Here we are… the last long weekend before the kids go back to school! Can you believe it??
By now you’ve probably already done most of your back-to-school prep, such as:
🎒 Buying school supplies (and hopefully you went through your house to use what you ALREADY have… I know you’ve got 1000 pencil crayons kicking around… and that backpack from last year? Just get the tear sewn up.)
đź‘š New clothes & shoes (have you tried buying bundles of clothes from marketplace or varagesale? I dunno about you, but my kids BURN through their clothes and I sure as heck don’t go buy a bunch of brand new stuff when gently used items are often JUST as good.)
📱 Electronics (more than ever before, parents are footing the bill for things like Chrome books, cellphones, and headphones.)
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📢BUT I’m going to share THREE major back-to-school budgeting tips that you probably DIDN’T think of. (and if you did… GOLD star to you, my friend!)
​​✅🔮 FUTURE YOU NEEDS MONEY TOO.
✅🤩 ADJUST FOR OPPORTUNITY.
✅ 🛍️ SIMPLIFY YOUR GROCERY SHOP.
đź”®When we think about back-to-school shopping, we often think about the things that the kids will need immediately. Yeah, we can use what we have in the house, shop for the sales, and opt for the plain glue sticks instead of the pokemon-themed super coloured goo sticks. But we forget our FUTURE NEEDS! Always budget ahead, so that you don’t get thrown off by those “expected unexpected expenses.” Things like:
- Bus & transportation costs
- Sports registrations & uniformsÂ
- Extra curricular activities or elective class fees
- Before / After school careÂ
- Hot lunch programsÂ
- The “oops, I lost it” fund (water bottles, thermoses, library books)
- Pro-D day campsÂ
- Sick days (ESPECIALLY during this pandemic… how are you going to cover the days you will inevitably have to take off work?)Â
- Field trips, birthday parties, school events
🤩 Plans and budgets can be adjusted as life happens! Look for opportunities to simplify your life (and budget) as you move through the school year. Maybe you connect with another awesome mom because your kids hit it off… and an opportunity for a weekly play-date at their house becomes available… cutting that day off your before/after school care need.Instead of paying for the bus, you could find out that Bobby’s family lives right down the road and they’d be willing to carpool in the mornings. Do you love meal-prep? Offer to make school lunches for a couple of classmates for a fee. There are DEFINITELY Moms out there that are willing to pay to have that load taken off their plates. We all know that it takes a whole community to raise a child… so tap into yours and see what you can make of it.
🛍️ GROCERIES is actually one of the BIGGEST back-to-school expenses that can be cut DRASTICALLY.
I know that you’re eating money you don’t need to.
I know that you’re spending hours in the grocery store that you could be spending in the tub with a book… or at Jenny’s house with a glass of wine.
I know that the dreaded “what’s for dinner” question is draining you already.
What if I told you that you can save yourself TIME, MONEY, and ENERGY by simply changing HOW you shop?
đź””Enter my Back to School GROCERY SHOPPING GUIDE!đź””
This free guide is the BEST way for you to learn how to cut down on your monthly grocery bill, which is usually through the roof at this time of year. (You KNOW you have been opting for convenience and overspending on food.đź‘‹)
Saving money on groceries does NOT mean that you have to change your diet or become a Pinterest-worthy-coupon-STAR. It’s all about the process. Follow my guide and you’ll save more than just money… because we busy moms know our time and energy matter A LOT.
Pretty Money Blog 