Fill 'er up - with school supplies

In some communities in our area, the poverty rate approaches 50%, and even school-supplies shopping can be a financial challenge for some families. So for the last couple of years, when we fill our school lists, we also buy in bulk any items that are a fantastic deal. Then we donate those to the school for kids that need them. It reframes our typical back-to-school shopping madness mindset.

This year, we probably didn't spend more than $20, but look at what we gave? Believe it or not, the backpacks, and ten packages of pens and pencils cost a total of $2 from Menards (after rebates.) We filled up the rest of the space with standard list items like notebooks, crayons, markers, glue sticks, pencils and pens - whichever products were the best deal when we shopped.



So if you've yet to shop for your kids' school supplies, consider filling up your cart with the sale items, or those with rebates. Someone's bound to need them.

Knitting Maniac had a funny post last week about the joys of school supplies shopping, and I can relate to everything she said! Be sure to go check it out. It also made me think about an activity we've done for a couple years now, that reframes my typical back-to-school shopping mindset.

For a bazillion other excellent ideas, check out Shannon's WFMW Hub.