Back to School Savings Guide

I received this from my church's Women's ministy email newsletter. Thought it had some good advice.


Back to School Savings Guide
Taken from msnbc.com
Submitted by Allison Dul
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Tip #1: Avoid the taxes
Shop for back to school supplies and clothes during tax-free breaks. Missouri's Tax Free Weekend: August 7-9,2009

Tip #2: Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk at a discount warehouse like Costco or Sams' Club is a great way to save a lot of cash, especially if you have a large family.

Tip #3: Start at Home
One way to get around spending hundreds of dollars per child is to avoid buying everything new. Take an inventory of what your family already owns. Have your kids really outgrown all of their shoes and clothing? Do you have an abundance of pens, pencils, folders and rulers?

Tip #4: Start sleuthing for bargains.
Now is an excellent time to become highly attuned to clearance sales in your area and coupons that can help you at this time of year. When you find a good sale for school supplies, stock up for the entire year, not just the immediate future. Be aware that some of the best sales for backpacks, Thermoses and lunch boxes are likely to surface in September after school has already started.

Tip #5: Go to dollar stores.
You might be surprised by the selection of paper products and other school supplies you'll find there.

Tip #6: Scour garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops.
These places typically require some legwork, but the bargains to be had are astonishing. On certain days of the week, some thrift stores allow you to fill an entire bag with clothing and buy it all for $3 or $4.

Tip #7: Remember eBay andcraigslist.
The savings could be substantial, and the process could be less time-consuming than the thrift-store-and-yard-sale route.

Tip #8: Set ground rules for clothes shopping.
Choose clothes that will give your children room to grow. Pick up extra pairs of shoes in larger sizes when you find a good sale. Tip #9: Teach important money lessons.

Back-to-school season lends itself to having frank discussions with your children about money, budgeting and needs vs. wants. Depending on their ages and maturity levels, you could negotiate back-to-school budgets with your kids and allow them to manage those budgets entirely. If they want anything above and beyond the dollar amount you've agreed to provide, let them use their allowance money or babysit, mow lawns or wash cars to pay for it themselves.