It's that time of year again, Back to School!  Our kiddos go back to school the second week in August.  This year we will have a 9th, 7th, 5th and 1st grader, here are some tips that have been helpful for our family to gear up for Back to School.

This past weekend we finished our Back to School Shopping and made sure everyone has their back to school supplies, backpacks and lunchboxes ready.  I will encourage you to get ahead start, don't wait until the last minute.  Not only will the selection be better, the stores less crowded but I have also heard quite a bit, how there are some shortages and back orders due to shipping challenges, so shop early. 

A money saving tip especially since we all had a different kind of school year last year with many distance learning from home.  Before you head to the store for Back to School shopping, look at what you may already have.  We had many of the Back to School Supplies in our stock pile, I only needed to pick up a few things.  My older boys did not even use their school lunch boxes so I do need to buy a brand new one for them, my kindergartner did use his throughout the year and is in need of new one.  The same goes with clothes, I feel my boys did not need as much this year, because we spent a lot of time home, there was less wear and tear on many of the back to school necessities.  Of course they all needed shoes, that is a must, so before you go shopping go through your closets and clothing drawers and make a list of what really needs to be replenished. 

10 Back to School Preparation Tips
Be sure to pin these tips for later https://pin.it/56iAyo1
1. Start bedtime and wake up routine 2 weeks before school starts.  It is important to practice your school bedtime and wake up routine before the first day of school, not only for the kids to get back in the habit but also for you the parent getting them ready.  This will make the transition back to school smoother for everyone. 

2. Clean out and prepare your pantry for lunch and snack packing.  Prepare for packing lunches and snacks by stocking your cupboards and make sure you have the necessary supplies, Ziploc bags, or reusable containers.  If you have a kindergartner, practice with them opening their lunch containers and back packs, especially if they have never taken lunch before. Start searching for lunch box ideas, I find it helpful to make a list and keep it on the refrigerator of lunch food items and then I have a rotating variety to go through.  
3. Printable Lunch Box Notes. Do you like to include lunch box notes for your kiddos?  Save some time and print ahead, cut and have them ready to make mornings easier.  Here are some FREE printables I made and have used throughout the school year http://bit.ly/37V4j9x and http://bit.ly/2T9Lsk4

4. Get in the mindset of school.  Spend some time writing and reading, practicing those math facts. Even spending some quiet time at the table coloring helps the kids get back in school mode.  Set a timer for 30 minutes and have everyone read.

5. Have a spot where you set out school clothes the night before.  Having a specific spot where you lay out the next days outfit, helps both you and the kids stay organized and prepared.  Also have a designated area where backpacks will go, so they don’t have to search in the morning for their backpack. 
6. Prepare a homework station.  If you have all the tools in a central location it makes homework easier so you do not have to search for a pencil, glue, scissors or any other items.  You can find colorful containers at the dollar store and many times right in the back to school section of your local retailer.  
7. Get a head start on back to school shopping, don’t wait until the last minute.  Shop as soon as you see those back to school sales hit the stores.  Not only will you get first pick of the supplies, I find this is especially important when it comes to backpacks and lunch boxes. You can also cash in on all the Back to School SALES and avoid the crowds!

8. Print out or order those “First Day of” Signs for first day pictures.  If you like to take those memorable first day of school pictures, prepare ahead of time, you can take pictures the day before, make sure you have your camera ready, batteries charged, and if you want a sign that says the grade and date have it printed out ahead of time, or you can order signs on Etsy Shops and many blog sites, Pinterest is a great place to search for ideas. Something I did last year, was I pulled up the graphic full screen on a chrome book and took pictures with the boys holding the chrome book, I didn't even have to print them out and I thought it was perfect since we started the year out on-line distance learning. 
Here are some FREE Printables I made you can click the link or image of printable type you like for a PDF free download https://bit.ly/2VafF6a 
Here is another option for K-6th grade https://bit.ly/3BPbJZu
Here is a version for 5th-12th graders I-pad style https://bit.ly/3f2SSjD
Here is a basic version K-12th grade https://bit.ly/2UTpRAd
9. Do something fun the weekend before as a family.  With going back to school and getting back to earlier bed times and homework, plan some fun family things the week before or at least the weekend before back to school.  Visit your local swimming pool, go out for pizza, camp out in the backyard or in the front living room.  Enjoy the extra non-structured time you have now with your children.  I know once school starts, the evenings seem shorter and a little more hectic with homework, and after school activities, so enjoy and savor the moments where you have extra time to spend together without feeling rushed by schedules and to do lists.

10. Save Money!  Back to School shopping can be expensive, shop those weekly sales at stores like Office Depot and Staples where they offer penny deals, and low priced items.  If you go each week and get the deals you can save a lot of money, it all adds up.  Sign up for their store rewards, many times they have special rebate offers, where you can get printer paper and other items for FREE after rebate.

Use coupons!  You can find coupons on-line and in the local newspaper.  Let the coupon websites do the work for you, my favorite coupon sites to help save money on Back to School are Hip2Save and TheKrazyCouponLady.com.

Download my favorite money saving App IBOTTA.  The easiest money saving digital coupon App, download right on your phone https://ibotta.com/r/qygfhq.  You will love this app, you shop buying items listed in the App, take a picture of your receipt sometimes you can scan the QR code on Walmart receipts and hit submit.  You receive money back within 48 hours.  It is easy to use and there are everyday items you can get money back for, like produce, milk, and back to school supplies!
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