The Mommy Insider

Anderson Cooper on Regis & Kelly this Friday – He wants your school supply buying and budgeting tips!

Alicia — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:18:54 +0000

LIVE! with Regis and Kelly are expecting Anderson Cooper to stop by (filling in for Regis.. didn’t Kelly just say she would marry Anderson Cooper if given the chance, a few days ago? Hmm..) this Friday morning. Anderson is covering the current flux in education funding and wants us to help him get advice, secrets, tips to families that need it most!! In anticipation of his arrival we need all you thrifty Mom’s, Dad’s Grandmas and Grandpas to put your heads together for Elementary School children across America!
What are some of the ways you maintain your budget and still send your little ones fully equippedfor school!? What are some training strategies, and lessons you’ve instilled about respect, honesty and safety?

With having a 10 year old son, I have 5 years of elementary school supply buying skills and tips under my belt and I am well aware that the changing economy and rising jobless rates are impacting every part of parents lives from simple grocery buying to health care and one necessity parents of upcoming Kindergartner’s have to think about is school supplies. School supplies do not only include paper, pencils, crayons, and folders, but parents also have to consider travel expenses, field trip fee’s, clothes, shoes, backpacks, and yes, hair cuts. All of these add up and all of these are necessary to help your child enjoy and appreciate their education.

What to consider when shopping for your Kindergartner’s school supplies and getting him ready for his first year of elementary school:

Buy notebook paper, crayons, and pencils in bulk when you are able to.
Character school supplies, clothing, and backpacks are more expensive than solid color clothing and backpacks and can cause conflict between students (you know.. some kids don’t like Batman while others love him!).
Talk to your child about why it’s important both socially and environmentally, for him to ride on the bus.
Ask your child who he would most like to carpool with so you can schedule carpool days with other parents to save on gas money.

Here are a few tips that I follow when getting my elementary age son ready for a new school year each year:

Buy one pack of paper, one pack of pencils, one notebook, and/or one pack of crayons, every week or two during summer vacation. Doing this will ensure that parents who are on a budget aren’t slammed with one big school supply bill right before the new school year begins.
I buy folders, pencils, erasers, and paper in bulk whenever I can.
Local consignment sales are often held just before school starts are a great place for buying lightly used backpack, school clothes, and shoes.
Remind your child how important it is for him to keep his hands clean while at school because not washing hands is a huge factor in spreading illnesses at school and when kids get sick, parents have to spend MONEY to go to the doctor! Let’s teach our kids to was their hands so our individual health care costs go down!

Store Freebies and Coupons for school supplies

Live in a neighborhood with lots of kids? Chances are kids moving up to middle school have left over school supplies such as pencils, notebooks, and other things they didn’t use last year and can’t use in middle school that they would be happy to hand down to your child.
Check drug stores and office supply stores for penny sales and free-after-rebate items in July.
The Internet is a moms best friend! Visit coupon websites to find coupons for big brands like Bic, Post-It, and more.
Almost everyone knows someone who works in an office.. ask your friends who work in an office if they can give your child some paper, notebooks, pens, markers, and highlighters.

Local Church and Government Resources that may provide free and inexpensive school supplies

Ask your child’s school system if they have programs that give kids free school supplies.
Parents can contact their local United Way and Salvation Army to find out if they offer free school supplies.
Many churches collect school supply donations during the year and disperse them to families that need them before the next school year begins.
Check with your county school system to learn about their free lunch options for qualifying students.

IT’S YOUR TURN TO SHARE YOUR TIPS!

Share your back-to-school shopping and budget tips with us and with Anderson Cooper.

via Twitter:
@Regis_and_Kelly
@AndersonCooper
@mommyinsider

Share your thrifty back-to-school shopping tips with The Mommy Insider and the world, in the comments below.

Anderson Cooper on Regis & Kelly this Friday – He wants your school supply buying and budgeting tips! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

Watch my ‘Picking out the right stroller’ segment on Fox 5!

Alicia — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:07:34 +0000

Thanks to Jeff Hill, Jennifer, and the Fox 5 Good Day Atlanta team, I had a great time in the studio today. I featured 6 strollers in the segment, one for just about any budget and lifestyle. Watch the segment video below. Then take a look at my complete five part “Stroller Buying Guide” series below.

Articles in our Stroller Buying Guide series

Part 1: Stroller Buying Guide: What to look for when shopping for a stroller
Part 2: Stroller Buying Guide: Stroller Brands
Part 3: Stroller Buying Guide: A few of my favorite strollers
Part 4: Stroller Buying Guide: Stroller Accessories
Part 5: Stroller Buying Guide: Comparison chart of different types of strollers

Watch my ‘Picking out the right stroller’ segment on Fox 5! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

Stroller Buying Guide – Part 1: * What to think about when shopping for a stroller

Alicia — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:45:13 +0000

What to think about when shopping for a stroller

First of all, it’s important to actually shop for a stroller, don’t buy the first stroller you fall in love with because you like the way it looks.
Consider your lifestyle when buying a stroller. ‘Boutique moms’ will want to look for an easy to maneuver small to medium size stroller.
There are several types of strollers including travel system strollers, high-end traditional strollers, double/twin strollers, and jogging strollers. (Read Part 5: Comparison chart of different types of strollers) for more information on the types of strollers.
Casual shoppers with a baby from newborn to age 3 will do well with a Travel System or a standard high-end stroller such as the Musty 4Rider Light or Bugaboo Bee.
Walking your toddler around the neighborhood everyday? Go with a comfortable umbrella or mid-size stroller such as The First Years Jet Stroller or Chicco Trevi, two of my favorite mid-size strollers. (Read Part 3: Stroller Buying Guide: A few of my favorite strollers) for more information about my favorite strollers.
Jogging up a mountain? Parents who enjoy jogging and taking walks up mountains will want to invest in a good jogging stroller such as a Baby Jogger stroller.
The best high end multi-purpose strollers for parents of infants to 3+ year old’s are the Musty 4Rider Light and the Bugaboo Bee. While The First Years Jet Stroller is a great option for a shopping mom with a toddler.
If the stroller you purchase doesn’t come with a cup holder, buy one. You won’t want to go without a cup holder. (Read Part 4: Stroller Buying Guide: Stroller Accessories) for more information about stroller accessories.
You don’t have to buy a Travel System stroller if you need to put an infant car seat in the stroller. Many high-end traditional strollers accommodate infant car seats. Check brand compatibility!
You should consider buying a diaper bag after you’ve purchased your stroller as stroller storage baskets vary in size greatly.

Check Consumer Reports’ magazine or website (consumerreports.org) for reviews and parents can visit http://www.cpsc.gov/, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Stroller Buying Guide – Part 4: * Stroller Accessories

Alicia — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:42:28 +0000

Here are a few stroller accessories I recommend buying for your new stroller.

Note: If you purchase a stroller through our Amazon.com links we may receive a commission.