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Back to School Shopping
Well it is officially "Back to School" time. August marks the close of summer time fun and start thinking about the stuff we need to get ready for school. I truly hate having to think about it so soon. This is the time of the summer I am enjoying the most. One year I boycotted the whole back to school frenzy. It backfired, by the time I got to the store all the school supplies I needed were out of stock and the lunch box and back pack selection was pretty bad looking. The next year I did some of the shopping online, which was GREAT! However, I learned you need to allow a little extra time for delivery so you are not paying through the nose for things; and more importantly, that your kids are not the only ones without their stuff on the first day of school.
Last year, we had a particularly odd list of supplies needed for Kindergarten. I and several moms were having trouble finding all the stuff in stores. So one mom was so smart, she found some of the stuff online, but only in bulk, emailed the rest of us and took orders. It was so great to have everything delivered, that I vowed this year not to step foot in a gigantic store for back to school shopping.
In our house, no one needs new shoes on the first day and it is still so hot they can wear their summer shorts and t-shirts for at least another month or so. But what they do need is a back pack, lunch box, and the list of school supplies. If your school has not sent out a list yet, call them or go to their website. Some schools just list the general supplies they need for the year and then on the first day of school the teacher fills you in with the rest of the list. If your teacher requires something special, ask if he or she would just order enough for each student and ask for reimbursement from the parents, trust me it is worth it not only in time, but in gas, and frustration level.
For next year, look into programs from stores like Target that sell grade level kits through your PTO/PTA organization. It is also a fundraiser for the school. This way everyone has the same set of school supplies, it is cheaper for you and you can check “organized fundraiser” off your list of things to do.
As for me, I will do most, if not all my shopping online this year. I have done some research and here are my results. You can view my personal shopping list on the iLunchBox blog. If you have a great resource for supplies and stuff for your kids, please let me know so I can add it to the list.
Target: They came out with this neat Back to School in a Box Kit, one for K-3 and one for 4-7. It includes a backpack, lunch box, school supplies and more. All for $23.99 and $34.99 respectively. If you don’t need all of it, they also carry a great assortment of lunch boxes, insulated containers, resealable containers, reusable ice packs, water bottles and more. Besides also being able to get all or most of your school supplies, you can also pick up a few items of clothing if you need. Other top picks for packing lunch:
School Kidz: School Supplies vary school to school and grade to grade. At School Kidz they have developed a way to customize your back to school kit or start with a basic grade level kit and customize from there. They also sell back packs.
LL Bean: Their back packs are a bit pricier than those at the warehouse stores, however, they come with a warranty, take a beating, come in a ton of colors and you can get your kids initials or name embroidered right on the bag. They have designed them to be the right size for your child, come with or without wheels and you can even get a matching monogrammed lunch bag.
Land’s End: They are a good choice for all travel stuff. They have great backpack and lunch boxes. A new arrival for them this school year is the ThermaCool Lunchbox. It is pricey at $35.00 each, but it has a roomy insulated main compartment and a “drink trunk” to keep beverages cold. You can also have it monogrammed so your child is less likely to lose it for very long.
Old Navy and Gap: You can now shop both at the same site with one check out. Actually you can also shop Banana Republic and Piperline at the same time too. Shoes, Clothes, Uniforms , Backpacks and Lunchboxes all in one spot. Old Navy has the cheapest lunchbags around, $5.00. They are not that big, but they are durable, go in the washing machine and are insulated. They come in several colors and are handy as a back-up or for a younger child. Gap has a good design as well at about $14.50-$19.50.
Last year, we had a particularly odd list of supplies needed for Kindergarten. I and several moms were having trouble finding all the stuff in stores. So one mom was so smart, she found some of the stuff online, but only in bulk, emailed the rest of us and took orders. It was so great to have everything delivered, that I vowed this year not to step foot in a gigantic store for back to school shopping.
In our house, no one needs new shoes on the first day and it is still so hot they can wear their summer shorts and t-shirts for at least another month or so. But what they do need is a back pack, lunch box, and the list of school supplies. If your school has not sent out a list yet, call them or go to their website. Some schools just list the general supplies they need for the year and then on the first day of school the teacher fills you in with the rest of the list. If your teacher requires something special, ask if he or she would just order enough for each student and ask for reimbursement from the parents, trust me it is worth it not only in time, but in gas, and frustration level.
For next year, look into programs from stores like Target that sell grade level kits through your PTO/PTA organization. It is also a fundraiser for the school. This way everyone has the same set of school supplies, it is cheaper for you and you can check “organized fundraiser” off your list of things to do.
As for me, I will do most, if not all my shopping online this year. I have done some research and here are my results. You can view my personal shopping list on the iLunchBox blog. If you have a great resource for supplies and stuff for your kids, please let me know so I can add it to the list.
Target: They came out with this neat Back to School in a Box Kit, one for K-3 and one for 4-7. It includes a backpack, lunch box, school supplies and more. All for $23.99 and $34.99 respectively. If you don’t need all of it, they also carry a great assortment of lunch boxes, insulated containers, resealable containers, reusable ice packs, water bottles and more. Besides also being able to get all or most of your school supplies, you can also pick up a few items of clothing if you need. Other top picks for packing lunch:
- Thermos Rock Lunch Lugger Combo at $34.99 it comes with a 1 quart stainless steel bottle and oversized lunch cooler.
- Milano Insulated Neoprene Lunch Tote - Black at $14.99 it has clear acrylic handles and a sleek modern look for your older girls. It also has separate sections for food and drinks.
- Thermos Sling Pack Lunch Cooler at $9.79 it is a great bargain. It is large, leak proof and has additional pockets and adjustable strap.
- Thermos E5 16-oz. Food Jar is $19.39. Pricey for a kid’s lunch, yes, but it has a 4.5 inch wide mouth making eating soups and chili’s super easy.Thermos 16-oz.
- Floating Microwaveable Food Jar is $10.59. It too has a wide mouth. What is special about this is that it can go in the microwave if you need it too and has a handle.
School Kidz: School Supplies vary school to school and grade to grade. At School Kidz they have developed a way to customize your back to school kit or start with a basic grade level kit and customize from there. They also sell back packs.
LL Bean: Their back packs are a bit pricier than those at the warehouse stores, however, they come with a warranty, take a beating, come in a ton of colors and you can get your kids initials or name embroidered right on the bag. They have designed them to be the right size for your child, come with or without wheels and you can even get a matching monogrammed lunch bag.
Land’s End: They are a good choice for all travel stuff. They have great backpack and lunch boxes. A new arrival for them this school year is the ThermaCool Lunchbox. It is pricey at $35.00 each, but it has a roomy insulated main compartment and a “drink trunk” to keep beverages cold. You can also have it monogrammed so your child is less likely to lose it for very long.
Old Navy and Gap: You can now shop both at the same site with one check out. Actually you can also shop Banana Republic and Piperline at the same time too. Shoes, Clothes, Uniforms , Backpacks and Lunchboxes all in one spot. Old Navy has the cheapest lunchbags around, $5.00. They are not that big, but they are durable, go in the washing machine and are insulated. They come in several colors and are handy as a back-up or for a younger child. Gap has a good design as well at about $14.50-$19.50.
Pottery Barn Kids: I was surprised too, but they have a great selection of backpacks and lunchboxes for all different age groups. Some cute with critters and others very collegiate looking. Their lunchboxes are insulated and can be monogrammed. They also offer coordinating food storage and liquid container. Right now you can get free shipping as well. Backpacks come in all shapes and sizes, some with wheels and some without. Again, get their name on it.
Fit & Fresh: this is my new favorite company. They have very innovative food storage and transportation solutions. The ice packs snap right into the lid of the container, no squish ices packs that can break and ooze. I find the food stays colder longer. Containers come in 1 and 2 cup sizes and there are even special containers for sandwiches, salads and snacks. But best of all is the reuseable water bottle. The LivPure filtered water bottle at $12.50 are a bargain. The best feature is the filter, that is right, I said filter. In each water bottle is a filter. Your child can fill up at the water fountain and drink filtered water all day. The filter is in the cap, so it is filtered as your child drinks it. Here is a tip, you have to give the bottle a squeeze as you are drinking.