Listen…do you hear that sound? It’s the sound of the school bell ringing (metaphorically speaking), which means now is the time to hit the stores with the list of school supplies your kids will need to start the year off right. Since it may be a little hard to concentrate on your list if the kids are along for the ride, we have a few tips to offer you that might help you keep your sanity and survive back to school shopping with kids this year.
- Do your research before you start. Look for coupons and sale ads in your Sunday paper, or go online to store websites for sales and deals. Couponing websites can be great money savers if you find coupons for back to school clothing, shoes, books, or other items. Be sure to check expiration dates before heading off to the mall.
- Plan ahead. Here’s where that list can come in handy. Shopping without a list can be a harrowing task, especially if you’re not sure which items your child swears they must have are really required by the school, and which ones are simply being tossed in your shopping cart because your child wants to have the “latest and greatest” in what is popular.
- Start early. We don’t just mean that you should shop sooner than the weekend before school starts, we also mean start out early in the day when you do decide to hit the stores. Going shopping for school supplies first thing in the morning, especially with little ones in tow, can take advantage of higher energy levels. Shopping with a tired, hungry child is no picnic!
- Have a budget, and stick to it. Keep a running tab on what you’re spending by writing down the prices next to each item on your list. Once you have the absolute necessities on the official school supply list checked off, you can see if there’s room for a few extras. (Here’s where the sparkly pink sequined notebook might make its way into your cart.) If there’s no room left in the budget, the extras can wait. At least this way, you’ll know your child has what is actually required by the school, and you can always offer the sparkly notebook as a reward for good behavior the first week or two of school.
- Tap your family resources. If you are shopping for more than one child, consider splitting the list and the shopping duties with your spouse or a grandparent or other relative. A favorite Aunt or Uncle just might jump at the chance to have a little bonding time, and split up the responsibilities allows you to give your child some one on one time with you, as well. If the school requires uniforms or has a strict dress code, be sure to communicate that information before the shopping trip.
Remember; back to school shopping does not have to be an insanity-producing activity, if it is handled correctly. We hope these tips and suggestions will help you keep your sanity (and your hair!) and survive this year’s back to school shopping with your kids.
If you want to give your kids’ school stationery a fun spin, check out our Stationery For Kids selection!
