Providing school supplies, clothing and school fees for multiple children gets harder and harder each year. As expectations grow – from the schoolyard to the school board – for what students should have in the classroom, many families are left facing some critical choices. Unfortunately for parents sandwiched in the middle of these expectations, the thing getting pinched is their wallet. What are parents, concerned about the quality of educational experience for their children, to do about the rising costs of providing educational basics such as school supplies?
- First and foremost: Shop Early! In early July, bargain shoppers in our area could pick up theme books for a dime a piece. Last weekend, shopping at the same store for the identical theme book – the price had risen to $1.29! It is never too early to buy school supplies!
- Shop the Sales. Know about discount outlets, dollar stores, annual store sales, etc. in your area. Most businesses will run sales at about the same time of year for the same items (i.e.: January is known for the now-famous white-sales on linens!) Some stores will feature school supplies at dirt-cheap prices to entice adult customers into their stores for additional high-dollar purchases. One word of advice – shop these sales - but go in and purchase what you saw advertised and nothing else!
- Plan ahead: One of the reasons September is so expensive for parents is that they begin to notice that Johnny has outgrown his sneakers, dress shoes, socks, jeans and on top of it, there are the school fees and supplies. Plan ahead and cull through closets each season, packing away, passing on, donating or throwing out outgrown clothing items. Make lists of what the children will need for the coming season and put it on lay-away or set aside some each month for clothing needs.
- Buy for an entire year. School supplies usually go on sale once a year. That is how often you should be buying them. Figure out how much of each item is needed to get your children through the year and buy in bulk to save big money. If you wait, somewhere down the line, you'll end up paying extravagant prices for a theme book that would have cost you a dime in July!
- Forget the List – Buy-the-Basics! Each year, schools go through the effort of making up grade-level supply lists that are very specific. Trusting parents wait until early August when these lists come out and then rush to the store to buy each and every item on the list, right down to the last paper clip. Unfortunately, what school districts won’t tell you is that the list is an amalgamation of each teacher at that school at your child’s grade level. What this means is that you have bought Johnny the $15 specialty notebook listed, only to have him go to school on the first day to find his teacher does not like – or use – them! Save your money. Buy what you know. Each year, students of every grade level use paper, pencils, pens, and depending upon year of school, crayons, rulers, pencil boxes, glue, paste, two-pocket folders. Yes, there may be an item or two specific to your child’s teacher that he may need, but it beats paying for a $15 item you can’t return and he will never use.
When you have planned ahead and just can’t afford the essential fees, school supplies or clothes, don’t despair! Call your school’s guidance counselor, make an appointment and explain your situation. Perhaps the guidance counselor will have extra supplies in his office, have resource names of where you can go to get clothing, or be able to reduce the school fees for you!
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