According to a survey conducted by Caddle and the Canadian Retail Commission, families will spend as much as $600 to $750. In another recent survey, Intuit Credit Karma found that more than one-third of parents can’t afford to return to school shopping, while 44% plan to take on debt. More than half (54%) said they would reduce spending on essentials like groceries to make up for the flaw.
Financial pressures and rising prices mean it is more important than ever to get the maximum budget value. I’ve solved some sneaky strategies that can help your family save all fall essentials from backpacks to the best electronics. With some creativity and planning, you can get what you need without breaking the bank.
1. Stick to shopping list
One of the best things you can do is to buy less.
List the specific back-to-school supplies your child actually needs. If they start kindergarten or preschool, their teachers may share a list of courses they need. For seniors, you may know which basics work best, but if you are not sure, remember that day one or even week one doesn’t require much. Sometimes, the classroom and fall projects they are going to do until you meet the teacher and learn about the classroom and buy a lot of school supplies. For example, classrooms may have a large number of colored pencils, but it may be helpful if your child has their own child safety scissors in an upcoming art project.
2. Talk to your child about needs and needs
With your list, talk to your kids in an age-appropriate way, what you need to compare to your needs, and how much you can spend on their back-to-school supplies. (They really need For example? This is a great time to discuss comparing quality and brand names and finding back-to-school sales to expand your dollar.
My eight-year-old is already a savvy comparison shopper who is eager to make the most of her spending budget. I was always surprised that she was willing to make compromises and swaps to get what she really wanted. For example, we have already had several pencil cases around the house over the last few years, so she doesn’t think she needs another pencil, but she really wants a new lunch bag. (To be fair, hers have been washed repeatedly.
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3. First, shop at home
Once each child’s September requirements are determined, groom what is already around the house before going to the store. After walking through the washing machine, my backpack last year looked new. The same goes for indoor shoes last spring: If your child’s feet aren’t growing in the summer, wash them. You can buy a pair later this year if you want.
If there are older siblings, now is a great time to lower the stash by hand, and see if you can also get off the list for back-school activities from jackets to sports equipment. When it comes to school supplies, you may be surprised at how many people you already have. Additional staplers, notebooks and pens can be reorganized in the office or craft cabinets during the new school year. Kids can even take care of sorting and sharpening the colored pencils to store the pencil case.
