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Budgeting helps avoid backâ€"toâ€"school buying blues t‘s the week every parent Iboth longs for and dreads. After a long sumâ€" mer, most families are glad to see their children back into the routine of the school year. Along with the return of the routine, however, comes the reality of equipping your children to learn, play and stay warm and acceptably dressed for the next 10 months. "Advertising around the backâ€"toâ€"school season is almost as persuasive as around Christmas," says credit counselling manager Margaret Parker of Catholic Family Counselling Centre, Region of Waterloo. "Much of it is aimed at children _ â€" particularly teens and preâ€"teens â€" emphasizing the need to have the latest and greatest clothes, shoes and supplies. Counteracting the hype with some common sense planâ€" ning is important not only in spending your own money wisely this season, but also in installing good spending habits in your children over the long term." _ h Make a budget and stick to it. It‘s the golden rule of wise money manageâ€" Continued from page 12 Turn the heat to medium, cover and steam for approxâ€" imately eight minutes or until the shells are wide open and the meat is comâ€" ing loose from the shell. Stir once by gently lifting the Parker offers these simple tips to help you and your family avoid the backâ€"toâ€" school spending blues: Pull up these socks and get mussels TLooking for convenience and personal service? ment. "There‘s perhaps no better time than backâ€"toâ€" school when it‘s as imporâ€" tant to stress to your chilâ€" dren that needs should outâ€" weigh wants in determining spending priorities," says Parker. When it comes to clothes, take an inventory of what is on hand, what can be extended over the comâ€" ing year and what new items are really needed. Build your budget around the needed items, shop for the best deals, and use any budget surplus to fund some of the wants. It is an incentive for children to think hard about the kinds of items â€" or the labels â€" they can "live with" in order to be able to have some of the things they "can‘t live without." S& Involve children â€" especially teens â€" in the budgeting process. You will be developing good future skills, and you will be helpâ€" ing them to take ownership of the choices and inevitable tradeoffs that will have to be made. When it‘s their deciâ€" sion, you are less likely (although not completely unlikely) to hear complaints after the fact. % Following along with the needs versus wants thinking, allow the children to use their own money to "trade up". For instance, if you are willing to pay $25 for Lift mussels into large individual bowls. Pour broth over top. Only living mussels will open. Do not serve any unopened shells. bottom mussels to the top Garnish with parsley and lemon. Serve with sliced THYDTE a suitable sweatshirt, and the child would like a "name brand" sweatshirt, permit them to spend the extra from their own money. "It‘s important to make sure this doesn‘t get out of hand," says Margaret. "You don‘t want your children to be cashing in their life savings to be the best dressed people in school. Nevertheless, this exercise can quickly and effectively show your child the very real costs of sucâ€" cumbing to peer pressure." & Postpone your backâ€" toâ€"school shopping until children really are back to school. Not only are you more likely to get better prices, but also you will actually know what supplies are required, saving you unnecessary expense. Don‘t forget, either, that you don‘t have to buy for the whole year at once. Take your time to shop around for the items that aren‘t needed immediately and remember that the ongoing costs of clothing, supplies, school trips and the like should be part of your annual budgetâ€" ing. . baguetteâ€"style bread for dipâ€" ping. This dish goes well with a side salad. S In developing your backâ€"toâ€"school plan, don‘t forget that clothes and supâ€" plies aren‘t the only expensâ€" es. Extraâ€"curricular activities (music, sports, clubs) often carry costs for equipment Crosby Augi Great Values on inâ€"stock 2001 A6 Models 11 To Choose From The A6 2.7T *« Named best sedan in its price range‘ in 2000 by Car and Driver magazine * A potent 27 Iier, biturbo 250 hp engine * Fullâ€"time quattro® allâ€"whee! drive standard * A 6â€"speed manual transmission or 5â€"speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® feature * Front and side airbag supplemental restraint systems‘‘ * All with a price that should stop you in your tracks. rental or purchase, uniâ€" forms, etc., which must often be paid during the first week back. September is also the time when most lessons, sports and other activities resume, along with their own registration fees. So don‘t forget to factor them into your family‘s budget. "With proper planning and the consideration of your children as partners in the backâ€"toâ€"school process," says Parker, "your family can have a valuable and profâ€" itable learning experience well before classes begin." For more information, contact Jennifer Berry or Margaret Parker at Catholic Family Counselling Centre, 743â€"6333. AND GET oNE Now 894â€"9300 www.crosbyywaudi.com 1175 Weber St. E., Kit.