Money Saving Back to School Tips

Back to school time can bring a sort of panic into the heart of parents. The list of needs and wants is seemingly endless. And for those who are on a budget, this list can potentially throw-off the month's finances.

Here are some tips to help you get your little students ready for the year without breaking the bank.

1.  Buy School Supplies Early: It's hard to think of the hallowed halls of the school house when the sun is shining, but the truly fugal will realize that its important to buy a little here and there. Buy crayons, notebooks and safety scissors throughout the summer. If you see a sale, buy these items and store them away for September. Avoid buying markers and glue sticks until just prior to the first day of school.

2. Buy Some Clothing Items Early (but not all): Take advantage of clearance sales to help supply your little ones with back to school clothes. It's best to buy at the end of each season. Buy athletic wear such as gym clothing which typically is on sale at the end of the spring season. These items typically have elastic waistbands and will still fit the little ones even if they experience a growth spurt. Don't buy athletic shoes or pants, as they may not fit by the time September rolls around.

4. Ask for hand-me-downs: If you know of a friend who has a child a size or two ahead of yours, ask for their hand-me-downs. You may offer to pay for them too, but you are likely to get a better deal from a friend than from a store. Ask to pay for clothes that would not sell at a consignment store because they have a slight imperfection or because it is out of season. Even though these items may not sell at a consignment store (tags removed or whatever reason), many still have a long life left in them. You will be doing your friend a favor by offering them money for items they would otherwise have to discard. Many of these items will be usable as school clothes, but some will only be play clothes worthy. Even worn-out tank tops and t-shirts can be used under other items and pants with frayed cuffs can be hemmed.

5. Shop Sales: Keep a close eye on back to school sales. You can often find crayon boxes for .25 and glue sticks for .10. Combine coupons and sales for the best deals. Consider buying an extra box of crayons for next year.

6. Shop Consignment Stores: Check consignment stores often for items on your need and want list. Clothing items, backpacks and some school supplies are available at consignment stores.

7. Buy A Little At a Time: You don't everything for the first day of school. Buy the essential school supplies, reuse items from last year at first and make sure that the kids have at least one new item (such as shirt) to go to school in. Buy the rest of the supplies and clothing over the course of the first few weeks of school.

Follow these tips and you'll be saving a bundle on back to school items.

Prescription eye glasses for $8!

If you wear glasses you are probably all too aware of the high price of prescription eye glasses. What if I told you that you could have high quality prescription glasses for just $8!? YIPEE!! That's what I said when I found out. For those of you on a tight budget who need to buy new glasses for yourself or someone in the family, this might be something worth considering.

The company is called Zenni Optical. As I said before, they have prescription eyeglasses starting at $8 a pair (only $4.95 S&H). I have not personally ordered from this company, but have heard NUMEROUS testimonies from happy customers.

If you are concerned about being able see how you look in the glasses before you order, perhaps you can check out some styles and colors at your local glasses store.

Frugal Tip: Buy Produce in Season

New coupon users often wonder how they can create healthy meals on a lean budget when there are rarely any produce coupons offered. Although it is true that you are saving lots of money on your grocery bill, so you can afford to add a bit of fresh produce to your list without too much guilt. For the serious frugal shopper, it is sometimes mentally difficult to pay full price for... well, anything. If you buy fresh produce in season, you will save a lot money. If you need a fruit or vegetable that is not in season, consider buying it frozen or canned.

Here is a list of produce and when they are in season. If you want to buy fresh produce, chances are that if you purchase the vegetables and fruit that are in season, you'll end-up paying a lot less.

• January:
  oranges
  grapefruit
  lemons
  tangerines and tangelos
  lemons
  papayas
  cabbage
  leeks
  broccoli
  cauliflower
• February:
  same citrus fruits as above
  papayas
  broccoli
  cauliflower
• March:
  pineapples
  mangoes
  broccoli
  lettuce
• April:
  (Same as March)
  zucchini
  rhubarb
  artichokes
  asparagus
  spring peas
• May:
  (Same vegetables as listed in April)
  pineapples
  cherries
  apricots
  okra
• June:
  watermelon
  strawberries
  cantaloupe
  cherries
  blueberries
  peaches
  apricots
  corn
  lettuce
• July:
  watermelon
  strawberries
  cantaloupe
  berries
  peaches
  apricots
  kiwi
  raspberries
  plums
  cucumbers
  tomatoes
  summer squash
  corn
  green beans
  lettuce
• August:
  Same as July
  eggplant
• September:
  grapes
  pomegranates
  persimmons
  eggplants
  pumpkins
  tomatoes
  spinach
  lettuce
• October:
  cranberries
  apples
  pomegranates
  persimmons
  pumpkins
• November:
  Same as October excluding apples
  oranges
  tangerines
  pears
  winter squash
  sweet potatoes
  broccoli
  mushrooms
  spinach
• December:
  pears
  oranges
  tangelos
  grapefruit
  tangerines
  papayas
  pomegranates
  sweet potatoes
  mushrooms
  broccoli
  cauliflower
• Always "in season": potatoes, bananas, celery

Recession Proof Industries

I found this article about Recession Proof Industries interesting, so I thought I'd pass it along. It's no wonder the super markets are thriving!!

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107107/7-Industries-That-Are-Still-Making-Money-in-a-Recession

A Frugal Easter

Those of us who live a frugal lifestyle are well aware of how to live quite comfortably on a fraction of the retail cost. But when it comes to holidays and celebrations, sometimes it’s hard to maintain that frugal mindset. I’m not suggesting that we abandon our frugal habits, throw caution to the wind and spend all the money we’ve worked so hard to save. No! But what I am suggesting is that we let our hair down just a little and open our wallets… just a little and really enjoy life. Doesn’t mean we have to spend a fortune doing it. Here are some frugal tips on how to celebrate Easter without breaking the bank:

Easter Dinner: The Easter dinner is a crucial element for most families Easter celebration. Do you want to go out or eat in? Small, intimate family gathering, or a huge family event? Whatever you decide to do, there are ways you can reduce your cost.

Eating out:
Call around to several location where you might want to eat your Easter dinner. Ask questions about coupons (most places do not accept coupons on holidays), senior or children’s discounts and any special (raised) pricing for the day. Ask about what is on the menu and if it is an “all you can eat” buffet or if you pay by the trip. Armed with this information, you will be able to make much wiser decisions and budget for the day.

Is it really necessary to eat your full meal at a restaurant? How about preparing a nice brunch at home and then packing up the family to eat a nice restaurant for dessert? Avoid the crowds and still have the memories and photo opportunity, but at a fraction of the cost.

Celebrating a day early or late is another way to maximize your savings without sacrificing. You can still dress up and celebrate the day with your family without fighting the crowds or paying the higher, holiday prices.

Eating in:

This is where you can really save some money! Easter is about how Christ died for our sins and rose again and not about bunnies and buffets. A nice intimate family gathering or even a large family party can be far less expensive and much more enjoyable than sharing your holiday with a crowd of strangers.

If you decide to eat in, there is still plenty of time to shop for your meal using coupons and sales. Look through the weekly ads and your coupon stash and plan a menu. Then stock-up! Freeze items that have a short shelf life and pre-make what you can.

If you are invited extended family, plan your menu well in advance and don’t be afraid to ask people to contribute. Make sure you are well organized so you don’t have a buffet with three fruit salads, but no ham!

Decorations:

Most of us have a box or two of Easter decorations that we can drag out of the garage or attic to add a bit of spring to our house. But if you want to change the look of your decorations or expand your festive look, there are many ways you can do this economically.
Walmart and fabric stores often have fabric on sale for only a dollar a yard. I’ve found that three yards of fabric is the right amount for most of my projects. Although you are not likely to find Easter themed fabric in the clearance bin before the holiday, you are likely to find pastel colored fabrics or spring floral designs. These fabrics are great for many decorating needs. Spruce up your table by using the fabric as a new tablecloth, drape it on your buffet table to add a festive touch or cut the fabric into one yard segments and use the cloth bunched around the centerpiece decorations on your table.

Colored eggs in dollar store baskets or any pretty container are beautiful decorations. And fresh flowers (visit your garden instead of the florist) are always pretty! Even “wild flowers” can make attractive decorations.

Raid your kids’ toy boxes for all those stuffed bunnies, duck and geese. Assuming they are in good shape, stuffed animals can be cute and whimsical additions to your Easter decorations.

Activities:

An old fashioned Easter egg hunt is always popular with the little ones. Most of us have a stash of plastic eggs from previous years. Fill these eggs with fun and free items! Pick-up stickers and suckers and candy from the bank on every visit and hide them away until you can fill these plastic eggs . Coins and bulk candy are also good additions to Easter eggs. If you want to add fun surprises, visit the local library for free bookmarks and stickers and many malls offer “goodie bags“ to their kid customers. Just visit customer service to ask if your mall participates in this program. Adding homemade cookies wrapped in pretty foil or a “coupon” for an upcoming trip to their favorite restaurant will also help fill in those eggs. Visiting the party section of your local store can also yield some small and inexpensive gifts.

Easter baskets can be beautiful and elaborate, but they don’t have to be. If you don’t want to recycle last years basket (or have a special basket that is used every year) you don’t necessarily have to go out and buy an expensive and elaborate basket. Spruce up an old or cheap, plain basket with fresh or silk flowers, small bunnies, ribbon leftovers and other small Easter themed decorations. Also, utilitarian objects can make great baskets. Just think of useful containers and you’ll have a whole lot to choose from. For instance, if you children need small plastic bins for sorting and storing their toys, why not use these bins as their Easter baskets. Filled with goodies, you won’t even notice the container.

The internet is full of fun Easter activities that can be used both to entertain the kids and to teach them about the true meaning of Easter. Just do a search and you’ll end up with hundreds of sites with interesting crafts.

Attire:

Easter Sunday Best = Expensive clothing bill. But it doesn’t have to! Hand-me downs that are in good shape are very appropriate for Easter Sunday. New outfits can be found right in your closet. Try mixing and matching items not before worn together. Or simply add a new scarf, ribbon, pin or sash, to create a different look.

How ever you celebrate just keep Christ at the center and make fun, family memories.