As school days have become more hectic and crowded, our children now eat lunch just two hours after breakfast. As a result, their teachers ask that they bring in a snack to help them get through the school day without being hungry. Sometimes it can be tempting to purchase pre-packaged snacks, but is the time saved really worth the extra cost? We pack our own snacks, check out these examples below:
First up? Cheezits. You can buy the family size box or purchase the individual mini bags.
21 ounces for $3.98
15 ounces for $3.98
As you can see, both packages are $3.98. However the family size box is 21 ounces, and the individual pack box is 15 ounces. If you buy the large box and bag them up yourself, it’s only about $0.23 a serving, whereas the individual packs are $0.33 each.
Next up are Goldfish crackers.
30 ounces for $6.98
12 ounces for $4.48
16 ounces for $2.38
Individual bags of Goldfish crackers cost $0.37 each. If you buy the large box and bag them up yourself, it’s $0.23 a serving. And if you take it a step further and purchase the off-brand Whales crackers, it’s only $0.15 a bag!
Another favorite in our home? Yogurt covered raisins.
$1.98 for an 8 ounce bag, or $2.98 for 8 boxes
An 8 ounce bag of yogurt covered raisins is enough for 8 snack bags, at only $0.25 each. If you get the prepackaged boxes, the cost increases to over $0.37 per serving.
As you see from the pictures above, buying in bulk is always cheaper than buying individually packaged snacks. Separating treats into snack bags only takes a few minutes, and can save several dollars each week. My kids like to pack their own snacks, and it’s easy for them to do with a measuring cup. It’s also a great way for them to build on their math skills!
Packing snacks at home is simple!
For a quick review of the money we save by packing snacks ourselves, check out the numbers below:
For a week of prepackaged snacks:
Cheezits (x2): $0.33 x2 = $0.66
Goldfish: $0.37
Yogurt covered raisins (x2): $0.37 x 2 = $0.74
Total snacks for the week for our family: $1.77 per child x 6 = $10.62 ($382.32 for the year)
For a week of DIY snack bags:
Cheezits (x2): $0.23 x 2 = $0.46
Whales: $0.15
Yogurt covered raisins (x2): $0.25 x 2 = $0.50
Total snacks for the week for our family: $1.11 per child x 6 = $6.66 ($239.76 for the year)
While it may only seem like pennies each week, the savings really do add up. Over the course of a school year, we save can save over $140 just by purchasing large packs of snacks and bagging them ourselves. Of course, there is also the added cost of the snack bags themselves, but they cost about $0.02 each, which only adds up to another $20 over the span of the school year. Reusable snack bags would drop that cost even lower.
Put snacks in a tub and let kids pick their own!
Could you use an extra $100 a year? That’s enough to pay our gas bill, or 2 months of water, or 2 months of cell phone service. Every little bit adds up, and counting pennies is a big part of staying within our budget.
Do you pack your child’s snacks at home? Or do you feel like the convenience of prepacked snacks is worth the extra cost?
You are so right, every little bit helps save money! It’s so great that you took the time to find out the cost comparison between bagging it yourself and buying the individual bags. Thanks so much for linking up at Thrifty Thursday, come back anytime!
Jenn recently posted..Entryway Closet Rescue: From Cluttered to Clean and Functional
Thanks Jenn! Of course, you could save even MORE money with reusable bags and homemade snacks, but I think this is a happy medium for us! I love Thrifty Thursdays, thanks for hosting!
Tiffany Wong recently posted..Healthy Living Link Up | #Mamavation Monday 16