Just saw a back-to-school sale ad. How do we politely say “no thank you” to that?
Everything feels like it costs more this year. Right?? It's not just us?? And one of us on the JB crew mayyy nonethless be fighting the deeply irrational urge to buy a lunchbox for their 2-year old (who absolutely does not need a new lunchbox) just because it has ladybugs on it.
So this week we’ve sourced 3 low-effort ideas to prep now to maybe avoid the wallet spiral that’s already looming.
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💸 The 4-Bucket Back-to-School Budget
👉 Instead of getting steamrolled by receipts, break your spending into 4 budget buckets:
Clothes: Cap it. (And let’s remember that nothing will fit by October anyway)
Supplies: Inventory first - your house is secretly a tiny, chaotic Staples
Fees & Events: Prepay or earmark what you can (PTA dues, field trips, etc.)
The Chaos Fund: Spirit week, birthday gifts, meltdown-triggering folder drama
👉 Put rough caps on each. If it doesn’t fit? It waits. Or you purposefully budget for little things like the glittery pencil case must-have. Just don’t let it accumulate without you knowing.
⚡ The “Paste-and-Search” Masterlist Hack
👉 You do not need to buy your school shopping list from scratch this year, we're like 85% certain.
First, try this:
Find last year’s supply list (or ask a friend with a kid one grade ahead)
Paste it into a checklist app (we like Google Keep or Apple Notes)
Walk through your house and cross off what you already own
Done early, this trick gets you ahead of that school supply list and whatever oddly specific request is coming next from your sweet, beloved teacher (why this specific brand of crayons again?) And yes, PreK supply lists are apparently a thing now. Who knew?
Did you know? 🧃 JuiceBox is built by a tiny team of working parents just like you. We curate and write this stuff so you don’t have to but we’d LOVE for you to get in on the action.
💬 Got a time-saving tip or a chaos-fighting hack of your own? Hit reply and share it—we all need a village, and we’d love to hear from you.
👯♀️ Know a fellow parent who needs this? Forward away or hit this button:
🧩 The “Stash & Dash” Activity Shelf
👉 Here’s how to turn post-daycare chaos into a semi-calm 15-minute window, without screens:
🔹 Quietly gather 4–5 “relic” toys your kid hasn’t touched in weeks
🔹 Create a bin or shelf labeled “After-School Shelf” (mentally labeled is fine too)
🔹 Let your kid pick one thing from it per day
Bonus if you build this from the exact pile of toys you were trying to donate before your kid suddenly got very emotionally attached. That toy vacuum from Grandma? Back in rotation. The forgotten animal puzzle? Basically new again.
You get novelty. They get autonomy. Everyone gets a snack and a breather.
K that’s all. You’re the best and we love you.
-CK “Will Say No to Another Lunchbox” Fuller (Editor) & the JB Crew 🫡
P.S. Next week is all about tiny wins. Aka, the things that remind you (in between sunscreen reapplications and snack refills) that you’re actually doing a pretty great job.