Putting off back-to-school shopping may hurt your wallet
Lauren Alongi, of Oceanside, doing back-to-school shopping at DII Deals & Discounts in North Bellmore. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
I don't like to think about back-to-school shopping until at least Aug. 1.
When my kids' school sends home a flier each spring asking if I'd like to purchase the PTA's supply kit for the following school year, I always toss it in the trash.
It's not prudent. It would save me time and most likely money to buy it, but I don't want to start thinking about gearing up for the next school year before the current one is even over.
Call me old fashioned, but this feels like a late summer activity. As a kid I always found picking out a cute puppy folder or fancy Trapper Keeper binder helped distract from the disappointment that summer was ending and school was starting up again — at least a little.
But it might be time to rethink my approach. More than 60% of parents in a recent survey said they were starting back-to-school shopping by early July, because they are concerned about affordability.
Most big retailers like Target and Walmart start rolling out their annual big promotions in late June, so you might miss the sales and also be facing limited inventory by waiting until the end of summer.
More coffee? Yes, please.
A chai latte at the new Moksha Cafe in Northport. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
The first cup of coffee I barely remember drinking. I'm usually making it with bleary eyes. It's the one that gets me through the morning chaos with my kids. The second cup is for sipping while I start working. And the third — usually an iced cold brew — I'll pick up on my way to work.
It's a great time to be a coffee addict though. More and more shops have been popping up on Long Island in the last year. Here are 12 new spots to try.
And to offset the rising price of coffee beans, some shops are getting creative, offering combo deals like this one that pairs Pilates class with a latte for $25.
Practical screen time and social media tips
My son has screen time limits on his iPad but I'm often approving his requests to extend his time, especially if I'm busy working.
When it comes to regulating my kids' screen time, I'm admittedly all over the place. Sometimes my time limits are strict. Other times — especially if I'm trying to get work done or it's a long car ride — I'll keep approving my son's requests for more time or hand my daughter my phone to keep her distracted.
I've gone back and forth over which apps they are allowed to use.
It really is a balancing act, one our parents didn't have to navigate and the frontier keeps changing.
That's why I appreciated these practical tips for managing screen time, access to social media, AI and digital overload from experts at Newsday's recent Working Moms Summit. If you missed this and other sessions, you can watch the video replays here.
What else we're talking about
Some of the topics we're discussing on the Long Island Moms Instagram. Credit: @longisland_moms via Instagram
From navigating childcare costs and going rates for the tooth fairy to finding jobs for teens and guides to fun local spots, these are just some of the topics we're exploring through our Long Island Moms Instagram and Facebook communities. Follow to join the conversation and stay connected. You can also email me at workingmoms@newsday.com.
