Deal Seeking Mom

back to school

Getting Your Kids Off to School on Time

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Perhaps it would be more apt to name this post “Getting MY Kids Off to School on Time,” because this was something we struggled with for a good portion of last year. Though they were never actually late, mornings were hectic, stressful, and didn’t exactly set the tone for a productive day — for me or for my kids.

With my kids heading back to school next week, it was time to revisit the techniques we started using at the end of last school year for an easier morning. We tweaked our morning routine to alleviate some of the pain points that we identified as being most likely to cause stress. Hint: start by taking a good, long look at your evening routine…

Check out my strategy and time saving tips on Snackpicks!

FREE Lunchbox Notes Printable Download from Paper Coterie

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Here are some super cute FREE Lunchbox Notes Printables that you can download from Paper Coterie!  These are great for messages of appreciation, comfort or praise!

Remember, new customers to Paper Coterie can get a FREE Custom Journal ($16 value) with the coupon code WELCOMEJOURNAL.  Shipping charges apply.  You can choose from lots of beautiful designs and customize your journal with photos and text.  These journals make a fabulous unique gift and you’ll love the high-quality.  Here’s how to get your custom journal:

  • Visit Paper Coterie and click on the “Journals” tab.
  • Select a design and create your custom journal.
  • Use promo code WELCOMEJOURNAL during checkout.
  • Just pay shipping of $7 plus taxes.
  • Enjoy your beautiful custom journal!

Thanks, Cleverly Simple!

Easy No-Sew Pencil Holder and Notebook Cover

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The first day of school is right around the corner for us, so we did this little craft project the other day to get the kids excited about going back! Putting these cute pencil holders and notebook covers was simple enough for my older kids to do by themselves and requires no sewing skills.

We picked up all of the necessary supplies at Walmart for about $15, including a couple of notebooks and a box of pencils. You should be able to get at least six notebook covers and nine pencil holders out of one package of felt, so these would make great, inexpensive gifts as well.

Here’s what you need:

  • package of multi-colored felt, $3.97
  • Aleene’s Fabric Fusion Adhesive, $4.97
  • buttons or other embellishments, $1.97
  • pencils, $0.94
  • 4×6 notebooks, $0.94 ea.

The glue was the biggest expense in this project, but this little bottle will go a long way. Plus I can see it coming in very handy for so many other things, especially since it’s washable after 48 hours!

To make the pencil holders:

  1. Cut one piece of felt that is 3″ x 12″ and another that is 3″ x 6″. I used two different colors for contrast.
  2. Apply fabric glue to both long sides and the bottom short side of the smaller piece of felt.
  3. Just line up the edges and press together.
  4. Embellish with buttons or other items and fill with pencils once the glue dries.

To make the notebook covers:

  1. Cut a piece of felt that is 6 1/2″ x 12″.
  2. Center your notebook on the felt and fold the edges over — it should be about 1 1/2″ folded on each side to allow it to close once glued.
  3. Glue the top and bottom in place to hold the notebook. At this point you may want to remove the notebook and use a heavy book or pan to hold the felt flat while the glue is drying.
  4. Embellish with buttons or other items and reinsert the notebook once the glue dries.

I really wanted to use my pinking shears to fancy up the edges, but of course, I can’t find them at the moment. I’m sure they’ll turn up — just a little afraid to see where.

Wouldn’t the notebooks make a fun meet-the-teacher gift?

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for the time and effort spent creating this post. However, my participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own — always have been, always will be.

School Supplies: Walmart vs. Target Head To Head

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School Supplies Pencils Erasers August 07, 20103
Photo by Steven Depolo

We’re down to the wire on Back To School shopping, and for many of us, kids have either already started or will be starting next week. The National Retail Foundation estimates that the average family will spend $96 on school supplies, which is nearly 10 percent more than last year. Is it too late to score a good deal, or are there still deals to be found if you know where to look?

I headed out to my local Walmart last week with ABC 6 On Your Side to see what we could find out. You can check out that segment here.

After leaving Walmart, I headed over to Target to do a price-for-price comparison. To be completely fair, I didn’t use any price matching or coupons, and I only compared like items of the same brand and size. I have to say the results kind of surprised me:

As you can see, Walmart and Target came out dead even. I completely expected Walmart to top Target with their everyday low prices, but then again, I live in a very competitive market.

Of course, if you’ve been a savvy shopper and stocking up on the loss leaders since the deals started in late June/early July, you’ll have picked up the same list for a fraction of what you’d spend right now. But in all cases, we’ve ended up far below the retail average.

What are some tips for saving on last-minute Back To School supplies?

  • Make a list — If you create a list and stick to it, you’re going to ensure that you get everything you need in one trip. This is especially helpful if you have several students. Combine all of their lists into one master list, and you’ll save yourself a huge headache.
  • Take inventory — I know my kids came home with bags of unused glue sticks, pencils, erasers, scissors, etc. at the end of last year. Don’t let these items go to wast. Take them into consideration when making your list for this year. Likely you’ll find many of these items listed once again.
  • Do your homework — Gather up those current sales ads and see what the prices are like this week so you can plan your trip accordingly.
  • Save on gas — Utilize price matching so you’re not running all over town. Carry all of your ads into a store and have that store meet the advertised prices. Walmart and Target both offer this service, but in my opinion Walmart has the advantage here because they will do it right at the register without the additional hassle of lugging your items to the customer service desk.
  • Don’t forget your coupons — More and more schools are asking parents to supply classroom items outside the traditional school supplies. Items on our list include things like hand sanitizer, Clorox Wipes, Kleenex, and Ziploc Bags. You’ll find coupons available for all of these items in the Deal Seeking Mom Coupon Database.

So where would I choose to shop given the fact that Walmart and Target were evenly matched in this case? For me it comes down to ease of use.

As you can see in the news segment, my Walmart store was well organized with wide aisles and everything located where I could quickly and easily get in and out. Target, on the other hand, looked like a war zone. I spent a good 30 minutes trying to find all of the necessary items on my list, and several items were out of stock, which left me heading back to Walmart to finish up my supply list.

So what store is your first choice for purchasing school supplies? If you’ve already shopped, did you come in above or below the national average of $96?

I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation to perform the above shopping comparison. Participation in this program is voluntary. All opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.