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Back to school shopping can be a big concern for parents sticking to the budget, and the rising cost of school supplies makes it even harder. If you can relate, remember- you’re not alone. Here’s how to actually save money while doing it.
Create a List
If you’re one of those who tend to splurge or have children who have the shiny object syndrome and want to practically buy the entire store (who doesn’t?), creating a strict list of everything you need and buying only those items can go a long way in helping you save on a modest chunk of cash. Make sure you do a quick inventory check to find out what you actually already have, so that you don’t end up buying more than you need.
Do a Swap
One of the most practical things you can do to save money during back to school shopping is to check in with your friends and other parents to see if they’d like to do a supply swap. A lot of times, we tend to purchase more of stuff and we don’t actually use it at all- and that something could actually be of use to someone else. You can work out a barter system and end up saving some cash as well as preventing waste.
Check Dollar Stores
A lot of pricey and expensive items that you find at school supplies stores can be easily found for almost half the price at dollar stores- think pens, pencils and paper, sometimes even notebooks for that matter. Make it a point to visit there before you hit the supplies store.
Focus Big
The price of a glue stick or a box of color pencils may take you by surprise, but if you start fretting and worrying about every little thing and every single dollar, you’ll probably be overwhelmed by the end of your school supply shopping. Even if you’re not able to save up a lot when you’re buying those little things, don’t worry and focus on making bigger savings on bigger things such as laptops, printers etc.
Instead of shopping for these electronic items right when the school is about to re-open, try to purchase them before itself when you find a good sale coming up- it’ll help you save up on a lot more.
Coupon It
Don’t underestimate the power of coupons – collect them and use them as much as you can – you’ll be surprised at how much they can help you save. Eventually you’ll find yourself using them for everything from discounts on your shopping trips to meals and dining out trips – once you’ll get started on it, you definitely won’t turn back.
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