Hey Friends ~
It’s hard to believe school starts in less than 3 weeks – yikes!
Here is my favorite “Back to School”/School Supplies Shopping Tip that I’m excited to share with you!
A few years ago I brought my gang to Target to grab some of their school supplies deals. It ended up being stressful, exhausting, overwhelming and expensive!
What was supposed to be a fast “grab some deals” shopping trip ended up being a huge “whine fest”.
I left with a cart full of things I had NOT planned to buy AND a huge headache!
We now have a new joy-filled, peaceful tradition!
Each summer, I start grabbing all of the amazing school deals as I can (but I go shopping on my own!).
Just a few weeks before school starts, I open my “Back to School” Store.
I give all of my kids the supplies list they received from school, as well as a checklist of responsibilities to accomplish that day (empty out backpack, fill backpack with new supplies, etc..). You can see my peek at my Back to School list.
Last year the kids needed new backpacks, so their first stop at my “store” was to select a new back pack (of course, I had already pre-bought the backpacks).
This way I didn’t have to argue with them about why I wouldn’t buy a “Hannah Montana” backpack (or whatever).
Next the kids would walk through my store, select the supplies they needed, and highlight their sheet as they put them in their backpack.
It works like a charm!
Any extra supplies I save to either donate to their classrooms, or for mid-year when they need new glue sticks, pencils, etc..
And yes, I also have my college age son Jake play along (just not on the same day as my 3 elementary age kids). A few years ago Jake waited until the NIGHT BEFORE school started to realize he needed new stuff. We spent almost $100 on supplies, and waited in loooong lines at the supply store. Never again!
This week is a perfect week to start your “Back to School” stash. Check out these great deals!
How do you get ready for Back to School?? I’d love to hear from you!!!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. God’s richest blessings to you!
….repost from the archives…
Best idea ever. I already have one child done so I will have to do the same with the other, but next year I am all over this. Thanks for sharing.
Truly every summer the supply list costs more and more to purchase. For the past few weeks, any time we’re in the city we stop at one of the discount stores and look for what supplies are on the school’s list that are loss leaders. Was able to get most of what was required over the course of three weeks or so. After reading your post the other day and clicking on the “great deals” link, I decided to stop at Staples on my way home from work today. Got the rest of their items today, with the exception of the kleenex, bandaids, bleach wipes, ziploc bags, etc. I’m still looking for those things to go on sale somewhere.
This fall feels especially challenging to me personally since one of my girls is starting middle school, my work schedule is doubling, and my oldest daughter has moved back home and is expecting a baby in November. (Triple yikes!) So part of our preparation for back-to-school is that I’m spending time training the younger children in household tasks so I can delegate some things to them, and also working at coming up with menus and shopping lists for easy meals. It’s probably about time that I am not the only one living in the house who knows how to clean and do laundry, right?
This is my very first year doing the supply dash! I’m trying not to go into panic mode over it. But I love your fun store idea. And, yes. The key is to go to the store alone! Maybe I’ll even grab some Starbucks while I’m at it!
Also, having awesome Great Aunts who buy the backpacks helps, too!
What a great idea! Especially the part about shopping by yourself- lol!