Envelope System for Kids

Oh how I LOVE back to school shopping!


Last year, we tried a new system. We did a repeat this year, but we tweaked it just a little bit.


We cleaned bedrooms in the morning. As we did so, I asked the kids to pay attention to what they felt they needed for school clothes. We put each child's name on his/her own envelope and jotted down just what he/she needed on the same envelope.

We estimated what we felt shirts, jeans, etc. would cost, figured a total for each child and headed to the bank. Before we got to the bank, we totaled the number of 1s, 5s, 10s, and 20s we would need. We divided the correct money into the correct envelopes.

Each child carried his/her own envelope into the store and shopped for what he/she needed. There were items that couldn't be afforded. There were no temper tantrums; they just found other items.

Of course, they couldn't wait to wear what they'd purchased and offered to do a fashion show for me when we got home. I had already seen what they'd bought, so I made them wait until their dad got home. So fun to see them so excited.

Before you go shopping, one last hint. We went online before we left and found that Old Navy had a printable coupon. We were able to use that in the store and saved 25% off our entire purchase. Make sure you take a look around online before you go.

Because we saved more than $12 out of the budget allowed, I took the kids to get frosty's at Wendy's. It was nice to teach the kids that just because they had it didn't mean they had to spend it. After our frosty's, we were still in the black--a pretty sweet feeling!