This is an email from my reader Sara:
I have a 16 month old that has just started coloring with crayons. Now back to school is the best time of the year to buy crayons at a bargain…like Publix for .33 cents.
But, over the last year when we go to restaurants for some reason the hostess always gives us a kids menu with crayons even before she knew how to use them.
So I would stick them in my purse and bring them home. You usually get 4 crayons where ever you go eat, sometimes 2 now with the recession and all…but over almost a year of collecting I have 28 crayons in a box I never had to pay for aside from my meal of course : )
So next time you are out to eat don’t leave those crayons on the table! Taken them home!
Be sure to catch up on all the previous Let’s Save Some Money posts.
Chelsea says
Great tip Thanks!
Cindy says
We take all the free crayons and cups when we go places too. We store them in an empty diaper wipe container. We also save all the crayons year to year after school(becuase you just HAVE to have new crayons every year) and throw them in there too. Love using the diaper wipe tubs for portable toy boxes when we are on the go.
Cindy says
I’m pretty sure that the don’t reuse them, at least not the ones that come in their own box. Now there are some places that just give you a small glass with crayons in it. Now those we don’t take. But the ones in the boxes, we take for sure, because otherwise they will be thrown away.
Randi says
We also take the plastic cups they give the girls with their kids meals. I’ve talked to servers and they will usually refill them (depending on what they are drinking) for free before you leave. These cups are perfect for crafting (egg dyeing at Easter) and for taking camping. You don’t care as much when they get broken because they were “free” with their meal. Plus they come with a plastic lid, which is nice to have sometimes (and the lids make great mini frisbee’s, ask my nephew, lol)
Amy says
With so many schools having huge budget cuts right now, we save our restraunt crayons and donate them to my cousin’s classroom. Their budget is so bad, they don’t even have money for cnstruction paper in 1st grade!
RK says
I have never thought of that. Are you supposed to take them? I thought they reused them from table to table? If it’s OK, then I will certainly do it next time!
Cindy says
I cannot speak for other places but we throw them out if they are opened and laying on the table ( I usually swipe them and put them in my apron, just got to remeber to take them out before washing my apron)
Beth says
I leave these crayons in my purse all of the time. I only have one little one, the rest of my children are older, but I have many nieces and nephews. These little packs of crayons keep them busy everywhere and you would be surprised how many times I’ve saved other mom’s sanity with them too! With my children ranging in age from 20 years old to 20 month’s, I’ve learned alot over the years and I always have a purse full of goodies. My most recent is snagging a couple extra round coffee stir sticks for paper beads. I cut up magazines into long, thin, triangular shapes, hit them with a glue stick and wrap them around the stir stick, then trim them off. It keeps them busy on a rainy day and the beads look great! Stir sticks=free, magazines=free to nominal, glue sticks=$1 for a pack at the dollar store.
CJ says
Another thing that mom used to do and I have started doing is that she would save the crayons that I had broken or had gotten to small to use. Then she would melt them down in the oven to make all new crayons for me. We would make some that had all different colors and we made some that were all the same colors. We put them in the paper muffin cups and then it just peeled away when the crayons cooled.
Jen says
I stock up on the quarter boxes of crayons for the nursery school treat bags. With twins, I feel the obligation to give “good” treat bags at the holidays. Cindy, I’m all about the free kids meals, and I do stock up on the crayons from the restaurant. Anyone notice that they are pretty much the same colors, no matter where you go?
Casey says
They are the same colors because the restaurant supply companies don’t really give us much of an option :)
Kimber says
A great use for used and broken crayons – you can peel off the wrappers, break them into small piecse, and “melt” them in an old muffin tin (or a fun-shaped silicone mold) to make toddler-proof crayons! Last year I stocked up on the 25 cent crayons and melted them into big, chunky star-shaped crayons. My 2-year-old loves them and she can’t break them!
Aysha says
I always take home the plastic cups too. They are great for my kids, they don’t break and I really don’t care if they get lost!
Stephanie says
No matter where you go always be on the look out for the hidden freebies! They are every where. We just have to look! :)
Cindy says
I do the same thing. And I actually keep a few in my purse for places that don’t have crayons. I have noticed that not only have a lot of places gone to just two crayons, but Steak and Shake made their crayons even shorter. But still they are free. And speaking of saving money. Steak and Shake where I live does free kid’s meals during the weekend. So we always wait to hit them up on the weekend.
Karen Schedin says
What a great idea! I don’t have kids so I wouldn’t have thought of that. Just a thought even if you don’t use them donate them to a local teacher. :D
Kristy says
and here I thought I was the only cheap one to take them! LOL. My friends look at me like I’m crazy but I have collected a entire baby wipe box for my 2 1/2 to play with!
Elizabeth says
I take them home too! They are perfect travel size :o)