Tis the season for super savings on school staples. With the summer coming to a rapid end, just about every discount retailer known to man is offering spectacular sales on back-to-school items, from spiral notebooks for a penny to double-pack Sharpies for a mere 25 cents. In most cases, the deepest discounts are reserved for generic items. If you are on a budget, then you’re probably not worried about getting a notebook covered with cute animated characters or the latest and greatest teen heartthrob. However, your kid might. Fortunately, with a little creativity, you and your child can turn boring … Continue reading →

School lockers can be downright dreadful. Not only are they typically painted in a revolting shade of puke green, institutional gray or dingy yellow, but you also have to deal with exterior and interior cracks, dents and marks. To help cure the ugly locker blues while operating on a tight student budget, consider crafting the following affordable items: Decorative Magnets: Nothing helps liven up the interior of a locker easier and faster than a bunch of bedazzled magnets. The simple embellishments can help keep things in place, such as notes, photos, and homework assignments. What’s more, you can make almost … Continue reading →

We live about five blocks down from a city park which hosts organized summer recreational activities for underprivileged youth. Staffed with teens hired by the Parks and Rec Department, the program attracts dozens of kids who are anxious to have fun in the sun. Last week, my 7-year-old and I biked to the park to exercise on the playground equipment and were pleasantly surprised when a program staff member invited us to take part in one of the group’s activities: Bubble Blast. Since the program is run on limited funds, many of the group’s activities and projects are extremely affordable. … Continue reading →