Thrifty Thursday - Sort It Out!

It's that time of year again - kids are getting out of school for summer break! With that, they are probably bringing home plenty of things - from crayons and papers that were in their desk, to backpacks, to cleaning out the wardrobe they wore all year long.

It might be tempting to just toss everything in the closet and forget about it until back to school time, but don't! Take the time to sort through everything they brought home. For awards and special papers, put this aside to either scrapbook, or scan them into the computer to keep.

Sort through all the crayons, pencils, and other school supplies. Are they in good enough shape to be used again next year? If yes, then place them somewhere you'll easily find when the new back to school shopping list arrives in a few months. While crayons can be very obviously a bit beat up, items such as scissors, rulers, and even folders can usually be used for several years. If kids do art projects during the summer months, be sure to toss other usable items into the bins you use. And if they are still in great shape, but your children absolutely insist on having brand new each school year, contact your local churches - many of them can use those crayons and scissors for the Vacation Bible Schools. It's a win-win situation - you clear out clutter and keep things out of the landfill, and they can snag some supplies to stretch their budgets a little bit further.

Next, sort through any clothing. If it looks like it might still fit next year, then store it away in labeled totes or drawers. If clothing is outgrown, but still usable, consider taking it to a consignment shop or donate to places like Goodwill. If your children wear uniforms, check to see if there is a uniform exchange program going on, where you can "trade" outgrown uniforms with other parents. Most schools have this once or twice a year, and not only is it a great way to save a little money, it also is good for the environment, too!