Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

A Frugal Mind Set

The kid is back at school so days of sleeping in to 8 am are over. Our 20 year old alarm clock is going off now at 6:45.

The good news is our daughter didn’t need much in terms of back to school supplies and is content to wait till the LF Warehouse Sale to get clothes. We approached this whole back to school thing this year with frugality. I honestly was fed up with re-buying school supplies, shoes and clothes every year. At 15 she’s not outgrowing stuff as often, plus I thought it was time to teach her value. 

The $300 boots I got her at Nordstrom’s Rack for $110 last year were sent into Zinkes shoe repair for refurbishment with new heels and polishing. I also sent in a pair of old character shoes for her Footloose performances (new rubber & heels and a good polishing). I also had them re-glue some old deck shoe type sneakers. That should get her through the Fall.

We cleaned out her desk and drawers and discovered a lot of good but used items. We’re re-using last years book covers, erasers, calculator, highlighters,  pencils and pens. She got into the dance class at her high school and is using some of her old dance clothes and gear to start. We washed her Jansport backpack from two years ago and she is re-using that too.
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I though all this re-using stuff would bother her a bit, but was surprised to find that she is taking pride in being so frugal.  Most of her friends are too. 

During the process, she also has dug through my drawers (GRRRR!) and discovered 2 pairs of my James Jeans I haven’t been wearing. Because of her good “frugal” attitude I gave in and let her have them. The hardest part of that was they look better on her than they did on me.

She also discovered my leather jackets. I may let her wear one when it finally starts to get chilly. But the one I bought at the Shopaholic Sample sale is off limits….

The lesson taught was you can be frugal by re-using and refurbishing quality items.
Total costs for us this back to school season…. $107. That includes schools locker fees ASB and PTA membership fees. Not bad!