5 Back-to-school Shopping Tips That'll Save You Money And Time!_42291

The end of summer is here, bringing with it the need to buy school supplies - and not to mention the endless arguments about what brands or non-brands of clothes and bags to buy. Parents whose children are going to school for the first time could benefit from some helpful advice when deciding on which items to buy and where to shop. It is not so much of a problem if your children are going to grade school as you already have some experience. By following these five tips you will save money and not lose your sanity. DON'T DELAY Don't wait too long to shop because you will find all of the shelves empty at your favorite store. Shopping early ensures the best deals. All of the items you need will be in the stores by August and don't forget that the dollar stores will be a good place to get all of your pens, paper and accessories. Head to the office supply stores or stationers if you're starting late. Although they may not have the best prices, they'll probably have what you're looking for. Buying everything in one place can save you a lot of time. BUY AT BIG BOX STORES Bulk stores and membership clubs should be considered if you know some other people who also to pick up some supplies. You may not need a box of 500 pens or 20 notebooks, but you can buy such items as a group and then split them into portions for everyone. You probably won't be able to buy everything this way, but for the essentials it's a great way to save money. CHECK YOUR SCHOOL Find out if your school has a pre-packaged purchasing system as this will save you money as you can share the cost of bulk items between students and parents. This will save you time, money and the hassle of shopping around or deciding on what to buy. END OF SEASON BARGAINS Stock up now on summer clothes and sportswear. End-of-season sales are a great way to find deals on clothes, especially for children participating in after school sports. Look for double-duty clothes that can be worked into fall and winter wardrobes as well. Skirts worn with thick tights, tank tops worn layered under long sleeve shirts and sweaters or cropped pants tucked into tall boots are all trends that move summer staples into trendy fall and winter wardrobes. As a note of caution: make sure you're aware of school dress codes when making fashion choices. Some schools forbid bare shoulders or skirts shorter than a required length. CHOOSING A GOOD BAG Don't forget the bag! Kids bags are often far too large and heavy for them which leads to sore muscles and even headaches. Always choose a backpack that sits no lower than the waist and look for styles with padded shoulder straps and a waist strap for added support. Carrying a backpack or heavy purse or bag on one shoulder can cause injury. Heavy books should be carried in a backpack which is worn on both shoulders. However, if you prefer a bag or sac, it should be the kind which has a body strap since they do a better job of spreading the weight. Possibilities and excitement abounds in the new school year but don't get stressed out with back-to-school shopping.