Walgreen's Teacher Discount

VA Center Location

15% off throughout August

w/valid teacher ID

(some exclusions apply)

Big Lots Teacher Appreciation Day

August 13th

10% Discount

Details HERE

School Supply Drives

In a few weeks, students all over the Richmond area will return to the classroom.  While some families can afford Back-to-School clothes, new backpacks, and the latest and greatest supplies, others will struggle to pick up a few pencils and a pack of paper.  Many of these folks may not have the ability or transportation needed to pick up near free items, so grab some extras and head to one of these locations:

• Richmond area WMU is collecting Backpacks to be distributed in Oregon Hill Details HERE (page 8)
• All Staples Locations have collection bins for any type of school supply.  Details HERE
• Stuff the Bus has 4 days scheduled in our area.  Details HERE.
• Fill a zipper bag and mail to Kits for Kids, where your donation will give hope to a child in a third world country.  Details HERE.
• Samaritan's Purse will collect shoeboxes in November.  Reduce the cost of filling a box by picking up pencils, sharpeners, notebooks, crayons etc. now for $.05 - $.25 each.  (See if you can fill an extra box without spending any extra money!)  View the website HERE.

Regardless of your family's financial situation, you can probably afford to donate a few items to one of these organizations.  Don't miss the opportunity to teach your kids to be generous!

Virginia Sales Tax Holiday

Friday, August 5 - Sunday, August 7

No sales tax on the purchase clothing or school supplies,

Some limitations.

View Details HERE

NOTE:  Sales tax is only 5%, so it's best to purchase items on clearance or on sale.  Track prices for items you need leading up to this "Holiday" to avoid overpaying.

Keeping Up With the Joneses

Over the summer I thought we had prepared our daughter for the upcoming school year. Between sales and coupons she's gotten a weeks worth of new jeans, twice as many tops and more than enough new stuff to wear under this stuff. We also bought her a new lunch box and thanks to a FREE after rebate offer, the first new backpack she's had since we purchased one at the L.L. Bean outlet in 2004 (not a typo...six years & it's still in great shape.)

Everything changed when we entered the eight-grade hallway and confronted the "Joneses" (technically not the Joneses b/c homeroom is alphabetical, and these kid's all had names beginning with A-F, but you get the picture). Cliches full of thirteen-year-old girls yielding cell phones that do things I am certain my daughter's TracFone is incapable of doing! All wearing clothes that seemed superior and adorning their lockers with every cute magnet, white-board, pencil holder & storage rack available. Suddenly I wondered if we had done enough for our child.

We entered the room, lifted the overstuffed manila envelope and found a desk to occupy while completing all of the forms. When number "16" was finally called, I approached the teacher's desk where we ran through all the fees and I wrote a check just shy three digits (before the decimal). Relief suddenly ran over me as I realized that the Joneses (as well as the A-F families) can keep their clothes, cell phones & locker decor. I signed the check without any worry that there would be funds to cover it. There is no concern over what may be forthcoming on any credit card statements and we're still free to give, save and/or spend as God leads us.

As we walked towards the van, our daughter asked, "Mom, do I have any locker stuff?" We discussed where the items she brought home last June may be and I can imagine she will purchase a few magnetic luxuries this weekend. That's OK though because she earned some money babysitting this summer. She already tithed and saved, so she can spend the rest as she pleases!

School Lunch "Formula"

With school starting in only a few days, many parents are dreading expensive school lunches and loathe the thought of packing lunches every day. Fortunately, most children can pack (or help pack) healthy meals. I have to admit I packed their lunches when they were first in school, as they grew they helped more. Once in middle school, they are on their own! I created a chart with the following information guiding the children to making a healthy lunch. You may want your child to pack 1 entree, two servings of produce, etc. Also, I usually limit "prepackaged" food to one per day as these are more expensive. When someone has struggled to be ready to leave on time each morning, we have insisted lunches are packed the night before, or the child has to purchase lunch at school with her own money.

Entree
Sandwich
Bagel w/cream cheese
Cheese stick
Yogurt (not sugary, kid type)
Cubed or Sliced cheese
Sub
Crackers w/pepperoni & cheese (or lunch meat & cheese)
Cold entree from dinner (IE. Pizza, chicken...)
Wrap (flour tortilla w/ salad, dressing, shredded cheese & cooked chicken)
Quesadilla (melt cheese on flour tortilla cut into wedges the night before. Refrigerate
and serve w/sour cream and/or salsa)
Bacon or Sausage (only if bringing “breakfast for lunch”)

Produce
Apple
Orange
Banana
Grapes
Carrots
Salad
Celery
Cucumber slices
Canned fruit
Etc.

Salty Snack
Pretzels
Soft pretzel
Crackers
Chips
Cheetos
Etc.

Dessert
Cookie
Mini-candy bar
Fruit snack
Brownie
Etc.

For snack in classroom
(or extra lunch item for middle and high school kids):
Homemade muffin
Peanut butter crackers (Sam’s club $.14 per pkg.)
Granola bar
Fruit or vegetable
Pretzels
Soft pretzel
Popcorn
Snack crackers
Cereal
Snack mix (Chex or homemade w/inexpensive cereal,chocolate candies, marshmallows, crackers,

pretzels, peanuts, popcorn etc.)