It seems like stores start Back to School Shopping earlier and earlier--as if they don't realize that kids do not want to think about going back to school in July--summer isn't even half way over yet! As annoying as it is, the reality is that you have to get school supplies by early August or it's all gone. But you don't have to break the bank to do so. Here are some ideas to spend less:
- Know the prices and shop the sales that really are a good deal
- Go in with another family and shop in bulk
- Reuse last year's stuff--you don't have to buy a new backpack every year
- Don't buy everything on the suggested school supply list--your child is probably not going to use 2 packs of graph paper anyway
- Buy during your state's "Tax Free" week if they have one
- Consider buying online--more than likely if you go into a store, you'll buy more items
- When your child is old enough, give them a budget amount for supplies--they can be very creative on where to cut back
- Use paper bags from the grocery store to cover books vs buying the cloth book covers--your child can decorate the book cover too
- Wait until late October or November to buy the fall clothes--they'll be on sale then
