So, here’s the truth. I am busy. I am, like, crazy busy. I have just moved my family of five, well, six, if you count our shih tzu, from Atlanta back to Toronto. On SUNDAY. I have just started a brand new job. I am trying desperately to furnish, unpack, wrangle the kids, etc. Because my life is crazy and hectic and nutty (I like it this way, though, just PS), I am a one-stop shopping type of girl. If I can go to one place and buy EVERYTHING at once, you can bet that I am going to do it. Some people are different, my mother-in-law, for example. She will read all the flyers, check all the specials, and end up spending an entire day zipping in and out of many, many stores. I hate to do this. My time is so precious.
But, then again, you know what else is precious? MY WALLET. I really am only a fan of one-stop shopping when it’s financially worthwhile. If it’s going to be at my newly house-poor bank account’s expense, I would rather shop around.
Luckily for me, I have this year’s back-to-school shopping in the bag, if you will kindly excuse my super bad pun. Because, you guys, I get everything I need for my three kids at Zellers. And…get this…I didn’t spend that much money. Honest, you guys. I spent $260. And, if we are going to get technical here, that’s actually $50 LESS than the national average spent in 2009.
I am a listmaker. So, what I do, is, well, I make lists. Lists that look like this:
I combine NEEDS and WANTS.
For grade 4, Emily will NEED a strong, durable backpack. She will be carting lots of homework to and from school. It will need a strong, reinforced bottom. It will need wide, padded straps for all those heavy loads. She will need things like pens and pencils and scissors.
For grade 4, Emily will WANT her binders and notebooks to be a little funky, to fit her style. She will want some new skinny jeans and a new cardigan. I love that I can buy her things she likes from Cherokee. I like the brand; she likes the style.
I am able to budget for both…the needs and the wants, and I will do this for Joshua and Isabella too. Everyone will get the necessities, but they will also get to have something that’s theirs…something that they want.
this is a fantastic piece of kit. I bought one a while back and ive loved it maybe more than i should have ever since. great fun highly recomended!
that is a lovely piece of kit. I bought one a while back and ive used it maybe more than i should have ever since. brill fun most recomended!
yes, but it’s not Target. Heh.
I LOVE Zellers! I outfitted both my kids (boy and girl) with school clothes plus dancewear for the girl, plus some extra shoes for about $200 last year. They love the clothes, they fit well and they held up for the entire school year. I may have to get my daughter that hooded cardigan – it’s adorable!