Shop Smart for Back to School
September 3, 2010 by NanyangPrimary
Filed under Singapore Nanyang News 南洋 讯息
Are you dreading back to school because feel the pain of your budget straining ? Back to school costs can really add up as you spend money on clothing, supplies and fees. But you don’t have to spend a bundle to outfit your tweens for the academic year. Here are some quick tips for maximizing that back to school budget .
- Ask for the list – mostschools will put a list of required and suggested supplies for the academic year. This is usually available before the start of school , so make sure you get that list as soon as possible so you can plan your purchases – and see if anything can be re-used from previous year
- Tax Exempt Holidays – many states now have tax exempt week just before back to school time . This means that many, if not all of your school supplies and back to school items will be exempt from sales tax – and this mean add up to huge savings for you – perhaps as much as 10% off of your bill
- Shop Online – you can save money on back to school items by shopping online. Browse the websites of major retailers for the best deals. Many stores will offer free shipping as well, so you’ll avoid the back to school crowds as well as in-store impulse purchases.
- Buy in Bulk – keep an eye on the newspaper for two-fre deals and other bulk purchase incentives . You can spread the reduced cost of notebooks across all of your kids, or perhaps find another family to share supplies with.
- Stick to the list – after reviewing what supplies are required byu the school and what you can re-use from previous years , make a list – and stick to it. When you’re actually in the store, you’ll be less likely to be tempted by impulse purchases and “cool” supplies, if you have a list. If your kids wants something extra, you can always have them purchase it with their own money.
Using these simple back to school money saving ideas , shopping for school supplies with your childre doesn’t need to be a nightmare. And soon, you’ll be relishing the sounds of the school bus in the morning – without worrying about busting your budget .
