It's hard to believe that children of all ages will soon be going back to school. This can mean only one thing: back-to-school shopping. With loads of advertisements announcing back-to-school sales and extensive shopping lists handed out, parents can be smart about back-to-school buys. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Sort through last year's school supplies and clothes to see what can be reused. It's okay to use notebooks that show a bit of wear around the corners or pencils that have barely been touched. And it's definitely okay to wear last year's jeans.
- Items like USB drives and graphing calculators can be re-used or passed down from one child to another.
- Shop around and watch for sales and savings coupons; and consider shopping at second-hand stores for books and clothing.
- You can also find great deals online, but make sure that the website is secure and to use a credit card when making purchases.
- If purchasing items for several students, consider setting aside a certain amount every month to alleviate the need to use credit or to divert funds from other expenses.
- Pay with cash if possible. Try layaway if you need time to save the money. If you have to use credit, limit purchases to items you can pay off as soon as possible.
