Money Saving Tips for Back to School Shoppers
If you are a parent, the most expensive time of the year is fast approaching. With the summer nearly over and autumn close on its heels, the kids will soon be heading off to school, and that means hundreds of dollars in new back to school clothes, expensive school supplies and other necessary gear.
If that were not bad enough, by the time back to school season is over, the holidays will be fast approaching. If you do not manage your back to school budget properly, you could find yourself dangerously short of funds just as the kids are making their wish lists and sending them off to Santa.
The good news is that shopping for back to school does not have to be a drain on your wallet. If you shop smart, you can get the kids what they need and still be able to get them what they want when the holidays roll around later this year. Here are some smart tips to make back to school shopping less of a strain on your budget.
. Ask each child to make a list of back to school essentials. Getting the children involved is a key part of smart back to school shopping.
. Take inventory of what you already have. Now is the time to rifle through those desk drawers and storage boxes. You may find that you already have plenty of pens, pencils, erasers and other back to school essentials.
. Separate wants and needs. Your 10-year-old may want a new iPad for school, but does she really need it? Separating wants from needs is a vital part of saving money on back to school shopping.
. Buy in bulk. If you are a member of a warehouse club like Sam's Club or Costco, now is the time to put that card to work. By essentials like paper, pencils and pens in bulk. You will save time and money.
. Shop the sales. Watch for back to school promotions that could save you big bucks on school supplies. Make a list of what is on sale where and plan your back to school shopping trip accordingly.
. Talk to the teacher. If you have not already done so, now is the time to talk to your child's teacher. Find out what the teacher has planned for the coming school year and what kinds of supplies your child will actually need. Many teachers stock their classrooms with basic supplies like crayons, pencils and paper, so you may be able to cross those things off your shopping list.
Nothing can make back to school shopping completely stress free, and there will always be some costs involved. Even so, if you know what to look for and shop smart, you can reduce the cost of those back to school supplies and send your kids off for the new year in style.