It's back to school time again! Let the mad rush for school shopping begin. Before you start, use these tips to help you lighten the financial load.
Before I begin any endeavor, I ask myself how I can get what I need for free or next to it. So, first you will need your child's school supply list. Our local Walmart has free printed lists from each of the public schools in our area or you can check your school board's website or contact the school for a copy. Now you have an idea of what you need, so let's get started.
Begin in your house. Grab any school supplies leftover from last year. You should have things like scissors, rulers, and other tools.
Cross them off your list. Now open your junk drawers. How many pencils and pens can you find in there? Need a pencil bag? Give your daughter an old make-up bag. Clean out your own desk and you will find a plethora of supplies that you never use. What else can you dig out of your closets and drawers that are just collecting dust? Be creative. Nothing has to be new or perfect. Now you should have shaved a little off of your list!
Next, raid someone's office. Ask your husband or a friend for supplies that they aren't using. Oftentimes offices have drawers full of promotional items from other companies that are not being used. I have found notepads, backpacks, pens, pencils, rulers, daily planners, alarm clocks, calculators and more. Companies will put their logos on nearly anything to market their business. Don't know anyone with an office? Check out a state office. You would be surprised what you can get just for asking! If your kids don't like the promotional logos on your new found treasures let them decorate them. It will be a fun project for them and their supplies will be uniquely theirs. No more fighting over supplies in class! How is your school supply list looking now?
While you are scavenging you should also be keeping your eyes peeled for empty ink cartridges. Tell your husband to keep a steady flow coming home from work! Office Depot gives you a $3 coupon for every ink cartridge that you bring into the store. You can use up to three $3 coupons a day, that's $9 in free school supplies everyday! I went to Office Depot yesterday with 2 ink cartridges, got 6 single subject notebooks, a pack of 8 binder dividers, and a folder for $1!!! If you find enough cartridges you may be able to get all of your school supplies for free!
Now for the inevitable shopping. One of the most important keys to saving while shopping for school supplies is to go alone. You know that if you bring your puppy dog-eyed daughter with you and she starts "please, please!!!!"-ing, you are going to give in to paying top dollar for that designer back pack she wants and every character printed notebook in the store. Trade babysitting with another mom or leave the kids home with your husband.
Start by checking out the weekly sales ads. If you don't get the paper, you can check out the store website and find it there. Recently Walmart had one subject notebooks for only 5 cents! You can't beat that. Check each store and figure out where the supplies are the cheapest. You may have to go to multiple stores to get everything you need. A great spot that I use often is the Dollartree where every item is only one dollar. However, don't use them for everything because oftentimes other places have the same items for much less than a dollar. For instance Walmart has crayons for only 15 cents a box. Why would you pay a dollar when you can buy them so much cheaper elsewhere? Dollar stores like the Dollartree are great for buying things like boxes of tissue, paper towels, zippered bags, etc. Now breathe! You're done.
A very important note: A few weeks after school starts, begin checking the same stores for marked down school supplies. Most items get marked down to 5, 10, and 15 cents. This is the time to stock up for next year! Get all of the basics that you know you will use or check your school board's website for a supply list for your child's next grade. The list will be basically the same next year.
A word about book sacks: I personally like buying book sacks from discount department stores like Ross Dress for Less and Marshall's. I recently paid $9.99 for a designer canvas backpack that should last my daughter a few years. My son has been using his for 3 years now. I just wash it every summer.
The cheapest way to get uniforms is for free from someone who can hand them down to your child. Find a friend or neighbor who has a child a little older than yours and ask if you can have their old uniforms. I babysit for my neighbor now and then and she gives me her son's hand me downs for free. Another free option is a uniform swap. Find out if your school has one or start one with the help of your PTO. Then you can trade in your small uniforms for the size you need, free! The next cheapest option is resale shops, such as Goodwill or consignment shops. Check your phonebook for stores in your area. Discount department stores can be a good place too, or keep checking sales at your discount stores such as Walmart and Target for the best deals.
Happy Shopping!
Teresa Theriot is a stay at home mother of three children.
