5 Back-to-School Shopping Tips Every Student Should Follow!

Kids bickering with you about what brand of jeans or bag to buy? Then it must be that time of year again - time to buy school supplies.

If you are a parent buying for your grade school children you've been learning the ropes for a few years. However, if your child is new to school or you're doing your own school shopping for the first time, you can benefit from a heads up on how, what and where to shop.

By following these five tips you will save money and not lose your sanity.

GET AN EARLY START

It's never too early to start looking for great deals at your favorite discounters, but if you wait too long you'll find empty shelves. Get going before it's too late.

There will be plenty of supplies on sale by August. Don't forget dollar stores for low prices on pens, paper and a myriad of other necessary items.

If it's too late to find what you need at the discount stores, try retailers that specialize in stationary or office supplies. They're likely to have what you need in stock even if not at the cheapest prices, which will save you a lot of running around.

BUY IN BULK

Ask around and see if your friends with kids or any of your own college classmates need supplies, because you could shop together at a shopping club or bulk store.

They may not have everything you need in stock but you will save money by splitting cartons of pens, paper and other essentials.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Ask if your school has brought in a pre-packaged purchasing system. If they have, then the cost of bulk items can be shared between parents and students.

Not only will this mean great savings - it also saves you all the hassle of finding supplies, shopping around or dealing with complaints about brands or colors.

SEASON'S END SAVINGS

End-of-seasons sales are on now, offering great deals on clothes for summer and sports. If you have a child active in school sports, now's the time to stock up on their gear.

Try to find clothing which can also be incorporated for the fall and winter too. Skirts can be paired with thick tights, tank tops can be worn under sweaters and shirts with long sleeves, and Capri pants can be paired with boots to merge summer clothes into winter outfits.

But make sure to keep in mind school dress codes when choosing fashions. There may be restrictions regarding skirt length or bare shoulders at some schools.

FINDING THE RIGHT BAG

Be careful to buy the right bag! Heavy backpacks or ones that are too large can cause headaches or muscle soreness. Make sure that the bag you choose has good support, with padding in the shoulder straps and a strap to go around the waist, and that it doesn't sit below the waist.

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.

Every new year at school is ripe with exciting possibilities. Instead of stressing out while shopping for your back-to-school items, be sure to have fun!

Donna Brancheau has been tutoring & teaching in the San Diego area for 30 years. For insightful tutoring advice, visit her tutoring web site. Also, you can get unique copies of this article or other wonderful education articles to use on your web site!