As a mother of three I can tell you that raising children is stressful and expensive. Especially when the school year starts. I have two children in elementary school and it seems like the requests for money never stop. Their new school clothes of course. Then pictures, books, field trips, class parties, class projects etc... It really adds up fast. But, I have found some ways to ease the costs.
I like to do "back to school" shopping throughout the year. If I buy a notebook one payday and then some glue the following payday I find that its easier to not have all of the expenses the last week of August. You can collect items on the back to school list as you find great sales on them, then set them aside somewhere (out of the kids reach) until you need them.
Have the kids help you save cash for school expenses by starting a school piggy bank. Drop your spare change into the school bank after grocery shopping. Have the kids put change that they find in the car or around the house into the piggy bank, it'll add up faster than you think.
Accepting a paper route that you and your kids can do together is a great way to spend some quality time with your kids and make a few extra dollars at the same time! The kids will love taking walks with you and you'll love already having yearbook money and book fair money set aside long before its due.
Recycle! It can put a little extra change into your piggy bank and its a great way to help rescue the environment. Get the kids involved in recycling. It teaches them great values and they can use the change they make for school expenses.
Look for mail-in rebates. You can sometimes get school supplies for free this way. Often a new item will cost you a dollar or two but then you can send way for a rebait that will absorb some if not all of the items cost. Many companies offer these "free" products because the product is new to the market and the want people to give it a try.
August is a rough month for moms of school age children but it does not have to be the most expensive month of the year.
