According to PriceGrabber 46% of consumers are planning to spend more this back-to-school season than they did last year, with 63% of consumers plan to spend up to $500 on back-to-school shopping and 20% plan to spend between $500 and $1,000. To prevent the back-to-school spending from going overboard, here are nine tips from Parenting Magazine. (iStock)
Delay Buying Trendy Gear
Trends come and go, so what may be consider cool now may be lame once the school year starts. Hold off on items that portray characters and styles like lunch boxes and pencil cases until the last minute so you don’t end up having your kids beg you for a new one.
Shop End-of Summer Sales
Kids often wear short sleeve shirts throughout the year, so hold off buying them until stores offer their big summer sales. (Reuters)
Stick to the List
Don’t waste money on unnecessary items. Teachers spend a lot of time constructing their supplies list, so stick to it. No one needs that many glitter erasers.
Check Out the Supermarket
Keep track of your local supermarket’s weekly circulars for deals on basic school supplies such as pens and loose-leaf paper—they often rival prices at traditional office supply stores and you are already making the trip for groceries. (Reuters)
Shop at Home
Oftentimes there is a lot of office supply around the house, you just need to look. And don’t be afraid to get creative—a plain white binder can be played up and decorated exactly to a kid’s desires.
Host a Back to School Swap
Coordinate with other parents with kids of the same gender but different ages to unwanted and non applicable swap clothes, toys, supplies and books. Not only will you save money, you get a chance to declutter the home.
Plan Lunch
Keep a close eye on the supermarket’s weekly circular for deals on lunch items. Bringing lunches from home tends to be cheaper and you know exactly what your kids are putting in their mouths. (Reuters)
Think Right, Think Bright
It’s inevitable that your kid is going to lose pens and pencils throughout the year, but some studies show that supplies kept in a bright backpack or pouch are less likely to be lost.
Browse Craigslist.org
Craigslist is a good site to find great deals on quality items. Plus, if your kids have some barely worn items they’ve outgrown this site can be a great way to see them and make some quick cash.