Don’t Forget the School Supplies

“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”

• Confucius

According to Wikipedia, Confucius had 3 children. It’s doubtful that he would have had much time to be philosophical about education if he had to endure back-to-school shopping for his kids. Not only does it seem like the teachers request more and more every year, but kids have their own opinions about what they think they’ll need. 

One way to limit your spending, is to start with a shopping list. Check your school’s website to see if your child’s teacher has posted a list. Some local stores may have checklists that the schools have provided. If you are completely in the dark, this list is a good place to start. 

Watch for sales on back-to-school items. Whether you opt for online businesses or traditional retail stores, be sure to have your children’s sizes on hand in case you see price reductions on clothing and shoes. 

While it’s important to let your kids have a say in purchases that affect them, don’t feel pressure to indulge their every whim. Save yourself some time and money by requesting that your children each choose a color rather than a specific superhero/cute animal/pop sensation to grace the covers of their notebooks. 

A few tips for saving money:

• Team up with other parents to buy in bulk and reduce shipping costs.
• Many dollar stores accept manufacturer’s coupons. 
• If your budget won’t allow the basics, here are ways to get free school supplies.
• College students can sign up for special deals on electronics.
• Can you reuse leftover supplies from last year? 

Back-to-school shopping is one of those annual traditions that parents must endure, but our kids and their education are important. Confucius would surely agree.