Money-saving Tips for Back-to-School Shopping

Though it seems like summer has just started, it is not too soon to begin thinking about back-to-school shopping.  Beginning this task early will ensure that you are able to get organized, take advantage of coupons and sales and will allow you to spread out your spending through the summer. We have detailed some fantastic money-saving tips to help you spend less and get more for your money.   

Get Organized

The number one problem with overspending on school supplies is lack of organization.  Have you ever gone to the grocery store on an empty stomach only to come home with more than you intended?  It works the same with back-to-school shopping.  Before you head to the store, take a detailed inventory of any items from last year that will work for this year.  Have your kids sort through their clothes and shoes and determine the essentials needed to begin the year.  

Make a List

Now that you are organized, make a list and stick to it!  Most schools offer detailed supply lists of required items.  In addition to these supplies, your child will need a good backpack, lunch box and tennis shoes.  Check your inventory of items from step one and cross off anything that you already own.  Remember that the school supply list is a starting point for your child.  Depending on his age and classes, he might require a graphing calculator, PE clothing, or a specialty item for an elective class.  Add all of these items to your list.

Determine Your Budget

Back-to-school shopping can be quite expensive, so it is necessary to determine your budget before you purchase even one pencil.  Prioritize your list and estimate the cost of all of the supplies.  If the cost of the supplies is greater than your budget, you will be able to purchase top-priority items first.  Often supply lists include supplies used throughout the entire school year.  Since some of them will be used later in the year, you will be able to delay those purchases until necessary.

Shop the Sales

Beginning as early as July, major retailers begin their back-to-school sales.  In fact, some of the best deals happen when most people have not even begun to think about school shopping.  Start planning early and watch the weekly ads in your area.  You will be amazed at how much you will be able to save.

Combine Coupons with Sales

One of the great things about coupons is that they are valid even during a store sale.  Historically, manufacturers produce coupons for common school supplies throughout the summer.  Print them off or cut them from your local newspaper and then hang on to them.  When you locate a great sale, use your coupons at the same time.  This can save you hundreds of dollars, depending on what supplies are required for your child.  

Take Advantage of Tax-Free Weekend

Many states offer a tax-free weekend or tax-free shopping days specifically for back-to-school shopping.  The special often includes school supplies like pens, pencils and paper and likely also includes clothes.  Additionally, most retailers will schedule store sales, coupons and other incentives during this tax-free time.  If your state allows, this is a great time to purchase big-ticket items like computers and textbooks. Let’s be honest… most people do not want to think about back-to-school shopping during summer.  However, those months will go by much faster than you think.  Start early and plan your schedule for the summer.  You might even be done when others are just starting!

dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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Anything but basic {but oh so easy!} turkey cranberry and swiss panini

We have a few more weeks to soak up every last bit of summer and then the long warm days are going to start to be filled with short crisp falls afternoons, homework and, oh yes, a return to the classroom.

I started substitute teaching last year in my kids school district and I love it.  But that means, not only am I packing the kids lunches, I am usually packing mine as well!  I do live fairly close to the school so some afternoons I come home, let the dog out and eat lunch in silence.  Regardless, I need to start thinking of some back to school lunch ideas for myself.

Not one to procrastinate, I wanted to start coming up with some yummy sandwich ideas that I could pack for lunch before life got overwhelmingly busy again!  I whipped up this anything but basic {but oh so easy!} turkey, cranberry and swiss panini.  I can make it in less than 5 minutes and either reheat it at school, or enjoy it warm and toasty straight from my panini maker at home.

You will need:

Turkey Breast
a handful of dried cranberries
lettuce {I picked mine fresh from the garden}
soft swiss cheese {I used three triangles}
roll or yummy bread

I'm pretty sure nothing says fall like turkey and cranberries mixed together.  It's probably my favorite combination!

I can't even start to tell you how big this roll is! It's massive, which is why I used three triangles of the spreadable swiss cheese {one spread on each side, and some nice chunks on the top of the roll to melt into some yummy goodness}.

Normal people could probably use far less cheese, especially if you were concerned with calories, but I'm not because turkey.  That's why. It's like it cancels out the calories in the cheese.

I smooshed all my yummy ingredients together, rubbed the top with some olive oil and put this guy into my panini maker when really, I just wanted to put it in my belly like right this second.

But I had self control and I am so glad that I did because warm sandwich that's what.

Look how delicious this guy looks with all that melted cheese and warm turkey and cranberries.  If your mouth isn't watering then you just aren't human.

I want to hear all about your favorite sandwich combinations, since sandwiches are a big hit around our house.  So spill it!  What do you put between your bread?

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Pineapple pencil pouch made with Duck Tape

Duck Tape is by far my favorite back to school supply. I use it for everything! I update boring supplies,  I make one of a kind lunch bags and tote bags out of it, and I used it for making this fun pineapple pencil pouch for my daughter.

There are some great new prints and always fabulous solids out there. Duck Tape has the best selection!

I knew I wanted to make something pineapple themed with the pineapple tape because, hello, pineapples.

I started by making duck tape paper. You basically roll out your tape and then fold it on itself.  You connect the strips by overlapping them slightly on the top edge.

I used three strips to make the Duck Tape paper that would be big enough for my pineapple base.

I folded the paper in half {keeping the folded crease at the base for the bottom} and then cut around the edges making a pineapple shape.

I then took the coordinating yellow duck tape and attached two strips each to the top edges on both sides to make the top of the pineapple.

My husband walked in on me during this stage and thought I was making a bathing suit top!

At this point, the only part of your pouch that is attached is the base.  Anything you put inside will fall out. We need to fix that!

I took a piece of the pineapple tape and put it on the backside of the pineapple base. I made sure the length of tape was long enough and folded it on top of the tape creating a side seam.

I secured that side seam and then cut around the edge.  I didn't cut right up to the original edge, but gave it a 1/8" overlap so that the edge would close and be secure. I did this on both sides of the pineapple base.

For the top, I used the solid yellow and put tape overlapping on top of it horizontally. Then I cut out the pineapple top shape freehand.

Your pouch is complete! The edges are secure and you can slip in anything that you want.

I like using the pouch for pencils.

What would you use it for?

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NatureBox for back to school snacking

It's nearly back to school time for us and while the new backpacks are stuffed with fresh markers and pencils, I don't want to over look the most important part of back to school time.

Snacks.

About six months ago, I discovered NatureBox for the first time.

The snacks could not have been delivered at a better time.

We pack lunches for our three kids every day of the school year, and by the time my first NatureBox delivery came I was just about burnt out on lunch packing.

Making lunches is about the worst chore ever during the school year.

Can I get an amen?

I loved the fresh new ideas for snacks that I could send with my kids to school,

and don't tell them, but every snack by NatureBox is nutritionist approved, with no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors.

My oldest son has a nut allergy.

NatureBox has over 100 snacking options, many of them are nut free.

And finding nut free options {or vegan, or soy free, or milk free} is easy.

Simply click here and then select your dietary needs.

Want to know what's in my NatureBox every month?

Lemon Pucker Pistachios

Roasted Kettle Kernals

and Santa Fe Corn Stixs

The other two snacks I put in my box change every month.I have yet to be disappointed with my selection though and usually find a new favorite every month.With a new NatureBox delivery every month, my kids can have new snacks in their lunch box to try and it takes some of the guess work out of what to pack in their sacks.Because I like you so very much, and I love this company, I am offering my readers a discount.Click here to get 50% off your first month’s NatureBox delivery! ($10 value) using promo code: SNACKTOSCHOOL

Fine Crumbs: Promotion is good for 50% off your first month to month box or $10 off your first box in your first prepaid subscription. New and US subscribers only. Not valid on gift subscriptions and may not be combined with any other offers.
I know you will enjoy these snacks as much as I do.Don't forget to slip a lemon pucker pistachio in your cart and think of me!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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No sew Duct Tape tote bag and updated school supplies

In case you hadn't noticed, duct tape is all the rage!

I have a tween daughter that is obsessed with duct tape.

The patterns, colors and varieties make it so that the possibilities are endless!

Not only is my daughter obsessed with duct tape,

she is also obsessed with anything chevron.

Which is why I made this chevron duct tape tote bag.

The bag is versatile and can be used for a gift bag, school supplies, or anything else that you can think of!

I started by cutting 12 inch strips of tape.

I used coordinating colors of sea blue and chevron.
You can find a selection of duct tape here.

Once you have about seven strips of each, you can start making your duct tape fabric.

I started by laying my sea blue pieces of duct tape down and slightly overlapping them.

On top of the sea blue tape, I laid my chevron tape down making sure that I covered the seams and lined up my pattern as closely as possible.

Continue this process until you have a piece of duct tape fabric that is 12 inches wide and 14 inches tall.

Repeat the process of making duct tape fabric, 

except this time, make your fabric piece 12" wide and 18" tall.

You can trim your edges to make them square.

I folded up the extra eighth of an inch of blue at the bottom to make a finished seam.

I folded three sides of my duct tape fabric that I made two inches in and creased them with my finger.

I wanted my chevron pattern to be on the outside of my bag,

so I put the duct tape chevron side down.

I lined up the bottoms of the duct tape and overlapped the two inch creases that I made.

Cover the new seam with two pieces of 18" long duct tape.

Turn your duct tape sheet over and cover it with half of a piece {cut lengthwise}

 of 18" long duct tape.

I used a piece of coordinating sea blue duct tape on the front to cover and seal my seam.

With your sea blue side down, 

roll the other side of your duct tape over, line up your two inch creased edge

 and repeat by sealing that seam with duct tape.

You will have a long duct tape tube.

Turn your tube inside out so that the blue is on the inside and the chevron is on the outside.

With the longer end of your bag away from you,

use your creases that you folded in the previous step to fold the bottom of the bag.

The bottom of the bag will fold together sort of like you are wrapping a present.

This is what the inside will look like.

Cut two pieces of 8" long tape and cover the inside of the bottom.

Now that the inside of the bag is sealed,

turn your bag over and seal the bottom of your bag with another strip of duct tape.

This is how the finished bottom will look.

Turn the bag with the opening towards you.

You will make two cuts along the side edges to complete the top of the bag.

Fold the two pieces you cut towards you and place two pieces of duct tape over them.

You can stop here with a flat closed top,

or you can continue to make a rounded close like I did.

I took a salad plate and used that as a guide to cut rounded corners on my bag.

Once the corners were rounded, I used a piece of duct tape that I cut in half to trim the edges.

Because I wanted this to be a no sew project, I needed to find a closure for my bag.

So I found a large binder clip to use.
You could also use Scotch® hook and loop fasteners on your bag.

I used a few pieces of duct tape on my binder clip to make it match and I was all done!

I still had plenty of duck tape left, so I found some boring supplies 

and updated them with a little chevron tape.

I even created a lanyard to hold my daughter's student ID.

I started by cutting a piece of duck tape 44" long.

I folded the edges in towards the center and pressed them down.

I used a 2.5" piece to hold the ends of the duct tape strip together.

I folded the tape around the end.

I folded the end of the tape so that it would fit into the circle end of the clip that I had.

After I folded the end over, I sealed it in place with another piece of tape.

As a increased feature for safety, you can also use Scotch® hook and loop fasteners to create a breakaway on the back of the lanyard.

It doesn't take much to update your school supplies.

Just a roll of duct tape and some imagination!

Now fill your bag

close it up,

 and you are ready to have an awesome new school year

with supplies that no one else will have!

I am proud to be a 3M- sponsored blogger, and, as part of my responsibilities, I get the opportunity to evaluate new products from Scotch® Duct Tape. Opinions are my own and additional product used in the project were selected by me.

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