Back-to-School Shopping Tips

 In Lifestyle, Tips

Back-to-school season is nearly upon us, which means it’s time to go shopping for supplies. From sharp new clothes to the folders your student will be trudging around with for the year, there’s a lot to consider, so you’ll want to make sure you do it right. Follow these tips to send your student back to school in style while not breaking the bank.

Go in With a Plan

When you roll into the supermarket, you’re likely to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of supplies on display, and in that moment, you can forget what your student needs and doesn’t need, leaving your shopping cart full of too much or too little of the necessities. Your school shopping journey will be a lot more efficient and less hectic if you take a minute to sit down and iron out a list of the supplies your student will need for the year. Together, hammer out a plan for all the essentials they’ll need so you can get in and get out without hassle.

Favor Items That Will Last

It’s natural to want to do some price comparing to find the best deal, but it’s a lost battle to crunch the numbers for low-cost items that have a finite life, like pencils and notebooks. With the more expensive items, like backpacks and graphing calculators, you’re going to find the largest price differences, and it’s here that you’ll probably see the largest differences in quality. Although you might be tempted to save money on these big purchases, it might be better to buy higher quality items that will last longer, saving you money in the long term. Better yet, see if you can find these items secondhand or refurbished.

Think Outside the Big-Box Store

The supermarket isn’t the only place you’ll find school supplies. We buy everything else online, so why not check the Internet for deals on back-to-school items? There are pros and cons to shopping in-store and shopping online, but one big benefit of Internet shopping is that you can parse through customer reviews to make a more informed purchase. You might find that one of those big-ticket items can be bought off-brand as opposed to the more expensive version.

Let Your Kids Have a Say

Shopping for school is a bit of a chore, but it can also be an opportunity for you student to get excited about the upcoming year. That’s why, if they’re old enough, you should let them take an active part in their back-to-school shopping. Not only will this (hopefully) get your student into the school spirit, but it should also assure that they’re happy with–and take pride in–the supplies they go back with. Plus, nothing’s lamer than sporting a backpack your mom picked out for you.

It’s important to start the school year off right, and heading back to school with the perfect supplies will ensure your student is prepared to study. However, don’t get too caught up in making sure every eraser and paper clip is accounted for before the first day – you can always go out and grab any supplies you missed at a later date.

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