The time is upon every parent to get organized for the all-important return to school. It may be all you can think about or the last thing on your mind, but there is no escaping the inevitable. You have to get organized and plan your budget in order to make your money stretch and find the best deals. Here’s how it can be done.
1 Make a List
There is a lot of power in a good list, and this is the kind that you should check twice. Start with a complete audit of your children’s clothes, supplies, and accessories, and go from there. This will make it easier to see the gaps in what you need and figure out how best to fill them. That way, you won’t end up making unnecessary purchases that could have been money spent elsewhere.
2 Start Early
When it comes to buying school supplies, it is never too early. Find the sales, and don’t be afraid to start buying way before the start of the semester comes about. By doing things in this way, you will be able to spread the cost demand and make your budget work for you as opposed to the other way around.
3 Keep It Simple
It is always tempting to buy too much when it comes to providing for our children. However, when back-to-school is the theme, there is a lot of value in adopting a budget-friendly conservative approach. What are the big areas where parents normally splurge unnecessarily? Stationery is a common one, but instead of buying four packs of pens, remember that a couple will do just fine. Another major one is designer brands because kids think they need them, and parents don’t want to say no. However, you have to consider whether they really need a designer label on their school shoes or if a high-street brand will be more than fit for purpose.
4 Find the Discounts
Any parent will welcome a good discount, especially when they are shopping for lots of things. There are many popular brands that offer vouchers for this specific purpose during back-to-school season, and they are all worth exploring if you want to save some serious money.
5 Look On Social Media
If you feel comfortable with your children having pre-loved supplies, there are often plenty to be found on social media marketplaces. Check-in a few times a week to see if anyone has posted new sales lists, and you may be pleasantly surprised at what you find. These are amazing platforms for parents because it means you can trade in unwanted items and get something great in return or just find a lucky break in the right place at the right time.
6 Don’t Go for Cheap Over Value
It is tempting to save money by going for lower-priced products, but this doesn’t always work out as cost-effective in the long run. The real risk here is that you buy something at a low cost but end up having to replace it every month when it breaks or wears down. Clothing is a top priority here, because if your children are wearing things that are not washing well, ripping or staining easily then you will just end up spending money over and over again and therefore be caught in an eternal loop of financial misery. Instead, think about how you can space out purchases and buy smart so that your purchases can stand the test of time and last for the whole school year.
Back-to-school shopping can feel like a real burden when it comes about. However, there are some great ways to get organized and space out the priority purchases so that you are not facing everything all at once.
