Back to School!
We have all seen and heard the advertisements already; the back to school shopping season is on the horizon. Even though we are several weeks away from the first day of school, many companies have already started reminding us of all the things we will need to buy to ensure everyone is prepared for the first day of class. It is easy to spend more money than we need to or have to buy too much when shopping during this time. Below you will see some simple tips to save some money while doing some back to school shopping.
Take Inventory First
One of the easiest ways to save money is to buy things we do not need. All of us have asked ourselves “do we have this already” at some point while in a store. It is easy to forget what we need to replace and what we need to keep, but we often don’t take the time to think things through. When getting ready to go back to school shopping it is important what we currently have. Do we have plenty of pens and pencils left over from last year? Are there extra binders and not pads around? It is even possible to reuse some binder from the previous year, if we check a lot will be less than halfway filled. In addition, most schools will send a list of required supplies. Remember that this list is not a shopping list. As soon as it arrives match up what we have and what we need and make a smaller, more affordable, shopping list.
Reuse Things
As stated above, it is possible to reuse many school supplies from year to year. It is equally as achievable to reuse clothing and accessory items as well. A school back pack should last years, a new one does not need to be purchased very year. Sure our kids want the latest fashion trending backpacks to wear so they can be stylish, but don’t go overboard. We all have budgets and saying no to our children is often the best path to take. It is important to note that we should be buying these things every few years. A backpack for a first grade student should be a different size than one for a 5th grade student. We must take the growth of our children into account and sometime things need to be replaced. In addition, just spend some time looking around the house and office. It is surprising to see how many pens you can find lying around, and don’t be afraid to use them. How often do we use a pen until it is out of ink in modern times, it is a rarity.
Clothing Shopping
Most of us like picking out the outfits we look best in. It is fun and exciting to rock a new look but it is easy to rack up a large bill. Shopping for back to school apparel is more about finding a few additional pieces to add to our wardrobe and less about getting everything new. Plenty of cloths will still fit our children and can still be worn with the latest trends in style. We just need to supplement our current stuff to stay fashion forward. A new jacket and a few new tops might be all that we need. We must ask ourselves do we really need to buy another pair of blue jeans? The answer is sometimes yes, but often it is no. We buy these things because we want them not because we need them. So we must make sound judgments when we are clothing shopping. It is a tough balance knowing what we need to buy and what we want. Make sound decisions and take budget into consideration when it comes time to make a final decision.
Look for Discounts
The best way to save money, when preparing for the school year, is to make a list early and start shopping early. This ensures we have time to pick out items we want and wait for sales. We will have time to shop online and to look in stores knowing we don’t have to make an immediate decision. The best way to save money is to be a patient shopper. Look at printed ads, e-mails, TV and Radio commercials and even on twitter to find some great deals. The best way to save money is to buy the deals and be willing to go to multiple stores. Most retail companies use advertised products to draw us in hoping we will buy higher margin items when we are there. Do not fall for this trap. By doing research and knowing what to buy at each store we will save a decent amount of money. In addition, paying attention to weekend promos can pay dividends. Many states have tax free weekends when certain products are cheaper because the sales tax is waved. Look up the rules and what products are applicable and buy them at the right time. Timing is everything and being smart about it can have high dollar savings as a reward.
Use Technology
Before we enter a store it is important to look for coupons and other promos. Many companies will have these savings options posted on their internet site. This is only one way to use technology to save time and money. There are smart phone applications dedicated to finding coupons for us and it is foolish for not to use them. If we do not want to spend time in the stores but still want the product today it is still possible. Many companies now offer buy online and pick up in store options. This means we can do our shopping online and simply go and pick up the prepared items without having to find things ourselves. If we start our shopping early enough we will have plenty of time to utilized Amazon and other online only companies. These companies often have the best prices and the best selection and offer easy returns. However, if mall shopping is preferred don’t be afraid to use a Smartphone as a shopping assistant. Know what stores you need to visit and have a coupon for each location. Utilizing technology while shopping can save us a lot of money.
The start of school is a fun and exciting time of year. Preparing for it to start can get expensive but it does not have to be. Being patient, reusing good products, and utilizing technology can help save lots of money. In conclusion remember this one important fact. Summer is not over yet so have some fun now and don’t stress about the back to school season too much.