Grown-ups never forget the annual bummer that is the end of summer vacation.
Getting back into the morning waking and dressing routine may be tough on kids. But the expenses associated with back-to-school time translate into a special brand of stress reserved just for parents.
The , according to the National Retail Federation. Those costs include about $246 on clothes, $217 on electronics, $129 on shoes, and $95 on school supplies.
What’s more, . Consider that this school year in Colorado’s largest district, Jefferson County, a $20 technology fee, up to $65 for art, up for $70 for foreign language, up to $32 for language arts, up to $150 for math, up to $100 for science, up to $15 for social studies, and $150 per team sport. And that $602 does not include costs for campus parking or riding a school bus.
Take heed, Mom and Dad. For each expense or time drain, there are strategies for undercutting it. So here are smart ideas for each month of the coming school year.
August
Put off school supply shopping? No sweat.
Seasoned moms and tout these school-supply strategies:
• Take inventory of what’s already at home.
• Stick to the teacher’s list.
• Set a budget, then get children to help with it.
• Bypass trendy stuff.
• Familiarize yourself with a store’s refund and exchange policies to more easily return things as needed. (Keep in mind that some purchases can be non-refundable or come with restocking fees.)
After the back-to-school crush leaves parents low on cash yet in need of a reward, capitalize on
• Enter to win $25 or $50 in free music during through Sept. 15.
• Who can resist a $500 shopping spree? Enter to win one at the daily through Aug. 31. .
• Maybe a $200 H&M family makeover is more up your alley? The is the result of a partnership with , the traveling nightclub dance party (held during the day) for families with kids. Visit babylovesdisco.com to enter. And, mark your calendar: Baby Loves Disco gets the party started at 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Denver Pavilions.
September
When it comes to mastering weekday mornings and to-do lists, : “I always lay the kids’ uniforms and school things out the night before, once they are asleep. When it’s quiet, I can check the ‘kid list’ for… items to bring in, consent forms, ballet kit, etc., so that the morning is less of a scramble,” Paltrow told People magazine.
October
The season of ghosts and goblins is at hand. But recently, served as a reminder that real monsters exist in the form of bullies.
Children who don’t want to go to school may be the victims of bullying. Other signs of trouble include damaged or missing property, or trouble eating or sleeping, . To help, get kids to talk about the situation and teach them to prepare a confident, composed response to harassment.
Living with a bully? , parenting expert and psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini suggests setting or re-establishing a nightly meal time, and then being there; exhibiting respect and manners and insisting that kids do the same; and finding a parenting class.
“Kids are mirrors of the home,” Rapini writes. “I have never met a bully child without later meeting a bully, absent, or abusive parent.”
November
Thanksgiving menu planning is a reminder of the . A recent issue of included these suggestions for shrinking the grocery bill:
• Use coupons now. Many expire more quickly than they used to. Some couponing sites to try: CouponBlender.com, Shortcuts.com, and TheGrocery Game.com.
• Buy store brands instead of national brands. This can save you up to 60 percent, or about the same as shopping warehouse clubs.
• Shop dollar stores for staples like bread, eggs and toilet paper.
December
Emily Post may think that “holiday tipping is really holiday thanking,” but when either budget or tastes call for a more modest holiday token — for teachers or coaches for instance — teach kids the many virtues of handmade gifts. A few easy DIY gift ideas include , , and of course the proverbial holiday sweets.
When you do buy, save on holiday gift cards by visiting such websites as or , which offer them at a discount.
January
Feeling the post-holiday budget pinch? Make a financial New Year’s resolution by practicing one of these .
• Bypass fresh flowers in favor of flowering plants. Those who spend $20 a week on fresh flowers lose $1,040 a year to that indulgence. A potted begonia or succulent can be just as pretty.
• Share a baby-sitter or nanny with a neighbor.
• Skip buying that new $22 hardback and instead head to the library for not only books but also movies and games.
• Suspend that gym membership and work out at home, a nearby playground or rec center.
February
Romance is in the air this month, even for the frugal.
When the time comes for parents to get a night off, one go-to local resource for free and cheap entertainment is milehighonthecheap.com. : “Public Star Nights” featuring stargazing through a high-power telescope twice a month at the Berthoud High School; author readings at The Tattered Cover; or any one of the First Friday art walks in gallery districts statewide.
March
Spring break brings a much-needed respite, and it can be done on a budget. Shop around. Take time to compare prices for airfare, hotels, rental cars and ticketed attractions, advises Disney’s family.com website. To save even more when traveling as a family:
• Stock up on batteries, sunscreen and other travel essentials before you leave.
• Ask resorts and travel-service companies about available discounts and coupons.
• Consider lodging away from tourist zones.
• Kitchen meals, even on vacation.
• Give kids their own souvenir money to budget and spend, but also challenge them to find a free memento.
April
Gearing up for a birthday? It may be tempting to . But here in the real world, parents can outlined by “Living on a Dime” blogger Tawra Kellam. She keeps the cost of her kids’ parties to about $20.
• Make it a family-only party, or limit the number of guests (but anticipate a couple of crashers).
• Keep shopping and cooking simple by mainly providing cake and drinks.
• Hit thrift stores and garage sales for party decorations.
• Scavenger hunts and homemade “Pin the tale on the…” games provide inexpensive, interactive fun.
May
And just like that, another summer vacation arrives. Kids who are too young for a summer job can still learn the value of the dollar by doing odd jobs for cash. Any one of these strategies for earning compiled by Crystal Paine in “The Money Saving Mom’s Budget” (Gallery Books) would suit an ambitious youngster.
• Paint address numbers on curbs, charging $10 or so per house.
• Make and sell anything from beaded jewelry to fresh jam. Set up a farmer’s market booth or hold a regular yard sale to showcase your wares.
• Sell off clutter. There are stores that pay for near-new fashions, DVDs, books, furniture and more. To unload more expensive items, consider a consignment store.
• And of course: Walk dogs or baby-sit.
Elana Ashanti Jefferson: 303-954-1957, ejefferson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/elanaashanti
