The Sewing Mom

We actually have started the back-to-school shopping process all ready! Yesterday we loaded up on notebooks and construction paper and today my daughter bought a new lightweight jacket at the mall. I know it’s only a small start, but, at least it’s a start. When we got home from our little shopping trip today, I found an interesting brochure that had arrived in today’s mail and it pertained to saving for college. I have to tell you, I’m scared to death that we are not going to be prepared in a few short years when our own daughter heads off to college.

We had very good intentions all those years ago when she was born and we started saving immediately. Unfortunately, since then, several things have happened over the years that have caused us to deflate that college savings and so we are no where near financially prepared. Seriously, there are so many things to consider even beyond tuition and books. Obviously there are living expenses if our daughter moves away from home to attend college. I think it’s important now to start teaching her how to attend college on a low budget!

I can still remember my college roommate and I eating lots and lots of baked potatoes, popcorn and nacho cheese made in a hot pot! We rarely ever ate out, we didn’t have the money to do something that extravagant! I don’t want to be getting those calls on regular basis either, you know the ones, “Mom, send money”. It’s critical that she know how to live on a budget!

I know some parents send their kids off to college with a credit card, but I’m not sure in today’s economy, if that’s a good decision or not. I do like the idea of sending her off with a re-loadable gift card like Sears offers. It’s pretty cool because the student gets a card and the parents also get a card. So, I could add money to the card either online or at a Sears store and then my daughter can use her card to make purchases at either Sears or Kmart. That’s pretty simple and I wouldn’t have to deal with credit card bills. Sears CampusReady program is simple to use and helps kids be ready and parents stay on budget.

Sears CampusReady on Facebook where it can help students and parents get ready for college. There is a 3D program to help design your dorm room. Not only is this a fun program, but think how well it could help decide what will and won’t fit into a dorm room. This can keep all of us from over spending on dorm junk. There is also a “Gift Getter” program that allows a student to list things they’d like to have and friends and family can see their list and consider purchasing those items as gifts for the new student. (I really like that idea!) If you know anyone getting ready to head off to college, I definitely recommend checking out CampusReady on Facebook to help in the planning process.