How to Save Money on School Lunch

Lunchtime at school is one of the favorites if not the only favorite time for a school child. The kids can sit with their friends, gossip about the day and enjoy their lunch. But for parents, it seems school lunches seem to become more and more expensive. Listed below are a few helpful hints to saving money on your child's school lunch.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tax forms
• free/reduced lunch forms
• lunch box/or paper sack
• food items
• thermos

1. The first thing you need to do is see if you qualify for free or reduced lunches. You can check with your school and have your child bring home a form. It is very easy to fill out, you just need to know basic information and also a little information from your tax records. This information will help the school determine if your income allows you to receive free or reduced lunch. If you do meet the requirements then your child will pay nothing for their lunch or they will have to pay a reduced amount. For example: if the lunch costs $1 then the reduced price would probably be around .40 cents. This may not seem like a huge difference but on the whole it is a great difference.

2. You can also decide to pack your child's lunch. This can become expensive. To save money, use the same lunch box as last year or get one that is on clearance the same year to use for next year. You can also buy paper sacks at the dollar store for usually around a dollar and then your child can bring them back home to reuse.

3. When buying drinks and food items for your child's lunch, take into account how much things cost. If you are buying koolaid drinks for 2 dollars for 6 drinks, you could save by using a thermos and placing already made koolaid inside the thermos. You can also buy small containers for about a dollar and place leftovers in them for your child to take to school the next day.

4. Get creative. Make flower shaped sandwiches or smiley faces inside. A Peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a very cheap alternative. Just weigh your options before deciding on what you will send to school with your child. Also be sure you know all of the guidelines that the school has about bringing lunch items.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not be embarassed to use free or reduced lunch. If you think your child will be made fun of, it is untrue. No one will know they are on the program unless they choose to tell. It is there to help people when they need it.
• Remember to check with your school about peanut allergies or any other allergies that may need to be addressed.

[kaseysviewblog]

on 9/7/2008 Good tips!

[luv2blog]

on 8/15/2008 Good tips. Thanks!!

[momofour]

on 8/7/2008 Great tips!

[acole]

on 8/4/2008 Good info.

[klnygaard]

on 7/28/2008 great ideas