the children drag their feet.
Weâ’ve gotten by with this less than ideal arrangement because we donâ’t usually have to be anywhere early in the morning. Now that school is going to be an everyday thing, we need a new plan. I donâ’t want to send my children off to school with a mama who rushed them all morning. No one needs to start her day like that!
So, Iâ’m asking you, moms and dads, whoâ’ve been there and done that… How do you manage the morning chaos? What works for you to ensure that your children leave from a relatively calm household? Please share as Iâ’m sure Iâ’m not the only one who is a bit concerned about those back to school mornings. In the meantime, Iâ’ll be shopping for a bulk supply of coffee. I think Iâ’m going to need it.
Back to School Traditions
We asked KC Parent readers to share their Back-To-School Tips and Traditions… these are just a few of our favorites!
Back To School Traditions:
Family Back To School Traditions:
Shannon Callaghan, “Great-Grammy calls on the first day of school before the bus comes and sings the back to school song she did with my husband and his brother and all the grandchildren! They look forward to it every year. Then I cook pancakes and wait for the bus with them.”
Ashley Johnson Pearson, “It was always exciting going to our school’s front windows in early August where they posted the class roster, and you finally got to find out who your teacher was going to be, and what kids were going to be in your class!”
Missy Moore Fisher, “I always take a day off work the day before school starts and go somewhere with my boys to enjoy their last day of summer with them. We have gone to the pool, the zoo, Worlds of Fun or a number of other things.”
Debby Axmann, “We record height and weight and take pictures at home and in front of the school. Also, we plan a special dinner that evening.”
Rachael Baker Grant, “We start by making our daily routine schedule for when school starts, we look through the ads for school supplies that we will need for the year and online coupons for sales on Back to school clothes. The kids also get to pick one “end of the summer activity” they want to do. They like to choose Union Station, Crown Center, or Worlds of Fun. Right before school starts, we get our haircuts done, clothes picked out for the week, “special lunches made by mom with love”, and First day of School pictures. My kids have asked to walk to school so we will be taking a Morning walk to school this year on their first day.”
Laura Alvarado, “I always walk the kids into class and help them meet their new teacher and spend a few moments talking to them. We do something special after school also like going to the park with friends from class.”
Dorothy Francois, “I always take the first day of school off so that I can take my kids to school. For the youngest child, I walk her to her class. Instead of riding the bus home, I am there to pick them up, so we can talk about the day. The week before school starts, we redesign their rooms for the school year.”
Sandee Manz, “My kids are homeschooled …on the first day of school they each come down for breakfast to find a new backpack full of supplies and fun items … even my high school kids love to see what is inside their new backpack.”
Allison Cook Pugh, “We don’t have any back to school memories yet but when I was little my dad always took us to school on the first day. He always worked long hours so it was very special for him to take the morning off and see us off on that first day!”
Jacque Jenkins McLean, “This is our first year for school, so we will shop for school supplies, new school clothes and we will read The Kissing Hand the night before his first day!”
Christine Strube, “My husband always takes the kids to school and I pick up on the first day.”
Kathryn Oliver, “We always walk our kids to school the first day and take pictures. My daughter’s first day of Kindergarten she was accompanied by Mom, Dad, big brother, Grandma and Grandpa. I’m sure the teacher was wondering what the year was going to be like!”
Teri Trautman, “My sisters, mom, nieces and my daughter meet the night before school starts to watch the girls show off their first day of school outfit and paint fingernails and toenails!”
Stanley Apostolakos, “The weekend before school starts, we do whatever the kids want. It’s their chance to say goodbye to summer break.”
Jen Brake Sullivan, “We are going to have a “Smart Cookie” Party before school starts. This will be a new tradition for us. We also do the beginning and end of year pictures!”
Fabulous Photo Ops on the 1st Day of School:
Amy McMullen, “We planted a tree the same year my son started preschool (and both were about the same height). Each year, we take a picture of him in front of the tree on the first day of school. It is a fun to look back and see how much my son has grown and the tree, too.”
Daphne Scott Rodlund, “My husband and I take the girls to school and take pictures with their new teachers. We frame the pics and the girls like to give the picture to their teachers on birthdays or as a holiday gift. (We always keep a copy of course.)”
Rebble Kelsey, “We take photos of the kiddos getting into the van, then a few at the new classroom. After school we go to get ice cream and out to dinner. We are always sure to include the backpack in the photo so that we can remember what they were “into” at that point!”
Amy Vance, “We take pictures and do a fashion show with all the new clothes… the kids get excited and entertained for an hour or so.”
Mandy Carroll Lynn, “I take my daughter for a mini mani & pedi, and a new haircut. On her 1st day I make her favorite breakfast, and I take lots of pictures. I follow the bus to school, so I can get picture of her returning home too.”
Beth McDaniel, “Our tradition is to get your picture taken holding your lunchbox on the first day of school, right after you get measured for height on the wall each year.”
Mary Vanhooser, “I take a picture of my daughter on the first day of school on the front porch in her new outfit. Then I take the same picture, in the same outfit, on the last day of school to show how much she’s grown.”
Miranda Steffen, “Our biggest Back-to-School tradition involves our girls each having a new outfit to wear the first day and then taking pictures outside the house with their backpacks. My mom did this with my sister and I and I definitely wanted to continue it with my own children.”
Sachia Logan, “I always take a picture of the kids the very first day of school. I try to get a picture of the front of the school. I then make a scrapbook page for them. You would be surprised how much elementary schools change just in 6 years. I always take each child out to choose a backpack or folder of their choice. I love the way new crayons smell so sometimes I just have to buy an extra set just for me…just so we can color when we get home.”
Back To School Shopping:
KC Parent Magazine’s Big Tip, “Save money by shopping during Missouri’s Tax Free Weekend on August 6-8, 2010. School supplies will be exempt from sales tax saving parents even more money! Read these guidelines for specific details.”
Allyson ‘Horner’ Hild, “Our grandma used to take my sis and I to get new outfits, haircuts, and shoes for the first day of school and then we would put on a show and “model” them for my grandpa and grandma that night. I plan on carrying on that tradition with my children.”
Janelle Nokes, “We go down to Osage Beach and do our back to school shopping at the outlet mall there! It’s so much fun for the kids, and a change of pace from the ordinary.”
Kara Lowe Cunningham, “I love shopping for school supplies with my kiddoes. And, making sure we get in one more fun day before school starts (zoo, Build-A-Bear, etc.).”
Tessa McGee, “Every year we do the back to school clothes and supply shopping together as a family. We have two girls 11 and 5, so this year is special because our youngest gets to shop for her own school clothes and supplies. We’re very excited to see what her choices will be for the supplies. The fun part is trying to find the cool colors and designs for the different items you need. She is very excited, and so is our oldest because as her little sister is starting elementary, she is starting middle school!”
Sandi Stocksen Turney, “I always make it a special day with just mommy, daddy and son we go buy school supplies and some new clothes and then we go out and do something fun like mini golf or whatever for the day!”
Wendy Spilker Pollard, “Going for a day out with just me and my little princess the week before…..clothes shopping, getting nails painted and having a great lunch out together. Then on the first day of school…..pictures of her walking into school and more pictures of her coming home off the bus running so she and I can enjoy a plate of her favorite cookies and lemonade while she tells me about her 1st day of school!”
Kristal Pate, “We do lots of shopping and try to have a big slumber party before school gets back in session!”
Jennifer Breder –Simmons, “This is our First Back to school year! Our new tradition will be to take our son shopping for all his school supplies and get him really excited by letting him pick it all out!”
Caroline Germann, “This will be a first year for us and establishing a back to school tradition. I am really excited and nervous at the same time. I will be attending to consignment sales in Kansas City to stock up on back to school clothes and then attending some back to school fairs for supplies. I am looking forward to her meeting new friends and learning the routine at being in school.”
Celebrate School with Food:
Lisa Ljungdahl, “My mom always made chocolate chip cookies on the first day of school…I’m excited to continue that tradition with my kids!”
Sara Reser Keenan, “Since my son started preschool, our tradition is to have cake on the first day of school! Makes it seem like a celebration!”
Mary Collura-Aldaco, “My husband and I drop the kids off together on the first day and then since it is always a half day we meet Daddy for lunch… usually pizza!”
Jamie Kessler, “My oldest starts Kindergarten in the Fall. We will make a special trip for some back-to-school ice cream.”
Amber Miller, “We have a special dinner the night before, where each child picks what they want to eat. On the morning of the first day back it’s a huge breakfast with all the trimmings, then pictures in front of the house. And always, always a hug and a kiss from mom right before you get out of the car.”
Allison Hall Phillips, “We go to Dean and Deluca on the first day of school and the last day of school to meet Grammy for a cookie.”
Carrie Bell, “We have a tradition of going to Baskin Robbins for a “clown cone” on the first and last day of school each year.”
Erin Jones Chapman, “We buy donuts and the individual milks in any flavor the kids want. Since I am in school also, we go to the bookstore to buy my books for the semester, walk my night schedule (so the kids can picture me in class) and eat in the awesome cafeteria JCCC has to offer!”
Stephanie McCoil, “When my son was in elementary school all of the kids & parents on the block would meet at the bus stop and have donuts and milk (and coffee for the parents).”
Michelle Johnson Wheeland, “Back to school means: Shopping, first day pictures, fun little gifts that morning, and coming home to fresh baked cookies.”
Sarah Timberlake-Vier, “My kids and I always make a whole day out Back to School. We’ll go get their uniforms for school, all their needed school supplies and then always finish it off with a fun lunch at Fritz’s! Fun for the whole family!!”
Jessica Staab Hall, “We always let the kids pick out one new summery outfit and one new winter outfit and a new back pack. I get up early to make a special chocolate chip pancake breakfast. My husband takes to morning off work to walk the kids in to school, and then stays home a while to spend some time with the lonely little ones that are too young to go.”
Let’s Get Organized for School:
Tonia Collins, “Back to school for us means hitting all the sales for school supplies and then a deep clean and organize of our school space (we homeschool)-school never completely stops, but this time of year is a good time to restock and recommit!”
Kristina Hiles Carlson, “Growing up as a child getting ready for going back to school was a big ordeal in my family. We would spend a few days out buying new school clothes and school supplies. There was nothing I loved more than a new big box of crayons! My mom and dad would make us start getting up early a few weeks before school….”just to practice”. My favorite part was laying out my brand new outfit the night before. For breakfast on my first day my sweet mom would also make me whatever I wanted to eat!”
Brandi Cruse Colbert, “We round up the supplies from last year: all of the pencil boxes, pencils, scissors, etc. and organize them as backup/ homework supplies. Then we head out to buy new supplies for the coming year.”
Terri McCoy, “A week or so before school starts, we get the kids used to going to bed early again, so they will be back on their bedtime schedule. We try to hit all the sales a week or so before school for new school clothes and shoes, and school supplies for all of them.”
Sharon Andersen, “We love school supplies so shopping is always an exciting time. We practice waking up early for a week before school starts, and of course take a first-day picture with the new clothes & backpacks!”