by Kelly Greene

It's that time of year again! Many moms celebrate the end of a summer full of video games, "I'm bored," and coming home to a sink full of dishes and cups (and what is up with those cups?!? How many cups does one child need in a day?) But, celebrating aside, this time of year can cause some financial stress. School supplies, activity fees, equipment, and, of course, CLOTHES. It seems the older your kids get, the more costly these things become. So what are some ways to save money?

1. Recycle school supplies from last year. Most kids didn't use the entire box of 24 pencils or 12 glue sticks that were on last year's list. Scissors last an eternity, markers still have some juice and a backpack can be washed. 
2. Stock up for next year during this year's back-to-school clearance sales. I've seen prices slashed up to 80% a few weeks after school started. 
3. Look on Craig's List, Offer Up and at thrift stores for athletic equipment. You'll be amazed at what you can find. After a
...

We all grew up with various ideas about money instilled in us by our parents, some good and some not-so-good.

How do we, as parents, become positive money role models for our children?

Teach your kids the value of money at an early age.  

I know how tempting it is to buy your child every single toy or book they want, especially around birthdays and holidays whether it's to avoid a tantrum or just because they’re so darn cute, buying your children anything and everything they want doesn’t teach them the value of money. 

Encourage your kids to save money.  

It can be very tempting to spend birthday and holiday money on one trip to Target, only for your child to be bored with their purchase a week later. Motivate your child to set a goal and save up for it. One of my sons is currently saving for a Nintendo Switch. It's a lofty goal for him, but I know he’ll feel a sense of accomplishment.

I recently took two of my kids to open up an account at a local credit union. They have a fanta...