Shopping for crayons, glue, and notebooks is as fun as ever. If you like your devices, it’s getting even funner.

Here are nine ways to save big bucks on your back-to-school bill, without leaving the comfort of your jammies.

1. Cash in Your Old Electronics

Got to Nextworth.com and check to see how much your kaput devices — like calculators, cell phones, and computers — are worth. Now, if you turn them into certain Target stores, you can get a gift card, which you apply toward school supplies. Go to Target.Nextworth to check to see if your store is participating.

2. Open a School Supply Registry

Don’t laugh. The beauty of registries is that they eliminate the burden of unwanted Stuff. With MyRegistry.com, you can add items from any website on the Internet. This is a great option for teachers, families with several school-age kids, and for web-savvy grandparents who want to help their little students get ready for school.

3. Get Social

Twitter and Facebook are great places to find deals offered to a brand’s social-media fan base, says consumer and money-saving expert, Andrea Woroch. “Like” or “Follow” the merchant and keep an eye out for coupons and sales announcements.

4. Compare Prices on Your Couch

My favorite shopping site is Google Product Search. Just type in what you’re looking for and it will show you a bunch of companies who sell it, for how much, and even if they have a store nearby with the item in stock.

5. Get Instant Cash Back

Don’t buy anything online without seeing if you can get a quick rebate through sites like Ebates or Upromise. Upromise by Sallie Mae is a rebate site focused on giving you discounts and cash back for college on all kinds of products including back-to-school supplies.

6. Don’t Forget Those Easy-Peasy Coupon Codes

It takes just a second to open another browser window and check for promotion codes. I usually use RetailMeNot, and I end up finding a working coupon about half the time. Not bad for a two-second stop.

7. Compare Prices on the Fly

I only use my cell phone for emergencies, but Andrea Woroch says you can tap into your mobile phone for savings when you are out and about with apps like RedLaser. Red Laser allows you to scan bar codes and look for cheaper prices online or at other retailers.

8. Get Sales Flyers by E-Mail

“Big stores like Staples and Kmart have huge sales on school supplies,” says Meghan Hammond, a teacher in Cape Cod, Mass, but you have to time it right. if you don’t want to stop by the store to pick up the circular, just sign up to receive weekly deals by e-mail. (You can always unsubscribe when the season’s over.)

To get you started, here’s the sign-up form for Staples and OfficeMax.

9. Buy a Discounted Gift Card

Unused gift cards sold at below-market value are being called the new coupons by Donna Freedman at Get Rich Slowly. There are a bunch of gift card aggregators out there, but Donna recommends trying Gift Card Granny for the deepest discounts. Don’t find what you need? Maybe you could sell one of your dusty cards and use the proceeds to buy a new pack of pencils.

I like how bringing back-to-school shopping into the modern age can spice things up, as well as cut down on our bils.

Do you have favorite ways to use technology to save on school shopping?

Amy Suardi loves to write about ways that save money and make people happy on her blog, Frugal Mama.

On Monday, I was in Philadelphia with the NBC 10! team again – this time sharing some quick tips for packing lunches that won’t sap the time of already frazzled moms.

Like I mention in the video, I am super-excited about these nifty little chip/veggie and dip storage containers from Pottery Barn Kids. With these, I can pack a little ranch dressing with the carrots or veggies without any mess – and I know my boys will devour them. When I send lonely carrots on their own without dressing, they almost always come back, uneaten.

Here is the link to the free lunchbox notes printables I reference in the segment.

And finally, if you’re looking for other ways to make lunch more fun (not to mention packing it too), this article I wrote last week features five fun ideas for making adorable sandwiches for school lunches without too much trouble.

It may seem hard to believe, but those lazy days of summer are almost gone.

Waaaaaaaah.

This summer just flew by, didn’t it? Scary to think it’s time to sharpen those pencils, buy some new school shoes, and get ready for a new year of school/work.

But before you rush out and gorge on the back to school product smorgasbord at your local superstore, here are some tips for organizing the back to school basics so that you enjoy a smooth transition and more sane school year.

1. Don’t skip the paper calendar.
Yes, we know. You have an iPhone, Blackberry, Outlook calendar, whatever. But that is yours. There’s nothing like an old-fashioned calendar proudly hung on the wall that inspires everyone to write in their activities and appointments. Packing snacks for the kindergartener? Glance up at that paper calendar and you won’t forget that today is the “Around the World” celebration. If you don’t have the wall space, use a planner like our Weekly.agenda (it’s baaack!) and keep it in a central location, like a kitchen drawer or next to the mail station.

2. Do start them on a back to school routine in advance.
It’s so hard to go from the flip-flop casual days of summer, where the day is so pleasantly unstructured, to the 6am wake up call and full-day of school, sports, and activities. It’s even harder on the kids, so don’t shock the system with a dramatic schedule turn-around. Start waking the kids at their earlier time a few weeks before school and have them get used to going to bed earlier. Getting them ready a few weeks before doesn’t cut their summer fun, but gets them prepped for school days.

3. Don’t be a school supply hoarder.
Oh boy, we’ve all seen those shows where the people need a clutter intervention, but what we don’t realize is that we all have a little hoarder in us all. Have you looked in your drawers lately? You probably have a growing collection of pens, markers, rulers, etc., so when you get those school supply lists, look through what you have first and then buy ONE set for home and keep it centrally located. Each child doesn’t need a stapler and a protractor, so if it’s all in one spot, it’s homework ready for the day that geometry homework comes home.

4. Do take the time to create a master calendar & get it synced with everyone.
Sit down with the school calendars now and ink all the important dates in the family’s calendar. Make sure you and your spouse put in requests for time off now so that you can attend those events you absolutely, positively don’t want to miss, like your kindergardner’s first day of school. Need to remember the two-day soccer tournament in October? Write it down. Whether you need to ask your boss for some time off or just need to avoid double-booking, writing it down now will help you enjoy the upcoming events.

5. Don’t rush out for new clothes.
Yes, we know, the commercials have been baiting you for weeks. Cute back to school clothes are all over the place and you don’t want to miss out, right? Well, turn off the TV and turn on the computer. Before you hit the department stores, check out ebay. Do a little searching and you can often find brand-new or slightly used clothes at a true fraction of the price. Money saved, new clothes gained! Another option – wait until the end of September to buy fall clothes, and the even later to buy winter items. By the time kids need to wear them, stores will be trying to make room for next season’s clothing and the things you need will likely be on sale.

6. Do find ways to make heading back special.
Whether your child is starting a new school, beginning school, or this is their last year they are home with you before they go off to college and the world, don’t forget to make it special. It’s easy to forget the fun between drop-offs, pick-ups, and all that homework, but make time to make it special. It could be as simple as writing a note and placing it in your child’s backpack or celebrating the first day of school with a dinner out at your child’s favorite restaurant. Whatever you do to make it special will be remembered.

How do you mark the beginning of a new school year? Do you have any special tricks for making the back-to-school time less stressful?

Removing Stress from the New School Year Schedules

By Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com

School is in session! For most parents, that means abandoning their relaxed summer schedule to keep track of their kids’ school calendars. Without a little structure to the schedule, the school year can feel like a blast of frenetic activity, and as more children are added to the mix, the frenzy just increases. So rather then trying to maintain a mental schedule of who needs to be where and when, what assignments are due, and which field trip is coming, not to mention a parent’s own obligations, it is extremely beneficial to fashion a formal schedule to keep everything on track.

Develop a Schedule

Having children naturally imposes some sort of structure to the day whether a parent realizes it or not. Especially with younger kids, the parent is in charge of getting them up and dressed, as well as setting playtime, mealtime, and bedtime. So even during the laid back months of summer there is a daily schedule in place, even if it is informal. Now it is time to add the new year’s school schedule to the mix. There are two simple components for keeping everything on schedule, which are a calendar and a task list.

As children grow up, a parent can hand more and more of the school scheduling details to them, however, when they are younger, the full brunt of the child’s schedule rests squarely on the parents’ shoulders. Staying organized greatly reduces the stress out of having a child appear at the right place and the right time with homework in hand.

Managing the Calendar

Hang the calendar and task list in an area that is frequently seen by all family members. The kitchen is usually a good spot for command central, because it usually is a home’s natural center. By managing the calendar out in the open a parent is passing on their time management skills to their children. Allowing small children to add items to the calendar is thrilling for them, and helps those school notices actually make it all of the way home.

Typically this calendar will not have every minute of every day scheduled on it. Instead it will have blocks of time allocated to general activities or groups of activities. For example, schedule 6:30 A.M. to 7:30 A.M. time to get up, get dressed and eat breakfast. Some kids pop awake in the morning while others struggle to find consciousness. So, whether they need it or not, each child should have an alarm clock, and that is the beginning of staying on time. Getting up at the same time every day, weekends included, makes Monday morning much easier for everyone.

Prepare Ahead

It is as important to schedule the day’s preparation for parents as it is for children. Schedule time for children to lay out the next day’s clothes and load up their backpack before bath and bedtime. Parents may wish to make lunches in the evening, because by having everything prepared the night before, each morning begins with as little chaos and stress as possible. As a side note, it is always a good idea to allow a little extra time in the morning for the one thing that is sure to go wrong. Developing a schedule that is easy to update reduces chaos and keeps the family on track as they settle into daily patterns for the new school year.

Alyssa Davis is the top writer and creative design specialist for Metal-Wall-Art.com. She specializes in designing with metal wall candle holder and dragonfly metal wall hangings.

In spite of the crashing thunder – we had a very productive and fun show this evening. If you’re the parent of a high school senior – you need to watch this episode. It’s chock-full of strategies for making sure your student organizes herself to complete the college application process well – and well before the 11th hour.

Watch it here

New School Year. New Schedules. Get them Organized

Ah, the sound of nothing. Simon and Garfunkel called it the sound of silence. Ask any mother what her house sounds like after the kids are packed off to their first day of school and she’ll tell you it is pure, unadulterated bliss. Is there anything better than the sight of that school bus after a long summer? A new school year is a blessing, but just when you thought things were working out bam! it’s also a bit of curse. Suddenly, after several months of lackadaisical schedules and weakened rules, kids are put right back in the middle of the action. Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, double-check the homework. It’s all enough to make a tween or teen lose their summer glow. The same goes for parents. Suddenly, you need to put your General’s hat back on and issue all kinds of orders. The question is how do you go from lazy summer days to a productive school year without the battle cries?

Five Ways to Figure it Out without Fighting:

1. There is no right answer.

Talk to your friends and your kids’ friends and you’ll find that everyone thinks they have the answer. Do the homework right off the bus, save it for after dinner, don’t do it at all (no, not really), everyone thinks their way is the right way. The truth is that each kid is different. Some kids need to blow off steam after school, so let them do their thing and unwind a bit. If your kid wants to get everything done right away, then go for it. Make the routine around their individual personality and there will be fewer squabbles.

2. Get a Stopwatch for Sports.

We’re not suggesting a literal stopwatch, but placing a time restriction for sports and activities helps make them work with, rather than against, the schedule. Your child doesn’t need to do it all, so limit activities to favorites to avoid over-scheduling (and exhausting) your kids.

3. Hand over the Reins.

Kids really do respond when you let them make their own decisions. It’s really not your responsibility to see that they make soccer practice or finish their spelling homework. Teachers and administrators expect your kids to be responsible for themselves, so why not employ that a little more at home? Sit down with your kids, ask them what they have to do and want to do and let them determine what it will take to get it all done. Step in when they need some guidance, but in general, let them find their path. Working parents who might not be home in time to sit down with their kids at the end of each school day can schedule a phone call at the same time each day.

4. Calendar.

Get a calendar for the family and put it in a central location, like the kitchen or mud room. Make every person in the household over the age of 10 responsible for posting their must-attend events for the upcoming week by Sunday evening. Also establish a system for communicating schedule changes. For example, all schedule changes need to be made in red or noted on a special “Notes” board next to the calendar and texted to mom and dad. Once something is put on the master calendar, employ the no-tolerance rule. If it’s on the public calendar, it’s public knowledge; if not, it’s not. If someone whines “I forgot to put it on the calendar,” that’s their problem to fix, not yours. Trust us, they’ll learn quickly.

5. Control the Clutter.

If you have a child in elementary school, you’re more than familiar with the projects, drawings, and otherwise indescribable objects that come home, but all kids in all grades come home with lots of stuff that can quickly become a clutter pile. Make a concerted effort to review items when they come and dump the stuff that doesn’t need to stay. The baking soda volcano can go – just take a pic with your kid for posterity and you’ll have the memory without the mess. Get a bin for important documents (like permission slips, teacher notes) and get your kids in the habit of sorting their stuff when they get home.

Organizing Outfits for the Week

By Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents

One of the biggest hassles on school mornings can be helping the kids find something to wear. No matter how many new outfits they have or how packed their closets are with clothes, it is inevitable that clothing delays will happen. How can you take back the morning and simplify the search for clothes? Try a little bit of planning and thinking ahead to get your kids moving without a lot of fuss.

What’s the Weather?

Before looking at the clothes in your child’s closet, take a peek at the weather forecast for the week. Make note of days when it will be excessively warm, bitterly cold, rainy or snowy. Jot those days on a scrap sheet of paper and bring it with you to the closet.

Input & Selection

While it may be possible to pick outfits for the week for younger children, once they reach elementary school age, children like to have input into what they wear. Ask your child to help you go through the closet and select five outfits for the week. Talk with her about what the weather is supposed to be like and about events or sports practices that may be scheduled for that week. Once five appropriate outfits have been chosen it is time to add the accessories.

Accessories

Besides any jewelry, accessories can also encompass socks, stockings, underwear and other essentials. Set aside what is needed for each outfit, so that there is no mad dash in the morning to find a pair of socks or to discover that there is a run in the favorite pair of tights at the last minute. By having everything together, children will be able to get themselves dressed quickly and efficiently in the morning. Do not forget to discuss shoes and which ones will be worn with each outfit, as well.

Organize

Set up a separate area of the closet or dresser where the selected outfits can be placed. It can be a hanging shelf that is labeled with the days of the week, or it can be one side of the closet bar. No matter where you put them, be sure that they are easy for children to reach and remove. If the closet is too full, when the child is trying to pull out the day’s outfit other clothes may fall off hangers or get tossed aside. The easier it is for the child to get at the clothing, the easier the morning will go.

Twenty minutes of organizing the week’s school outfits can be 20 minutes saved from arguing, fussing and hassle each day. A good day to lay out the clothing is on a Sunday, as you can arrange pieces for the entire week. Make sure that your child provides input and helps select the clothing or the system will fail.

About the Author:

Jessica Ackerman, is a consultant with WallDecorandHomeAccents.com and describes how to decorate with outdoor thermometer wall clocks and tree wall art hanging.

Get Out the Door on Time

By Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com

With the start of school quickly approaching, the anxiety of the daily morning rush can set in faster than you think. If your children are notoriously losing their papers, backpacks, and school supplies at the last minute, it is time to organize an area to make getting out the door on time a reality, and not a dream. Try some of the ideas below to get your kids moving in time for the school bus.

Hanging Pockets

While hanging pockets are common in offices, not many people use them in their home decor. Change your thinking about this practical organizing solution and install a hanging pocket for each child at their level. Have the children decorate the pockets with their names using paint, stickers or permanent markers. Homework, signed papers and items that need to be returned to school can be quickly placed in the pocket and removed on the way out the door. This keeps everything within reach and out in the open so no one forgets.

A Basket for Everything

Fabric cube baskets are a great place to store book bags, small musical instruments, and sports equipment that goes back and forth to school. Have a basket for each child below their hanging pockets and encourage them to store their “get out quick” items in it. During colder weather, gloves, hats and scarves can also be contained in the baskets’ confines.

Coat Rack Central

While it may be tempting to hide small coats and boots away in the hall closet, if getting to them every morning delays departure, hang a knob or hook coat rack by the baskets and hanging pockets. Hang it at child level so that the children can hang up and get to their coats with no problems. Not only will this make them more responsible for hanging up their things, it will also make it easier to find everyone’s coats in the morning rush. Line up rain boots, snow boots and other seasonal footwear under the coat rack so that everything is in one, easily accessible place.

By creating a system for children where they can quickly and conveniently store their school items and outerwear, the morning hassle will be greatly reduced. You will spend more time on hugs and kisses goodbye than rushing from place to place worrying about everyone having everything they need. A little organization can make big changes in your life, as well as your children’s lives. Give it a try!

About the Author:

Alyssa Davis, writes exclusively for Metal-Wall-Art.com, and specifically about designing with coffee metal wall art and butterfly metal wall art.

Start the school year off with these free lunchbox notes!

Sending notes in your kid’s lunch boxes are always fun! Whether they are preschool age or if they are in the 5th grade, notes are always a good treat! Choose from the 2 designs below: The first pdf is for kids ages 7 & under; the second pdf is for kids ages 8 & up. Enjoy!

Download Lunchbox.notes for kids ages 7 & under
Download Lunchbox.notes for kids ages 8 & up

Get Organized and Create Your Own Command Center

School is right around the corner. Do you get a tick just thinking about the mountain of paperwork you know will come in like waves from the school and teachers? How the heck will you keep it all organized and not get overwhelmed? How can you help your kids from getting overwhelmed?

The SMEAD SuperTab® folders and Stadium™File may be your salvation! Using these products to set up your school command center will make your school year just a little easier to get organized!

SMEAD SuperTab® Folders

First set up file folders using the SMEAD SuperTab® folders so the paperwork coming in the door will already have a place in your home. The tabs are 90% larger than normal tabs so you can really make the lettering large for the kids – or add additional information on the tab! You can download a free Microsoft Word® label template if you don’t want to write on the folders!

Folders you may want to incorporate include: Homework, Calendars, Master Calendar, Contacts (phone directories/rosters), Sports, For Parents, Return to School. Your folders may look different – you may want one for each child for each subject, or for each sport. You may want to keep a calendar for each child. Every family is different, but the tabs are so large, whatever you choose will be seen by everyone in your family!

The SMEAD Stadium™ File

I LOVE the Stadium File. There are 12 tiered pockets so you can see all the files at once. This way there is no confusion or missing of a file folder! AND because it is and expanding file, you can really get lots of paperwork in each defined space. It can sit out on a kitchen counter, dining table or desktop and still look neat. It’s portable so you can take it to your favorite area to sort through the papers and it’s easy for the kids to move too! So once you decide on your folder, this is the best place to put them until you are ready to toss or file its contents!

Give it a try! These tools will help your command center run smoothly and help you keep on top of everything this coming school year!

Where To Buy:

These are places where people you can purchase online.

1. Stadium File
-Office Depot
-Franklin Covey
-Amazon.com

2. Supertab
-Office Depot
-Staples
-Buy Online Now

How To Keep In Touch With Smead

1. Facebook

2. Twitter

3. Smead Organomics has a lot of great content (articles, checklists, calculators, a forum, the ability to login/save your favorite content and an organizing solution generator). The easy url for that is www.smead.com/organomics

Disclosure: This is sponsored content and we have been paid to do this post. That being said, we do not blog about anything we do not believe in and Smead did not edit our post or direct our content in any way.