Back To School Expenses

Backpacks and lunchboxes take a lot of abuse. If you spend a little more on these items to get durable ones, they should last a number of years. Watch out for getting trendy, or character themed items, because a year from now Junior might balk at carrying his books in a "Shark Boy" backpack.

Make a list of everything you have and everything you still need to get the kids ready for returning to school. Once you know what you still need, prioritize the items by importance. Look for the best deals on each item and if your budget limit is reached before the list is complete, at least the items that have to be skipped will be the least important.

You know your kids will be going back to school at the end of every summer at least until they're out of high school, so why wait until two weeks before classes start to start planning? Set aside a certain amount of money every week just like you would with a Christmas club. Just $10 each week would give you $520 to work with when the school buying season arrives.

"Back to School" season is one of the biggest retail events of the year for many stores. Look for great deals on "loss leaders" (items sold below-cost to get you in the store), but make sure that other advertised items are truly marked down. Just because a price is in BIG PRINT doesn't mean it's low, so make sure you comparison shop. When you do find a good price on supplies that you know will be used throughout the year, stock up while the price is low.

Except for special classes, most school supplies will be the same each year, and most schools have a list available of what you'll need for the coming year. Make a list early, and carry it with you while you do your normal shopping. That way if you spot a sale on highlighers, or 3 Ring Binders, you can pick them up on sale, and cross them off your list.

Since retailers often overstock for "Back to School" sales, sometimes you can get a better bargain by waiting until after school has started. Your child doesn't have to wear their whole wardrobe or use all their supplies on the first day of school, so save some shopping for a week or two after classes have resumed.

You should label any items that your child will be taking to school, especially if it's something they wear that will be taken off. With so many kids wearing similar clothing, there are bound to be mistakes when gathering coats at the end of the day or at recess.