Back-to-school shopping can be hectic because your kids want and need so many things โ and you want to make sure they get them for a successful school year.
Even though school just ended for most Chicagoland students, now is the time to stock up on the basics, look for sales and promotion and get organized.
Here are some tips from ChameleonJohn, an online coupon website helping parents save money on online purchases, that should help ease worries.
Budget
Back-to-school shopping is important, but you don’t want to buy anything and everything. So, it is very important to have a budget. Use an app or diary where you can note every expense to help you keep a check on your expenses.
Make a list
A list of items your child needs also should be on the list. However, make sure you do not include their โneeds’ only. โWants’ are unnecessary, but still include at least a couple of their wants โ they’ll appreciate your efforts with a big smile.
Get your children involved and keep their wants and needs separate. This way you get the items they need with some wants, too.
Promotions
Back-to-school sales will be here soon and you should make the most of them. Watch for promotions and sales so that you do not have to pay the full price for your purchased items.
Buy in bulk
Paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks and other such items can be purchased in bulk. There are online stores that offer discounts on bulk purchases. At the same time, you can be sure that your child will have necessary supplies when needed.
Quality
You might buy one or two cute pencils for your little one. However, if you are looking only at the attractiveness of the pencil, you might get a poor quality fancy pencil. Don’t do that!
Same is the case with fancy, leaky pens.
Buy something that has good quality to help your child enjoy their writing experience.
Stay away from trending items
Yes, that school bag or lunch box is cool and almost every kid in school has it, but it is not necessary that you buy the same for your kid. The better solution is to buy something that will last.
Bright purchases
School supplies can be lost in school or while on a trip. However, if you shop for bright items, such as a bright pencil box, your child is more unlikely to misplace it.
Online shopping
With back-to-school shopping, we often drive place to place to shop for the necessary items. However, online shopping is convenient and saves money. Shopping at popular online stores, such as Overstock.com, will help you get additional discounts on your purchases. Apart from regular store deals and discounts, you can even look for offers at Overstock. Coupons for online stores are available freely. However, before choosing coupons, check whether they can be combined with store deals and discounts to save even more money.
