Back to School: Shopping for Supplies

By Michele Blandino

With the start of a brand new school year just around the corner, parents and kids everywhere are embarking on their annual school supply shopping expedition. And, because so many school districts are trying to make ends meet with increasingly smaller budgets, the list of items that parents must purchase seems to get longer and longer with each new school year. So, how do you manage to keep the cost of sending your kids back to school at a reasonable level? Here are some ideas.

Take Inventory

Before you buy anything, look to see what you already have on hand; there is a good chance you will find that you already have at least some of the items on your list. Items such as rulers, backpacks, calculators and even binders can often be used for more than one year. In fact, by investing a few more dollars in a high quality backpack, it is likely that you will get at least two years’ use from it, perhaps even more.

Stick to the List

Before you head out to the store, make a list of the specific things your child will need and then stick to that list. If there is anything that is not on the list that your child wants, suggest that they pay for it using their own funds. In addition to helping you keep your expenditures down, this will help your youngster learn about saving and budgeting their money.

Shop the Sales

If at all possible, wait for the Back-to-School sales to begin your shopping. Depending on where you live, these sales can start as early as the week following the July 4th holiday and usually extend until Labor Day weekend or later. Stock up on items you think you will need to replenish during the course of the year such as crayons, pencils, paper and glue; you will find that these items usually sell for a fraction of their regular price during these sales. If you find that you don’t use these items, you can always put them away for the following year. Likewise, be sure to keep an eye out for sales all during the year and use those opportunities to stock up on things you know you will need each year such as pencils, pens, notebook paper and folders.

Don’t Discount the Dollar Store

Dollar stores are a terrific resource for items such as pencils, erasers, notebook paper and even pens. You may want to use a little care, however, when considering purchases such as markers and crayons; often the quality of the merchandise carried isn’t great causing you to have to replace those markers later on during the year.

Finally, take your time to find the best deals. By carefully examining the store circulars and advertised specials, you can cut your school supply expenditures significantly.