From Barbara Whiting,
Your Guide to Stay-at-Home Parents.
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Many of our children are back in school, or will be returning to school soon. This is often a stressful and expensive time of year, especially for those of us living on one income. There are some simple ways to save money this school year, though. Consider packing a sack lunch, for instance. Depending on the price of hot lunches in your area, this could be a real money saver for your family. Our readers have supplied some of their money-saving tips for back to school, as well as some sack lunch ideas.

Money Saving Tips:

From Susan It seemed my Middle School son always wanted to have brand named "cool" clothes. I put him on his own budget for back to school clothes for the entire year. I shopped with him and he found "cool" sneakers on sale, some very hip brand name shirts. The budget includes underwear and socks also. He hasn't lost any socks in the wash. He is learning the value of a $ and is much more responsible for his things. Miracles do happen! I am going to try an amended version with my 10 year old daughter. From Fly

I save junk mail envelopes. Cross out the pre-addressed side well and mail bills, personal mail,or send field trip money to school, sort photos etc.

From Timmi

Here's a way to recycle those ponytail holders, the elastic ones with the beads that loop over each other. My daughters had a ton of them in which the elastic had been completely shot.
First, I cut off the old elastic and saved the beads. Second, I bought some elastic cord and re-threaded the beads, knotting the end of the elastic so the beads are secured. Third, tie another knot in the middle of the elastic, so that each bead is separated by the knot. You could even mix and match, using beads of different colors.

From Lisa

I have a four month-old boy and a 13 year old girl, so there are absolutely no hand-me-downs in this family. Got rid of my daughter's clothes years ago. I find I save a ton of money for my son's clothes by shopping consignment. If you pick your store right, the articles are almost like new. Our son can wear brand name (not that I care, mind you) for about 1/2 of what it would cost to shop at the actual stores (sorry Baby Gap and Roots).

For $100, I got enough clothes for the winter for him and if you time it right, the consignment shops have season-end sales and take half off again so you can shop for next summer!

Sack Lunch Ideas

From Krista

• 1 sandwich, either meat or peanut butter
  
• 1 apple
  
• 1 granola bar
  
• 1 juice box
  
• maybe something extra, like carrots, depends on what I've got.
  

From Sharon:

• turkey and cheese sandwich
  
• pretzels
  
• peaches
  
• cottage cheese (I save butter tubs and use them for the cottage cheese)
  

From Hanan:

• 2 sandwiches - cheese, PB, or meat
  
• 1 cucumber (we have the small variety)
  
• 2 pieces of fruit apple/orange/banana. Occasionally plums, peaches etc, depends what's in season.
  
• 1 carton of juice
  
• 1 litre of iced water