In this episode of Rated Mom, Heather, Dena, and Jessica break down the actual logistics of getting kids back to school. They cover the headache of crowded supply aisles at Target and explain how buying clothes at resale shops like Plato's Closet offsets the expense of sudden teenage growth spurts. The hosts also discuss meal planning, pointing out how ordering groceries through a delivery app cuts down on expensive impulse buys. They share a few practical ways to simplify weeknight dinners, from using recipe apps and slow cookers to blending cottage cheese as a high-protein substitute for mayonnaise. Finally, they discuss the necessity of rolling back summer bedtimes early so kids can handle morning drop-offs.

If you are frustrated by the rising cost of school supplies or dread the nightly question of what to make for dinner, this episode validates how difficult it is to pull a household out of summer mode and back onto a strict schedule.

Key Takeaways

• Resale shops like Plato's Closet and Once Upon a Child keep clothing costs down when kids hit rapid growth spurts right before the school year.

• Ordering groceries for pickup or delivery prevents you from throwing expensive impulse purchases into your cart while walking the aisles.

• You can blend high-protein cottage cheese to replace mayonnaise or sour cream in recipes like chicken salad and beef stroganoff without changing the texture.

• Rolling back summer bedtimes a few weeks early helps kids adjust to early alarms and prevents meltdowns during morning drop-offs.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:20 – Adjusting to New School Routines

03:07 – The High Cost of Back to School Shopping

03:22 – Buying School Clothes at Resale Shops

06:12 – The Chaos of Shopping for Supplies at Target

09:05 – Transitioning Out of Summer Schedules

10:55 – Weekly Meal Prepping and Recipe Apps

12:12 – Homemade Ramen and Dutch Oven Meals

13:50 – Hidden Cottage Cheese Hacks for More Protein

16:42 – Using Grocery Delivery Apps to Save Money

19:20 – Reestablishing Consistent Bedtimes

Connect With Us:

• Rated Mom Website: https://www.ratedmom.com/

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ratedmom

• Dena: https://www.facebook.com/dena.childresscooke

• Heather: https://www.facebook.com/HomeFryez

• Jessica: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.peyton.14