It's that time of the year where you're badgered for Box Tops for Education labels. You know the 10 cent tiny coupons found on tons of processed food? If you're new to schools begging for these things let me tell you what to expect:
1. Weekly reminders on newsletters to save the labels.
2. Encouragement from room moms or teachers to bring in the most labels so your child can participate in a pizza or ice cream party.
3. Your child reminding you that the teacher said bring in Box Tops.
4. Facebook posts from Box Top coordinators reminding you to send in those labels.
It gets old.
I know schools earn a lot of money from collecting those labels. It is a worthy cause however if you don't like to purchase all the processed food those labels are found on you're kinda left in a Box Top void.
If you want to participate but not compromise your eating standards here are five ways to score some labels and hopefully satisfy the pleas for donations:
1. Online Shoppers: Shop online at select retailers through Box Tops and earn points for your school. You'll need to select the school and be logged into your account for the credit to be properly applied. Go here to create an online account. You may also receive a 14 digit eBox Tops code. Go here to enter the code.
2. Purchase Green Giant veggies items: While some of the items are still processed there are a number of fresh produce items with Box Tops. Go here to see a participating list.
3. Purchase non-food items with labels: Clothing, paper products, office supplies, food storage, waste bags.
4. Create a network: I know you don't want your extended family and friends eating the processed food junk these labels are found on, however they not subscribe to your food philosophy. If that's the case make sure you ask your extended network to save the labels for you. You can create a Box Top collection box for them to keep on their counter as a reminder. Go here to check out a wide assortment of ideas.
5. Skip the clip: Keep up with little pieces of paper can get annoying. So instead of clipping the labels, just make a change jar to drop extra change into during the school year. You can nickel and dime your way to a nice donation at the end of the school year without buying a bunch of stuff you may or may not need. Granted this may not help your child's class win a collection competition but at least they can use the money immediately instead of waiting on BTE to reimburse the school.