Sunday Morning Shout Out

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There is a part of me that dislikes back to school shopping in August as much as the thought of wearing shoes and socks again, instead of flip flops.  I am a summer girl!  But the reality is faster than you can say beach day, the new school year is upon us.  Here are some tips from a  great source on how to save money and make the most of your back to school shopping experience.

The folks at Organized Home suggest  starting early (I guess now is early enough, even though the back to school sales started right after 4^th of July- a sign of summer time blasphemy in my book).  First things first,  know what you need and know what you have.  Retailers can make back to school supplies appear like candy these days.  Before grabbing every sales item in sight, make sure you have the actual school supply list from your child’s teacher or school in hand.  If one did not come home with you on the last day of school or get mailed out, check your school’s website.  Also many stores have in- house school supply lists for their customers.  So when you become the harried mother or father who forgets their list, don’t fret!

Know what you have in your house.   Chances are there are at least a few items from last year that you still have that can be used this year.  Make double use and double time of those gently worn little scissors from last year’s pencil box.  Use last year’s pencil box!  Also, some people stock up. When those cheap crayons offers and paper offers occurred, perhaps you grabbed four or five from the store last year.  See if you have some of what you need in your stash.  Develop a stash of those items that you will need more of throughout the year.  I know my children seem to go through glue sticks like they are food in their classroom.

Keep to your budget!  There is a lot of bling and blang to go with every shopping experience out there.  There is a lot of marketing behind the scenes for your hard earned dollar.  Shop with your list in hand and stick to the list.  Remember a word that comes in handy when you are at the store with your children: “No!”

Shop around.  Every store is in on the action this time of year.  Big box store one is vying with big box store two to lure you in on the deals.  Know what and where the deals are!

Lastly, consider shopping late ( –Within reason of course).  A few days before school starts, the stores will be marking down their back to school items.  For items that you will consistently need throughout the year (think loose leaf paper, folders, pens, crayons, glue sticks) this is the time to stock up. Smart shop and save money and time….now back to the beach!

Reduce the Cost of Back to School Supplies

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Along with new wardrobes, sports uniforms and stationery, back to school supplies can really pack a financial punch. Starting early will give you enough time to find coupons for your favorite products, shop around for all your essentials and avail yourself of deals that could save you fistfuls of money.

Make a List
Start with the school’s recommended list of stationery and add other essentials you and your student deem necessary for the coming academic year. Give the house a thorough once-over to find just how many of these items you already have. Check draws and cupboards for markers, pencils, pens and other stationery items you may have lying around. This list is sacred; do not be tempted to deviate from it when you are in the store unless you discover an item that you have forgotten.

Shop Around For Deals
Go online to compare item prices in different shops in your neighborhood. Of course you don’t want to go to each individual store to buy a couple of items because the savings can be negated by traveling costs. Shopping online for items will alert you to any special deals or sales that stores are having and, if you know what to get from each store, you can pop in over the next couple of weeks if you happen to be driving by or are in the area. If you find great deals online with free shipping or shipping that costs less than your shopping travel expenses, then order them online—this will save you money and time!

Coupons Are King
If you are not using coupons, then now is the time to start. You can get amazing deals on everything from clothing to pencils if you download and print coupons that you find online. It only takes a minute and can save you 30-50% of your back-to-school spending. Work with other parents so that ‘buy one get one free’ deals can be shared between families. Some of the most popular couponing sites are:

Coupon Divas

The Crazy Coupon Lady

Target

Bargain Briana

Common Sense with Money

Coupon Cravings

Deal Catcher

Retail Me Not

Getting Crafty
Avoid buying Disney-themed stationery or celebrity-endorsed items and get some craft supplies from the dollar store instead. Get your students to design their own covers for files, pencil cases and books. That way they will have created unique one-of-a-kind items that look great but cost less.

Clothing Swap
Get together with other parents to arrange a clothing swap. This is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to add to your wardrobe. Every student has clothing that they no longer use which is still in excellent condition. Parents and students can meet to exchange items of clothing and share their wardrobes. Unwanted items can then be donated to a charity. You can get more details on how to run a successful clothing swap here.

This year getting ready for the new academic year need not cost you an arm and a leg. After the back-to-school rush has passed, many stores have sales on their back-to-school items that didn’t sell. The frugal parent can shop then for the future and stock up on supplies that they will need next year.

(Note: Reprinted from a Aug 2013 post on the Tutor Doctor Corp. Site)