Back to School Traditions: Five Back to School Traditions that ROCK!

I have always been big on trying to establish traditions with my family. Last weekend I stayed at my sister’s house for a night so that she and her husband could get away for the first time in almost six years without kids and I realized that traditions don’t have to be “big” They just have to be meaningful to your family! I loved that as soon as her kids woke up Saturday morning they KNEW it was Saturday and that they could eat their breakfast in the family room while watching cartoons!

Image Credit: Nie Nie Dialogues

The summer before my daughter started kindergarten, I read on NieNie Dialogues about her fabulous Back to School feast for her kids. I’m not quite as creative (or ambitious) as she is, but I decided to start this tradition in our house. My kids have been asking me about it for a few days now. We have one of their favorite meals (so far it has been homemade macaroni and cheese four years running now!) and talk about goals, fears and the upcoming year in general.

First Day of School Picture Ideas:  Since my daughter started kindergarten, I’ve always taken a picture of her holding the date and her grade. My son starts kindergarten this year and I plan to do this again, but then I’m going to save that picture for the end of the school year and I’ll take another picture on the last day of school with each kid holding their first day of school picture like this one I found on Call Me Crafty Al!

First Day of School Picture Ideas
Image Credit: Call Me Craft Al

Back to school letter from parents
Letters - Write your child a letter at the start of the school year telling them all the things you love about them, the things you hope they’ll learn that year, or the things that they love at that point in time. Save all of the letters and make them into a book for graduation! I am planning on starting this tradition this year! When they head off to college, you can send them with their book of letters and another letter!

Image Credit: Skip to My Lou

Heart Attack - Cover your child’s door with hearts telling them all the things you love about them to start their day off right on the first day of school. This is also great for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or just because!

Image Credit: Happiness Is

Back to School Fairy – Have the Back to School Fairy visit and bring a new book, a journal, or school supplies!

Back to School Fashion show – I can remember doing this as a kid and now I love to see my kids parade around in their new school clothes while we try to choose a first day of school outfit and outfits for the rest of the week!

Don’t forget to add a special “I love you” or “Have a great day” note in their lunch boxes!  That’s something else my daughter looks forward to each year!

What are YOUR back to school traditions?

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Back to School Shopping Tax FREE Holidays 2012

Many states are offering Back to School Tax FREE Shopping holidays in 2012.  Here is a full list of praticipating states.  Follow the links for each state for more information.  Most states offer $100.00 in tax free clothing, $100.00 in tax free school supplies & $1,500.00 in tax free technology (computers and such) but be sure to check your specific state for information.  Some states offer better deals than others!

Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico (dates aren’t set yet but we assume it will be the same week as it was in 2011)
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma (dates aren’t set yet but we assume it will be the same week as it was in 2011)
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont (Vermont will not be hosting any tax free back to school holidays this year)
Virginia
Washington D.C.
West Virginia (we’ve spoken with the office of the Govenor & a date  has not been set as of yet, check back)

(Thanks Family Frugal Fun!)

 

Disney Store Back to School Deals: Backpacks for $15 and lunch totes for $8

The Back to School sales have started at The Disney Store, too!  They’ve got their character backpacks on sale for $15 (regularly $19.50) and their matching lunch totes on sale for $8 (regularly $12.50)!  Choose from Spiderman, Cars, Toy Story, Disney Princesses, Disney Fairies, and more!  Get free shipping when you spend $75 or more and enter the code SHIPTODAY at check-out.

Click here to shop this sale–> The Disney Store backpack and lunch tote sale

You can also get an additional 3% cash back when you shop through Ebates or ShopAtHome.com.  Your cash back will be credited within 30 days.  Both sites also offer a cash back bonus if you are new!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information

Back to School Clothing Deals: The Children’s Place, Gymboree, and more!

It seems like summer just started and already the Back to School clothing sales are starting!  To make the most of your back to school shopping, make sure you are registered for a cash back site!

If you’re looking for deals on school supplies, make sure you check out this post here–> School Supply Round-up for the week of 7/8

Here are my two favorite cash back sites:  I always check both of them to see who has the best cash back offer

Ebates.com – Choose between a $10 gift card for Barnes & Noble, Target, Home Depot, and more or a $5 cash back bonus after your first purchase of $25 or more.

Sign up here–> Ebates registration

ShopAtHome.com – Get a $5 cash back bonus after your first purchase!

Sign up here–> ShopAtHome.com registration

Here are some of the deals on back to school clothing:  

Children’s Place – All uniform items are marked down 25%  Plus, you can save an addition 25% off your total purchase with the code HOME72 and ShopAtHome.com is offering 10% cash back right now, too!

Crazy 8 – Save 25% on all uniforms and backpacks!  They are also having their semi-annual sale.  Prices start at $3.99.

Gap – Save 30% on all uniforms and backpacks in stores and online.  Save 30% off all sale items or 25% off regular-priced items when you enter the code GAPHAPPY at check-out.  (valid through 7/12)  Get free shipping when you spend $50 or more.  You can also get 2% cash back from Ebates or 3% cash back from ShopAtHome.com.

Gymboree – Save 25% on all uniforms, lunchboxes and backpacks.  They are also having their Big Red Balloon sale!  Save up to 70% off regular retail prices!

Make sure you sign up for Gymboree Rewards.  It’s completely free and you can earn points toward gift certificates on future purchases!  Register here–> Gymboree Rewards registration 

Old Navy – Save 20% off your total online purchase when you enter the code ONSAVE20 at check-out.  Sadly, this excludes uniforms and everyday steals.  Get 6% cash back from Ebates and up to 7% cash back from ShopAtHome.com.


*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

School Supply Round-Up for the week of 7/8

I can’t believe that school supply sales have already started!  If you want to be ahead of the game and avoid the crowds in a month or so when school is actually starting, here’s a round up of the best deals on school supplies this week!

BACKPACKS AND LUNCH KITS:

Staples:

High Sierra backpacks – 50% off

Target:

Licensed backpacks – $13 each
Licensed lunch kits – $7
Lunch Essentials (insulated lunch bag, water bottle, or chill pack) – $3 each)

Walgreens:

Backpacks or tote bags – BOGO free

BINDERS: this is a great time to start your coupon binder, household notebook, and more!

Office Max:

Office Max 1″ binder – $1

CRAYONS, COLORED PENCILS, AND MARKERS:

Kroger:

Crayola crayons (24 ct) – $.29 (limit 4)

Staples:

Crayola washable markers, crayons, and watercolors – $2
Rose Art crayons (24 ct) – $.01 (w/ minimum $5 purchase) – limit 2
Rose Art classic washable markers (10 ct) – $1

Target:

Crayola crayons (24 ct) – $.50
Crayola markers (10 ct) – $.99
Crayola colored pencils (12 ct) – $.99
Rose Art crayons – $.25
Rose Art colored pencils (12 ct) – $.94
Rose Art markers (10 ct) – $.99
Rose Art watercolors (8 ct) – $.97

Walgreens:

Penway crayons (24 ct) – $.39 w/ in ad coupon

Walmart:

Crayola crayons (24 ct) – $.50
Cra-Z Art crayons (24 ct) – $.25
Cra-Z-Art colored pencils (24 ct) – $1.92
Cra-Z-Art markers (10 ct) – $.50

DRY ERASE MARKERS, HIGHLIGHTERS, AND SHARPIES:

Staples:

Bic Dry Erase markers (4 ct) – $.50
Sharpie markers (5 ct) – $1
Staples Hype! highlighters (6 ct) – $2

Target:

Bic Brite Liner Highlighters (4 ct) – $1.50
Up & Up highlighters (3 ct) – $1.17

Walmart:

Expo Dry erase markers (4 ct) – $2.50
Sharpie highlighters (4 ct) – $1.74

ERASERS:

Staples:

Pink block erasers (3 ct) – $.50

Target:

Up & Up pink erasers – $.50 (2 ct)

Walgreens:

Penway pink erasers (2 ct) – $.50

GLUE:

Staples:

Staples school glue – $.01 (w/ minimum $5 purchase) – limit 2
Staples glue sticks (4 ct) – $1

Target:

Elmer’s Glue Sticks (2 ct) – $.50
Elmer’s school glue (4 oz) – $.50
Rose Art glue sticks (2 ct) – $.25
Rose Art glue sticks (3 ct) – $.9
Rose Art school Glue (4 oz) – $.259

Walgreens:

Rose Art jumbo glue stick – $.99

Walmart:

Cra-Z-Art glue sticks (3 ct) – $.25
Cra-Z art jumbo glue sticks (2 ct) – $1.42
Cra-Z-Art school glue (4 oz) – $.34
Elmer’s school glue (4 oz) – $.50

FOLDERS AND PORTFOLIOS:

Target:

2 pocket poly portfolio – $.50
2 pocket poly portfolio with prongs – $.75

Walgreens:

Wexford pocket folders – 8/$1 w/ in ad coupon

Walmart:

2 pocket folder – $.15

NOTEBOOKS:

Target:

1 subject poly notebook – $.75
Mead 1 subject notebook – $.50
Norcom 1 subject notebooks (70 sheets) – $.17
Norcom composition books – $.50
Up&UP 1 subject notebook – $.75
Up & Up composition book (90 sheets) – $.75

Walmart:

1 subject notebook – $.17

PAPER:

Target:

Filler paper (150 ct) – $.75

Walgreens:

Wexford or Penway filler paper (wide or college ruled – 103 sheets) – $.79 each w/ in ad coupon

Walmart:

Filler paper (150 ct) – $.82

PENCILS AND PENS:

Staples:

Bic RounPaperMate mechanical pencils (5 ct) – $.25
Staples Postscript mechanical pencils (12 ct) – $1
Staples Strata pens (5 ct) – $2

Target:

Bic Cristal pens (10 ct) – $1.14
Bic mechanical pencils (8 ct) – $1.19
Papermate ballpoint pens (10 ct) – $1
Up & Up pencils (24 ct) – $1.12
Up & Up pencils (8 ct) – $.47

Walgreens:

Penway pencils (10 ct) – $.79
Papermate mechanical pencils (30 ct) – $1.99
Wexford yellow pencils (20 ct) – $.99

Walmart:

Bic Cristal pens (10 ct) – $.97
Bic mechanical pencils (10 ct) – $1.47
Dixon pencils (10 ct) – $.47
Dixon pencils (24 ct) – $1.12
Papermate pens (10 ct) – $.97

PENCIL CASES:

Staples:

Slider pencil case – $.50

Target:

Sterilite pencil box – $.99

RULERS:

Target:

Up & Up plastic ruler – $.50

Walmart:

Fiskars Flex plastic ruler-  $.97
Fiskars wood ruler – $.25

SCISSORS

Staples:

Wescott 5″ scissors (2 ct package) – $1
Wescott Preferred scissors 7″ – $1

Target:

Fiskars kids 5″ scissors – 2/$3
Up & Up 5″ Kids Pointed Tip Scissors – $.74

Walgreens:

Fiskars safety scissors – $.99/each

Walmart:

Fiskars safety scissors – $.99
SchoolWorks blunt tip scissors – $.50

NOTE:  Pricing and availability of these items may vary by location.

(Thanks Savings Lifestyle for pricing information on some of these items)


*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information