“Back to School Shopping/Prep”

It is nearly that time again, time for notebooks, pencils and back to school shopping. This month sparks the beginning of a very intense preparation for kids and parents alike, but also includes those continuing their education and those in life skills programs.
If you feel overwhelmed, and do not know where to begin, below are some key suggestions for successful back to school shopping.

Make a list of what you will need before you go to the store. Some may choose to wait until a list is provided by the school and/or teacher. This approach is organized and will help you shop more effectively.

Consider having a budget for supplies shopping so you do not spend more money than you intended. You can bring a calculator to figure out how much your total will be before you get to the checkout register.

Some valuable tips are:

Buy in bulk — it makes more sense to buy a box of pens or pack of erasers rather than 1 or 2 individually. You will find that you use many of these items throughout the school year.

Be sensible — use brown paper bags to cover books instead of buying book covers, for example.

Be choosey about when you go shopping — if you can request a list from the school ahead of time, do, this way you can beat the rush of back to school shoppers. The store lines will be long and conditions chaotic if you do not start early, so be warned!

Back to school shopping can be an organized and educational activity. If you plan ahead, set a budget, be sensible and time wisely you will be thoroughly prepared for a great school year ahead.