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Back-to-School Basics: 10 Ways to
Save on School Gear
by Nancy Twigg
How many more days until school starts? If you are a parent, most likely
you can answer that question without even looking at a calendar. Summer
has been fun but by now, most kids and their parents are ready to settle
back into the school routine.
Back-to-school time can be exciting as both parents and children look
forward to the upcoming academic year. However, it can also be a very
expensive time of the year, as Mom and Dad buy new clothes, supplies and
accessories for each of their school-aged children. Here are ten tips
for keeping down the cost of starting another school year.
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the new school year and
overspend on school supplies. Before you buy anything, evaluate all of
last year’s supplies to see what your child can reuse. Things like
backpacks, rulers, scissors, and three-ring binders may not need to be
replaced.
While you check out last year’s supplies, also take a quick inventory of
what you have around the house. Many businesses give away promotional
items such as pens, pencils, highlighters and other freebies that your
child can put to good use at school.
Yard sales are a great source for low-cost school supplies. In the weeks
before school starts, watch for gently-used backpacks, lunchboxes, and
binders. You may also find folders, markers, and other common supplies
your child will need.
Don’t forget about the possibility of shopping secondhand for school
clothes. It’s not uncommon to find brand new garments with their
original price tags still attached at yard sales and thrift stores. Even
shopping at consignment stores is less expensive than buying everything
at full-price from retail stores.
Although you may be tempted to get a jumpstart on shopping for school
supplies, keep in mind that you won’t know exactly what your children
need until they get supply lists from their teachers. Unless you find
bargains too incredible to pass up, save yourself some frustration by
waiting to do all your shopping until you have those lists in hand.
Dollar stores are also a good source for school supplies. However, be
careful to compare prices. Make sure you don’t pay more at a dollar
store than you would by shopping at the major chains’ back-to-school
sales.
Speaking of sales, the super-low prices you will find now on school
supplies are usually the best you will see all year. Take full advantage
of these prices by stocking up. You know your kids will need paper,
erasers, crayons, and glue throughout the year. Save yourself some money
later by buying and stashing away a year’s supply now.
If you want to get the best deals but don’t want to drive all over to
get them, do your back-to-school shopping at a store that offers price
matching. Many major chains will match any advertised sale price on
items they have in stock. Just look through all the store circulars to
find the best prices on the supplies your child needs. Then bring the
competitors’ sale flyers to a store that matches prices so you can get
the best sale prices without the extra driving.
Backpacks can be expensive, but look at it as an investment. A good
quality pack will cost more initially than a cheap one, but will save
you money in the long run by lasting through several school years.
Set a budget for back-to-school spending. What your children want and
what they actually need may not be the same thing. Make a rule that you
will pay for the clothes and supplies that they truly need, but they
must use their allowances for the extras.
About the author
Nancy Twigg is the editor
of Counting the Cost, a free online newsletter about simple and frugal
living.
Nancy is the author of
Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to
Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions
To learn more about making
your dollars stretch, visit Nancy online at
www.countingthecost.com/index1.htm
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