Five Tips For Smart Back to School Shopping

Start your back-to-school shopping with a game plan. Even if your child’s
teacher hasn’t provided a list of school supplies, you can’t go wrong by
sticking with the basics and taking advantage of back-to-school sales. Here’s
how:

Make a list and get your child involved.

Use the recommended or required supplies from your child’s school or
teacher as a starting point. If you don’t have a list yet, check with parents at
your school who have older kids. They might have good advice about what is
required in your child’s grade. Sit down with your child and go over your list
together. You’ll be teaching your child how to get organized, a skill that
applies to more than shopping.

Separate wants from needs.

Most school supplies don’t go out of style, and your child will happily use the
unsharpened pencils his older sister didn’t use. But as any parent with last
year’s superhero notebook knows, beware the power of trends. Rather than
getting into an argument with your older child about whether a backpack
with headphones is essential because “everybody is getting one,” try setting
a budget for supplies. It will help your child set priorities, learn how to
manage money, and start saving his allowance for the items your budget
won’t allow.

Take inventory.

Sort through last year’s supplies to see what is left over or can be reused.
(Having trouble finding last year’s stuff? Resolve to set up a place to keep
your school supplies together this year.)

Start early and look for bargains throughout the summer.

The best bargains are often available at back-to-school sales. Keeping your
supply list in your car or purse or on your PDA will help you shop for supplies
as you do your other errands.

Buy basics in bulk.

You know you’ll need paper, pencils, glue stick and notebooks. Dollar stores,
warehouse stores and even eBay sources for buying these and other basics
in bulk. You and a group of other parents might be able to negotiate a group
discount from an office supply store.
Then set up a supply shelf or storage container in your home that you can
use all year long. You’ll be able to avoid late-night shopping trips to buy
notebook paper when you run out. And you’ll know where to find unused
notebooks and pencils when it comes time to shop for back-to-school
supplies next year

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Five Tips For Smart Back to School Shopping