Back to school shopping can be very stressful as well as expensive. You should try to budget your shopping and concentrate on essentials only. For this stock up all the basics, check out all the sales and organize yourself in a planned manner. Read on to know it all and set yourself free.
1. Make a list and get your child involved
In the beginning, ask the required and recommended supplies as per the child’s teacher. If the list is not provided then you can seek some help from those parents whose kids are older than your child. This is a good move because they know it all very well that what is required for that particular grade. Else you can also surf net and check out the recommendations for high, middle and elementary school. Make a list with your child.
2. Separate wants from needs
The majority of schools do not go out of style. Your child might not say to use the old but unsharpened pencils of his elder brother and sister. Try to set up a proper plan and budget for supplies without getting into any argument. This will help the child to come up with his priorities first. You have to start saving some money if the budget is small.
A note from the teacher
If you are serving you are child with all the supplies, you are doing a favor to his teacher in a way. There are some fancy sharpeners that light up and cause unnecessary distraction in the class. So, make it a point that these supplies are restricted to being useful and not fancy.
3. Take inventory
Look and try to find out those things that can be reused and are not needed to be purchased all over again and again. Remember that you do not just throw away the things in the corners that you cannot find them again. Rather stock up the pile in a safe place.
4. Start early and look for the bargains throughout the summer
A number of sales are available where you get a chance to bargain at all the back to school commodities. Always carry the list in your purse so that you can hunt on the requirements while purchasing other things.
5. Buy basics in bulk
The basic supplies like pencils, erasers, sharpeners, glue and papers is something that you will need throughout the year. Many other basics including these can be purchased in bulk from warehouse and dollars stores and also on eBay. You can also ask other parents to join in and share some great discounts together.
Set these things on a shelf altogether or in a large container. If you run out of anything at any moment, you will not have to get out of your house which is something great. Moreover, you will not have to hunt down the places to buy these basics the next year as well. Set up the shelf near your child’s study table so that the things are easily accessible.
6. Get your kids into the recycling habit
Eco friendly living is an important and a hot topic today. Learn the art of pursuing your trend savvy kids to reuse the items rather than buying a new one every time. If the paper is used on a single side then set up a paper bin. Look out for some garbage sales where you can get some really good quality items that you may reuse.
7. Watch for promotions
If you place the order online, you are liable to get the items with some discounts and the shipping prices are not charged. Check out the ads where the prices are fixed.
8. Figure out when quality counts
Hang on to quality. Do not buy cheap leaky pens as they might ruin your clothes causing loss only. It is better to buy a quality material than going for a cheap priced item. It’s not important that a costly item will last as per your wish. For instance, if you buy a multi functional calculator for your small kid, he might spoil it. As the level of math advances, you can buy him the one with different operations.
9. Help your school while you shop
If the school participates in some programs like OneCause, do buy something from the participant as he will donate a percent of it to the school which is great.
10. Plan now for next year
Many schools provide a list of those places where the parents can enjoy bargains. But if this is not done by the school, talk to other parents about it and help the school to do it the next year.
