Save Substantial Money On Back To School Supplies
The lazy days of summer are almost over, and it will soon be time to focus on the hustle and bustle of going back to school.
For most parents, this is a time of excitement, but it is sometimes quickly followed by a feeling of dread.
Getting ready for school means buying new school supplies, new clothes and anything else your children might think they need.
Although each individual item doesn't cost a great deal, the total price can add up very quickly.
Here are a few tips to help you save some money on your school supplies and back to school shopping in general.
1.
Decide what your children really need - It's shocking that some parents actually spend upwards of $1000 dollars getting their kids ready to go back to school, especially since the average list of school supplies usually only costs about $15-$20.
How could this be? Well, if you take a minute to peer into their cart, you'll see that it's not filled with school shopping, but a whole new wardrobe, the latest sneakers and a designer backpack.
Of course your kids will need some new clothes, as some of them probably no longer fit or have gotten worn out, but the idea that they need an entire wardrobe every fall is something that you should seriously think about.
Does every child really run out of clothes right before it is time for school to begin, or is buying all of these clothes just a habit that we don't even think about anymore? Focus on getting the these supplies and other items that they really need, not just what they want.
2.
Don't buy everything at once - It seems that most parents wait until one day near the end of summer to purchase everything they need for the school year at one time.
This makes your back to school purchases much more of a financial burden then if you spaced these items out throughout their vacation time.
Many schools have their lists available year round of what school supplies children will need.
If you start buying just one or two of these each week, then you'll have almost everything you'll need by the end of the summer, and it will be much easier to work it all into your budget.
3.
Shop at home first - Does everything really need to be replaced? Rulers, pencil boxes and other requirements can be used again if they are in good condition.
Need new pencils and ink pens? Consider using the free ones you get from businesses that are filling up your junk drawer.
Just using a few of the these that you already have can greatly reduce the price of getting stocked up for the new year.
4.
Buy quality products - This one might surprise you, but it can make a big difference.
You don't need the biggest and best of everything, but take the time to actually look and see how the products are made.
Sure, it may cost a little more for a notebook with a plastic cover than one without, but will it last longer? If a notebook like this costs a few cents extra, but can keep you from having to buy a replacement later, then it is well worth the effort.
Many times, off brand school supplies are just as good as the most expensive brands, but make sure you take your time to check out the quality of the product.
5.
Consider ordering your school supplies wholesale - Many online dollar store suppliers offer an array of school supplies at a wholesale price, meaning you could buy these items for a great deal less than you ever could at any retail store.
What most people don't realize is that they even have the option of buying their school supplies in this manner.
Many believe that this kind of shopping is a special privilege for large companies and retail stores only, but that is not the case.
If you do decide to purchase your school supplies wholesale, then you might want to think about buying in bulk to obtain an even deeper discount.
Items like pencils and rulers can be stored easily.
If you're not interested in storing that much at once, consider combining orders with your friends and family so that they can get the school supplies they need at great prices too.
As you can see, none of these tips require a great deal of effort to help you save money on your school supplies and your back to school budget.
They just require a little bit of thinking and a little more effort before school starts.
So, go ahead.
Even if summer is not quite over yet, start getting your school supplies together right now and save yourself quite a bit of money!
For most parents, this is a time of excitement, but it is sometimes quickly followed by a feeling of dread.
Getting ready for school means buying new school supplies, new clothes and anything else your children might think they need.
Although each individual item doesn't cost a great deal, the total price can add up very quickly.
Here are a few tips to help you save some money on your school supplies and back to school shopping in general.
1.
Decide what your children really need - It's shocking that some parents actually spend upwards of $1000 dollars getting their kids ready to go back to school, especially since the average list of school supplies usually only costs about $15-$20.
How could this be? Well, if you take a minute to peer into their cart, you'll see that it's not filled with school shopping, but a whole new wardrobe, the latest sneakers and a designer backpack.
Of course your kids will need some new clothes, as some of them probably no longer fit or have gotten worn out, but the idea that they need an entire wardrobe every fall is something that you should seriously think about.
Does every child really run out of clothes right before it is time for school to begin, or is buying all of these clothes just a habit that we don't even think about anymore? Focus on getting the these supplies and other items that they really need, not just what they want.
2.
Don't buy everything at once - It seems that most parents wait until one day near the end of summer to purchase everything they need for the school year at one time.
This makes your back to school purchases much more of a financial burden then if you spaced these items out throughout their vacation time.
Many schools have their lists available year round of what school supplies children will need.
If you start buying just one or two of these each week, then you'll have almost everything you'll need by the end of the summer, and it will be much easier to work it all into your budget.
3.
Shop at home first - Does everything really need to be replaced? Rulers, pencil boxes and other requirements can be used again if they are in good condition.
Need new pencils and ink pens? Consider using the free ones you get from businesses that are filling up your junk drawer.
Just using a few of the these that you already have can greatly reduce the price of getting stocked up for the new year.
4.
Buy quality products - This one might surprise you, but it can make a big difference.
You don't need the biggest and best of everything, but take the time to actually look and see how the products are made.
Sure, it may cost a little more for a notebook with a plastic cover than one without, but will it last longer? If a notebook like this costs a few cents extra, but can keep you from having to buy a replacement later, then it is well worth the effort.
Many times, off brand school supplies are just as good as the most expensive brands, but make sure you take your time to check out the quality of the product.
5.
Consider ordering your school supplies wholesale - Many online dollar store suppliers offer an array of school supplies at a wholesale price, meaning you could buy these items for a great deal less than you ever could at any retail store.
What most people don't realize is that they even have the option of buying their school supplies in this manner.
Many believe that this kind of shopping is a special privilege for large companies and retail stores only, but that is not the case.
If you do decide to purchase your school supplies wholesale, then you might want to think about buying in bulk to obtain an even deeper discount.
Items like pencils and rulers can be stored easily.
If you're not interested in storing that much at once, consider combining orders with your friends and family so that they can get the school supplies they need at great prices too.
As you can see, none of these tips require a great deal of effort to help you save money on your school supplies and your back to school budget.
They just require a little bit of thinking and a little more effort before school starts.
So, go ahead.
Even if summer is not quite over yet, start getting your school supplies together right now and save yourself quite a bit of money!