Back-to-school shopping season is second to
Christmas in terms of family expenditures. An annual index chart found that it
costs an average $1,000 to send a child back to school.
However, following the tips on wise planning and
making smart decisions may help you become a savvy shopper and buy everything
that you need without breaking your bank account.
1. Make a list and get your child involved. When
making the list, consider the difference of wants from needs. Beware with the
power of trend. Some school supplies are more expensive when they are the
latest style. The list will also help you to estimate the cost and avoid
splurging on unwanted items.
2. Buy in bulk. Accept the reality
that you will always need papers, glue, pencils, and notebooks. Bulk is always
discounted and it would save you many late-night unwanted trips back to stores.
3. Watch for promotions. Just like
Christmas shopping season, different stores run promotions during back-to-school
shopping. Follow stores on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
and take advantage of their coupons and other offers. In the never-ending
competitions between giant retail chains and online shops, you can always find
everything that you need at a cheaper price.
4. Use the list of supplies from your
child’s teacher. Believe it or not, teachers have reasons for including a
particular item on a list. Even colors of folders have a reason. When dealing
with many projects and students, colors help the teachers to be more organized.
5. Invest in quality. It is important to
look at the quality especially for items that are supposed to last the whole
school year. Take for instance bag packs, laptops, and other items. Even if
they are a little more, it is always worth investing in quality than in
quantity.
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