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The fact is the start of the school year will be here sooner than some of us would like, and the shopping will begin even sooner. So, it's never too late to think about ways to avoid a budget-breaking back-to-school shopping frenzy.
Here's what's worked for us, some years more than others:
Take the school lists as a guideline. Don't run to the nearest office-supply store with the teachers' must-have lists in hand before checking what you already have at home. Chances are you've got some pretty fresh packs of colored pencils and markers that have barely been used. Shop at home first, then go shopping for the items your child truly needs for the school year.
Wait for a tax holiday. If you live in a state that offers a tax holiday on clothing and/or school supplies, save the bulk of your shopping for those days. Check out the list of states and tax-free shopping dates here.
Stick to your list. One you've gleaned what you already have from your home supplies and written a list of new supplies your children absolutely, positively need, stick to it like glue. Don't let your kid talk you into the $25 binder she absolutely, positively has to have. Beware the bins of cutesy pencils and erasers that seem like such a good deal; after you toss a few "good deals" into your cart they add up to a really big bill.
Set your budget now. Don't wait until it's time to run out to buy supplies to think about (or not think about) how much your budget truly will allow you to spend on school stuff. Set a dollar amount and enlist the kids to make it a fun learning experience to find the things they need and want for a certain amount of money.
Shop more than one store. Take advantage of coupons and price cuts designed to get you in to stores to do all of your shopping. If you do your shopping over a few days, you can take advantage of the best deals at individual stores and spread your back-to-school shopping dollars around.
Clothes: Wait it out. Your kids may want to refresh their entire wardrobes before the school year starts, but there's no need for that. Shop summer clearances for warm-weather clothes for the first few weeks of school, then wait until the fall clothes go on sale to find the best deals when the weather turns chillier.
Now, I know all of you have some great money-saving, back-to-school shopping tips of your own. Please share. And let us know if you've had some good luck with coupons or deals on the web, too, to cut down on driving while doing your back-to-school shopping.
