Back to School Items to Be Had For Cheaper

If you are looking for a while to save money this fall then try cutting back on what you spend on school supplies. Your kid will always have some kind of advice for you on what they think you should buy but if you need to save money then you should do a bit of homework of your own before you start spending. In fact you will soon find that there are some things you do not need to buy.

For instance, many kids want a whole new set of pencils, crayons or markers when they still have perfectly good set left over from last year. Check their old schoolbags and the closets to see if they have a full set; items like this do not have to be replaced every school year.

When it comes to pens all you really need is a blue and black ink. Do not splurge on a full set of color pens as most teachers do not allow tests or essays to be written in red, green, pink or any other colors at all.

Other items that you may not need to replace are calculators, tape, scissors and pencil cases. Usually this stuff is in a desk or in last year's b ask-to-school backpack. If they must have a new pencil case keep in mind that you do not necessarily have to buy one. You can recycle another type of zippered pouch, like an old make up case and use it as a pencil case as well.

You probably don't have to buy your kid yet another novelty pencil sharpener. These sharpeners can be cute and colorful but no kid really needs one. This is because most classrooms are equipped with their own pencil sharpeners.

Your kid might also be asking for a new 'back-to-school' wardrobe. This is not a mandatory rule; it is a tradition invented by clothing stores. Be sure to search through their closets and see what still fits and what still can be worn. If your kid wants something new show them a way that they can wear the jacket or shirt so it looks new. This also treats them to be creative and thrifty when it comes to shopping for clothes when they are older.

The only time you need to buy your kid a new lunchbox is if they have somehow outgrown it. You do not want your kid to be carrying one that has graphics that can be too young for it.

Parenting Tips
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Baby Feeding Issues and Challenges

One of the biggest challenges of feeding a baby under a year old is to know when he or she is actually ready for solid food.

If you feed a baby solid food too early there is a risk that he or she will develop a food allergy or be unable to digest the food. The result can be stomach and bowel disorders that last for life.

This is why it is so important to err on the side of caution and make sure the baby is ready to eat solid food. If you are really unsure then ask the advice of your doctor.

While still breastfeeding it is also very important for a mother to avoid spicy foods as this can pass through the breast milk and cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. If you do not want a gassy baby then stay away from broccoli and cabbage.

Another issue is of whether or not you should serve your child commercially bought baby food. After all it is fast and convenient. However commercial baby food may not be as fresh or nutritious (or cheap) as baby food that you make yourself in a blender or a Baby Bullit.

Avoid giving your baby the foods that are choking hazards —
• Large chunks of cut up fruits
• Round fruits like grapes, cherry tomatoes and melon balls
• Soft sticky foods like marshmallows, peanut belly or gummy candies that can get lodged in the throat.
Remember that an infant under one year just simply does not have the glottis or esophagus or throat muscles needed to process these foods!
It is also very important for you to check the ingredients on any commercial food and make sure that they do not contain any of the following additives.

If you buy baby food with additives in it you may be addicting your baby to fat sugar, preservatives and all kinds of bad things for life. This is because the additives put in these foods do make them look and taste better.

If you give baby a savory or sugary food that is brightly colored it is not going to learn to eat the foods that are good for them – at any age.

The side effects of eating foods that are bad for them include food allergies, increased waistlines, an inability to absorb minerals and vitamins, a fatty liver, childhood obesity, learning and behavioral disabilities and many different childhood cancers and diseases.

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