Back To School Frugal Savings Strategies to Cut Down on Kids & Family Expenses This Fall

Parenting

The 2013 Back-to-School Survey conducted by National Retail Federation (NRF) indicates U.S. families with school-age children will spend an average of about $635 this year. In fact, all tolled, that spending spree is second only to holiday shopping and this year back to school sales are expected to reach roughly $27 billion. With 8 in 10 Americans surveyed saying the economy will impact their shopping in some way, I think you'll find the advice in this post timely and helpful.

My kids in a family photo, MommyBlogExpert.com

The back-to-school buying period continues to get longer, simultaneously with a continued rise in product costs every season. According to Nat Sillin, personal finance expert and head Visa's U.S. financial literacy program, parents can use back to school shopping as an opportunity to lay the foundation for helping children to develop sound money management habits early.

Back to School Budget Tips 

To get more bang for your buck 

MommyBlogExpert.com

• Make a comprehensive list for each child before you shop, using past years' expenses as a guide
• Be transparent with your kids about the budgeting process, including how much money is available to spend
• Get students involved in prioritizing expenses between the "must-haves" and "wants"
• Provide children with an added inducement to save money, by agreeing you'll split the realized savings with them
• Spread clothing and shoe purchases out over the year, so your kids don't outgrow everything at the same time
• Pay atttention to hidden costs of online shopping such as shipping and return costs, which can potentially undo any net savings
• Review the school dress code so you don't waste money on inappropriate clothing
• Find out from teachers which supplies the school is providing and which ones you're expected to buy 
• Get together with other families to take advantage of group discounts and purchase items in bulk at places like CostCo and Sam's Club
• Rent or buy used sporting equipment or musical instruments until you're sure they'll stick with an activity
• Before buying new clothing or accessories, look for "gently used" items in closets of your older kids, friends and neighbors, at garage sales and thrift stores 
• Clip and use newspaper and online coupons, keeping in mind that stores often match competitors' prices on sale items
• Check consolidation websites that post downloadable coupons and sale codes for online retailers like CouponCabin.com, CouponCode.com, DailyDeals.com, DealCoupon.com, Retail Me Not and others
• Use mobile shopping apps that make it possible to scan barcodes in-store to get make on-the-spot price comparisons and to download digital coupons

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The bottom line is planning ahead will definitely save you money, time and aggravation. What's more, your child will be learning by example about budgeting, making smart buying decisions and handling money responsibly. 

About Visa's Financial Literacy Programs
Visa offers parents and students free access to an award-winning money management program called Practical Money Skills for Life www.practicalmoneyskills.com. This offering includes interactive resources, games and calculators, including a Back to School Budget Calculator, which gives students hands on experience for preparing and sticking to a budget.

FTC Disclosure: Information for this post is sourced from Visa and their financial literacy programs. However all opinions are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Kids Backpack Safety Health Tips to Protect Students from Pain & Injury This School Year

Health

The start of school is here already in some parts of the country and should be in full swing throughout the U.S. by next month. Returning to the classroom doesn't only mean sprinting for the school bus each weekday morning, it also is setting the stage for many kids to again be carrying dangerously overloaded backpacks this fall. As a matter of fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2012 more than 9,500 kids ages 5-18 years old were treated in hospitals and doctors' offices for injuries related to those heavy bags of books weighting down their necks, shoulders, and backs.

It's a good thing the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) have some important advice to help parents ensure your kids can focus on learning, rather than being distracted because they're suffering from unnecessary backpack-induced pain and injury.

My kids when they were in elementary school, MommyBlogExpert.com

AAOS & POSNA Backpack Safety Tips

For Kids

• Carry no more than 15-20 percent of body weight in your backpack 
• Use both shoulder straps to keep the weight of the backpack better distributed
• Adjust the shoulder straps to keep the load close to the back
• Remove or organize items if too heavy and pack the heavier things low, toward the center
• When lifting a backpack, bend at the knees
• School backpacks are for schoolwork so only carry items required for the day -- Whenever possible leave books at home or school
• At home and at school, keep walkways clear of backpacks to avoid tripping

For Parents

• Encourage your child or teenager to tell you about numbness or tingling in the arms or legs which may indicate poor fit or too much weight being carried 
• If the backpack seems too heavy for the child, have them remove some of the books and carry them in their arms to ease load on the back
• Purchase a backpack appropriate for the size of your child
• Watch your child put on or take off the backpack to see if it is a struggle
• Remind your child to stop at their locker throughout the day as time permits to drop off heavier books

FTC Disclosure: Content for this post is based on information provided by AAOS & POSNA. No payment or other compensation was exchanged in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Grill 3 S'mores at a Time on Camp Fire, BBQ or Fireplace Review & Giveaway, Ends 9/18/13

Outdoor Cooking
Giveaway details below 

This is a compensated post

If you live in the U.S. chances are more likely than not that you've enjoyed a S'more or two at some point in your life. I know I most definitely have -- I grew up with this quintessential American summertime sweet BBQ dessert treat consisting of a piece of chocolate and brown toasted marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers. Today my kids love that warm, ooey gooey melted goodness and I must admit, I never out grew them either.

Graham crackers are toasted on these S'mores, MommyBlogExpert.com

Good thing there's a clever gadget called Camper's S'mores Grill by Coghlan's that makes it possible to cook up three S'mores at the same time. What's different about these is that you hold the assembled s'mores over a heat source, until the graham crackers are nicely browned on both sides. This is great for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to take on camping trips and for veteran campers to make S'mores over an open fire while out in the woods, of course. But it works just as well over the family backyard BBQ or hibachi, which is the way we tested this out at our house.

S'mores Fixings, MommyBlogExpert.com

My son assembling S'mores, MommyBlogExpert.com

Big brother grilling S'mores on our hibachi, MommyBlogExpert.com

Just consider some of the delicious Coghlan's recipes that come with the grill that you can make with a graham cracker base

• Traditional S'mores with marshamallows (or fluff) and chocolate squares
• Peanut Butter S'mores with marshmallows and Peanut Butter Cups
• Banana S'mores with sliced banana, chocolate and marshamallows
• Lots of other recipes are included with the product

Before, During & After Cooking 

with Coghlan's S'mores Grill

MommyBlogExpert.com

MommyBlogExpert.com

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The chrome plated steel  hand-held grill has an overall length of 29" and is sturdily built. With it's 17" long handle to provide a safe distance from heat it is specially designed with three grated sections and a sliding lock ring clamp to keep those tasty dessert sandwiches secure while heating and flipping them.

I haven't try it yet, but this might even be fun to use this tool in the fireplace over the holidays to make s'mores with seasonal things like crushed candy, chocolate and marshallows. The grates are close enough that you could probably roast chestnuts indoors, too. So this grill doesn't have to be limited to summer use, if you are creative, you can cook with it year-round.

MommyBlogExpert.com

About Coghlan's

Coghlan's is one of the world's largest outdoor and camping accessory suppliers. The company's varied products, including the Coghlan's Camper's S'mores Grill, are widely available in specialty stores both on and offline across the U.S. Check the store locator for where to buy.

Guess what? If you really love this S'mores Grill, you're in luck because the brand is giving one to a lucky MommyBlogExpert reader! Read on to enter daily until the contest ends.

Coghlan's 
Camper's S'mores Grill

Giveaway

Ends 9/18/13

Image from Coghlan's

MommyBlogExpert's Coghlan's Camper's S'mores Girl Giveaway ends September 18, 2013 at 12 am PT and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Coghlan's will award one Camper's S'mores Grill to the winner. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize.

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Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: I received the Coghlan's Camper's S'mores Grill featured to facilitate this review. In addition, the brand is providing the prize for the giveaway. However, I did not receive any payment.  Thoughts here are my own. See complete FTC Discloosure information that appears at the bottom on MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual page, including this one.

5 Reasons for Kids USA Roadtrip With Your Family - Travel that's Enriching & Affordable

Travel

Seeing America by car, especially with kids, can give your entire family the most precious opportunities to bond and to create memories that will last a lifetime. I know by personal experience this is true, since one of the favorite things we've done as a family is taken road trips wandering the byways of our great country from sea to shining sea with my own children for weeks at a time.

My kids at kitschy Gatorland in Orlando, FL, MommyBlogExpert.com

Blogger and domestic travel expert Alisa Abecassis, mom of three teenagers, is a kindred spirit of mine -- having taken her own kids on 14 road trips in the last 10 years covering 42 states. Alisa points out that following the recent closings of nearly two dozen U.S. embassies on three continents this might be the best time ever to stay Stateside for your next family vacation. 

So in this post I couldn't be happier to share Alisa's top five reasons why it’s best to think about keeping your travels within U.S. Borders right now.

Alisa Abecassis, Image from ExploreAll50.com

Safety
At the risk of sounding paranoid, the world is so unstable right now. Travel to Mexico you run the risk of being kidnapped and held for ransom by a drug cartel. Take a trip to China and you might get severe food poisoning. Fly over to Europe -- there have been too many terrorist bombs and threats in Spain and France. For the moment, at least, none of these places are as safe as staying here in the USA.

Money
Sure, places like Australia and New Zealand may be safer than others, but it’s ridiculously expensive. Despite the long and pricey airplane ride, Aussies come to the states in high numbers, in part, because it’s so much cheaper to vacation here. Have a taste for something different? Travel to Honolulu, Anchorage, the Florida Keys, or other exotic regional areas and you'll not only have a great time, you'll be helping to support our national and state economies.

History
Consider all the turmoil happening around the globe and contrast it with the peace, stability, wealth and tolerance America has. Americans all enjoy such vast freedoms and rights, but sadly, too many citizens don’t fully appreciate or learn about our own history. What could be better than actually reliving history with your kids through a trip to places like Philadelphia, Gettysburg or Washington, D.C. ? 

Convenience
Let’s face it – Americans like convenience. Global travel not only poses great logistical challenges (visas, customs, passports, etc.) which can easily become a nightmare. There are also other things that one much contend with like currency exchanges and language barriers just to name a few. On the other hand, you can take a long weekend or extended vacation and travel anywhere in the States without having to struggle with language or major cultural differences. 

Global Influences Here at Home
If you still have a hankering for doing something global, those influences can be found all across the USA -- one of the greastest cultural melting pots in the world. We are a country of immigrants from many lands. For example you can get a taste for the food and customs of Latin America in places like Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. You can learn about Scandinavia in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and about Europe in New York, Illinois and Louisiana, just to name a few. You won’t need your passport or have to endure the obligatory hassle from customs – all you'll need is open mind about your own country.

“The world is an amazing place," concludes Alisa, "but it’s not always a friendly one. There is so much to explore right here at home, and you don’t have to worry about terrorist attacks, political unrest, or losing your passport."

Image from ExploreAll50.com

About Alisa Abecassis 
Alisa Abecassis is a single mother of three children – Lilia, 17; Isaac, 15; and Joel, 14. After her marriage ended, she made the decision to strengthen her family’s bonds and personal history through traveling and gaining a better appreciation of America with the goal to visit all 50 United States. Alisa writes the Blog Explore All 50. Contact her on Twitter, Facebook or email Alisa@ExploreAll50.com.

FTC Disclosure: Content for this post provided by Alisa Abecassis and ExploreAll50.com. No payment or other compensation was exchanged in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Mom & Dad Blogger Sponsored Compensated Op to Review New Kid's Mobile Game

Blog Opportunity

I have been compensated for this post

Deadline to Apply 

Extended to Friday, August 16

If you are a mom or dad with kids or a teacher and blog about toddlers and preschoolers, you're not going to want to miss this sponsored opportunity to earn $75 for your post review. For this project, I'm currently working on a campaign that's looking for tech-savvy bloggers with (or access to) young children and who write about mobile games or educational topics to post about a preschool math game for the iPad.

My triplet preschoolers in a family vintage photo, MommyBlogExpert.com

The client, a fast-growing interactive multi media company, has created a really fun iOS app designed to help preschool age children learn math concepts (e.g. counting, identifying colors, sizing shapes and objects, etc.) through play.

Bloggers selected for this program will be compensated $75 for the post and will be provided with a free version of the $7.99 app to review.  A second free copy of this math game to give away to your readers is offered, too, if you are interested. 

If you are selected, they will notify you within the next couple weeks and give you posting guidelines. There will be additional opportunities in future contests/promotions for the game, too. So this is an excellent way to get your foot in the door with a family-friendly brand.

Sign up HERE 
by Friday, Aug 16, 2013

FTC Disclosure: I am a Mom Ambassador for this brand and have been compensated for this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.