Preparations for going back to school always put stress on parents rather than on kids. While the kids are relaxing during their summer vacation, they are hardly worried about back to school supply. Parents, on the other hand, must start preparations early if they want to avoid the last-minute scramble for school supplies a week before school starts. Buying schoolbags, clothes, and stationery ahead of time will also save on costs. Here are some ways you can keep the cost of back to school supplies to a minimum.
Once the list of school supplies that your child requires arrives, you should keep that list with you at all times. Instead of immediately going out to buy everything on that list, complete your shopping over time. Keep a lookout for sales, and leave your kids at home, as they would invariably clamor for the most expensive school supplies if you bring them along. Your local discount school supply store is a good place to start looking, as they will have school supplies at reasonable prices.
While your kid may adore the latest Disney cartoon character, you should never buy school supplies with such cartoon characters on them. In an all-too-short period of time, your kid will become bored of that particular character and fall in love with the latest one. Supplies with the previously beloved character will now be thrown aside in favor of your kid's new love.
When buying lunch boxes, look for those that are soft-sided and thermal. These will keep food cool or warm and in good condition for a longer period of time. Zip-lock baggies do not provide adequate protection for food. Reusable plastic containers are much better along with a thermos for hot drinks during winter.
Schoolbags should be tough and durable, as kids do not take much care of their schoolbags. Backpacks make better schoolbags than the latest "cool" bags, and camping stores sell excellent backpacks. The zippers and pockets on backpacks appeal to most kids, and they usually go on sale as summer draws to a close. Also check your local discount school supply store for good deals on schoolbags and backpacks. Back to school supply sales are also a good place to look for your child's next schoolbag.
When shopping for new clothing for your kids, pick out pieces that can all be worn interchangeably. This will give your kid a wide variety of combinations and choices when it comes to clothing. For kids, ten shirts and seven pairs of pants that can be mixed and matched with each other will make for an adequately-sized clothing collection. When buying clothing for your kid, avoid buying things that are considered that are currently in fashion, as this will quickly change. As all parents should know, however, teenagers are very concerned with their image, so you should allow your kid to choose a few pieces of fashionable clothing that they can wear when they feel the need. This helps to head off resentment from your kid.
So, well before the time comes for your kid to head back to school, you should have prepared his or her school supplies and have them all ready for the first day of the new school year. Supplies for school can be expensive to obtain, especially if you allow your kids to choose all of their own school supplies. Follow the tips laid out above in order to prevent the costs of back to school supply shopping from skyrocketing.
While there are many other things that you can do to make procuring your child's back to school supply easier, these are some basic ideas that you can start with. This will help you cut down on costs and easily obtain everything that your kid needs to start the new school year on a good footing.
1. Start Early. The biggest key to saving money is to start early. It's best if you can start planning as early as the end of the previous school year. Jot down a brief list of what your child really used during the previous school year so you know what to buy and what to avoid this time around. Set aside items, such as scissors, rulers, and lunchboxes, which your child may be able to reuse for the next school year. Cross those items off the official "school supplies list" before you get to the store.
2. One-Stop Shopping. Shopping early will often minimize the amount of time you need to spend shopping. In July and early August, the selection of school supplies is at its peak, so you probably won't have to go to more than one store to find everything you need, and that will save you time, money, and gas.
3. Shop Online. Consider the amount of money that your time is worth. It might be most efficient to do all of your supplies shopping online. Some major online office supplies stores offer discounts on school supplies in mid- to late-summer, and then you can often apply an additional coupon code ($30 off $150, for example) to save even more. You may even be able to get free shipping on these online orders, too. And when you shop online, you'll be less likely to pick up the non-essential items that your kids may beg for at the checkout counter.
4. Know When Your Local Stores Offer Discounts. Some major department stores start discounting school supplies as early as the first part of July. Look for newspaper ads from your local discount superstores. You can also find good back-to-school deals at big-name office supply stores. Many times, these major chain stores will have supplies and deep discounts, but only until supplies run out. The same supplies can cost a whole lot more just a few weeks later. The next round of discounts typically happen in early August. Even if your child isn't starting school until September, it pays to shop early. You will find a better selection of school supplies if you get all your shopping done before mid-August.
5. Scoop Up Good Deals Whenever You See Them. Look for special sales, such as stores that advertise supplies being sold for a penny per item. In the "off peak" school supply season, many stores will offer these deep types of discounts. Watch your newspaper for the circulars so you don't miss out on these great deals. Crayons, colored pencils, erasers and #2 pencils will last until you inevitably need them, so be on the lookout for bargains on these, and scoop them up whenever you see them.
6. Share a Two-for-One Deal. Look for stores that offer great two-for-one deals on backpacks, lunch boxes and other big school supplies. If there aren't any two-for-one deals, you'll probably see "buy one get the second half off." If you only have one school-aged child you can still take advantage of these sales by splitting the purchase with one of your child's friends or buying the extra item and storing it for the following year. When it comes to pens, paper and crayons, it's normally best just to buy and stock up. These items will be used again and again by your child.
7. Ask Your Child to Help You Prioritize. Older children can be pretty opinionated about what type of school supplies they want. They may be picky about the color, size, or any of a number of other factors when it comes to their supplies. The best way to avoid any future arguments is to have your child make a list of the most important items on their wants list. For example, have your child rank their top five purchases in order of preference. Assure them that you will do everything that you can to purchase the first item but that they may not be able to get everything on that list. This may make it easier when you can't find the perfect purple pencil holder or just the right backpack.
With a little planning and negotiating with your child, you'll be able to start the school year without dipping into your savings. Whatever you do, don't buy after school starts, when the prices tend to go up. Plan ahead, buy early, and save.
Both Seomul Evans & Jamie Jefferson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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