Back To School: 6 Things to Do As You Get Ready

It's back to school time for many of us. The school year will be starting up again soon, and that means that there a number of things that need to be done in order for you to get your children ready for another year of learning. As you consider back to school, here are 6 things to do as summer draws to a close:

1. Go Through Last Year's School Supplies

The first thing to do is make sure that you are up to date on what your child already has. Have him or her try on the clothes worn last year, and check to see that they are in reasonably good condition. While part of the fun of back to school is getting new clothes, you shouldn't replace an entire wardrobe if there is no need to.

You should also go through backpacks, binders, pencils, pens and other school supplies. Figure out which items are still good for another year, and which items need to be replaced. Make a list of what you need. If you make a point to re-use some of the items, you will find that you can save some money with your back to school shopping.

2. Get Your Child Involved in Back to School

When you do your back to school shopping, make sure your child is involved. This can be a great chance to teach your children valuable financial lessons. Give them a set amount, and then have them use their own money when they go beyond that. You might be surprised at how much more careful they are once their own money is on the line.

3. Take Care of Checkups

Now is a great time to go to the eye doctor, dentist and pediatrician. Getting your child's eyes checked before the school year is especially important. You don't want to have a month or two of poor school performance before pinpointing the problem: That your child can't see what the teacher is writing on the board. See the dentist and the pediatrician as well, and get the year off to a good start (without taking your child out of class).

4. Get Back to a School Schedule

Technically, your child should have been reading all summer to keep his or her skills sharp. However, if this isn't the case, it's time to add a little more back in. It's also a great time to get back on to a school-type schedule. Start going to bed a little easier, and adding reading back into the routine. You want to make the transition as smoothly as possible, and that means that you need to start easing back into things now.

5. Take One More Staycation

It's probably a bit much to go on a full vacation, but you can take one more staycation as a family. A little frugal planning can ensure a fun summer fling before school starts. Consider using your Canadian credit card to earn a few more rewards points (just be sure to pay it off ASAP), and doing something fun close to home. It's a great way to enjoy one more great family memory before the school year starts.

6. Start Planning for Next Year

If you find that your budget is strained by this year's back to school expenses, now is the time to start planning for next year. Add up what you spend on extracurricular activities, school fees, and school supplies. Then, divide that number by 12. Put money in a high yield savings account designated as the "back to school" fund. Then, when next year rolls around, you won't have such a strain on your budget.

This post was included in the 49th Canadian Finance Carnival at Canadian Finance Blog, and in the Teaching and Learning Blog Carnival.