Free Investment Advice

Start your back-to-school shopping with a plan. Even if your child’s school hasn’t supplied you with a list of supplies, you can start with the basics and take advantage of back-to-school sales. Here’s how:

Make a list and get your child involved.

Use the recommended or required supplies from your child’s school or teacher as a starting point. If you don’t have a list yet, you can check with parents at your school who have older kids. They might have good advice about what teachers require in your child’s grade.

Or check our list to get started. Sit down with your child and go over your list together. You’ll be teaching her how to get organized, a skill that applies to more than buying school supplies.

Separate “wants” from “needs.”

Most school supplies don’t go out of style, and your child will happily use the unsharpened pencils his older sister didn’t use. But as any parent with last year’s superhero notebook knows, beware the fashion trends in school supplies. Rather than getting into an argument with your older child about whether a backpack with headphones is essential because “everybody is getting one,” try setting a budget for all of the supplies. It will help your child set priorities, learn how to manage money and start saving his allowance for the items your budget won’t allow.

Keep supplies to the necessary and useful versus fancy and fun.

Take inventory.

Sort through last year’s supplies to see what is left over or can be reused. (Having trouble finding last year’s stuff? Resolve to set up a place to keep your school supplies together this year.)

Start early so you can look for bargains throughout the summer.

The best bargains are often available at back-to-school sales. Keep your supply list in your car or purse.

Buy basics in bulk.

You know you’ll need paper, pencils, glue sticks and notebooks. Dollar stores, warehouse stores and even eBay are sources for buying these and other basics in bulk. You and a group of other parents might be able to negotiate a group discount from an office supply store.

Then set up a supply shelf or storage container in your home that you can use all year long. You’ll be able to avoid late-night shopping trips to buy notebook paper when you run out. And you’ll know where to find unused notebooks and pencils when it comes time to shop for back-to-school supplies next year.

If you set up this storage area near the place your child will do homework, you’ll be modeling good organizational skills and he’ll have what he needs nearby.

Get your kids into the recycling habit.

Convince your kids to reuse an item or supply than buying a new one. Help them add designs to last year’s plain notebook with stickers or photos. Set up a scrap paper bin so that paper with writing on just one side can be reused.

Watch for promotions.

Some discount office supply stores offer freebies when you buy for bulks. Local health departments in some areas offer free basic school supplies to parents who bring their children in for immunizations. If the store where you’re shopping charges more, go on scouting for other stores.

Figure out when quality counts.

Leaky pens will cost you more in ruined clothes than some more expensive varieties. In the event that a strap or zipper breaks, a backpack with a warranty might be a good investment, even if it costs more.

Go for quality name brands.

Plan now for next year.

Some schools send a back-to-school list home with kids on the last day of school so that parents can shop for the best bargains.

Planning early will not only give you a good count of your supplies but will most likely help you save a lot money for your family savings.