Preparing to send your children back to school can be a stressful time, wouldn’t you agree? To your kids, shopping for new clothes, gear and school supplies may be the only good thing about going back to school, but that does not mean you have to spend a fortune. Here are 10 awesome ideas for how to maximize your buck while still getting all the essentials.

• Hold off buying trendier gear like lunch boxes and pencil cases. Kids love a certain design or pattern when shopping before school begins but once school starts and they see what others have and are using and they want to upgrade–resulting in wasted cash.
• Shop end-of-summer sales because kids wear short sleeve shirts all year long, so hit the summer sales and stock up on discounted clothing that can be worn all year round.
• Stick to the list that teacher’s supply at the beginning of the school year. Do not waste your time or money on extra supplies, some may be cute but they probably will never get used.
• Shop at the supermarket for basic supplies that way you can get your weekly grocery shopping done at the same time. Check the weekly ads for great deals on pens and loose-leaf paper and get lucky with buying everything in one place saving you time and gas money!
• Let your kids raid the home office supplies and then personalize them in unique ways. For example, decorating an inexpensive pen or decorate a white binder with photos or stickers.
• Host a back-to-school swap and round up a couple other moms with kids the same gender but different ages to swap clothing, toys, and books. You will save a ton of money this way!
• Plan and pack lunch as much as you can then you are in charge of what your child eats and you will save money. 
• Buy bright because lost school supplies may be a given, but gear that is hard to miss can last longer. Pack all their pencils, erasers, and other supplies into a bright backpack or pencil case to keep them from disappearing as easy.
• Set a budget and stick to it. Check what was spent last year and attempt to spend around the same or less.  This will also help teach your child how to budget and to get what is necessary before purchasing the “wants”. 
• Take inventory and make a list. Check what you have already at home and then make a list for what is needed and stick to the list will prevent you from buying items that you do not need.

Above are tips I try to follow when preparing for my child to begin school each year, these tips will get you everything you need by shopping smarter, or not at all!

Author: Ashley Fordyce, Extra Credit Union's School and Community Relations Coordinator

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