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Don't Spend a Bundle on Back to School Essentials!

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Yes, it is that time of year again. As the ‘Back To School’ adverts start flashing on the television, it’s time to think about getting prepared for the next academic year. Make an inventory of everything your child needs again this year whilst consulting the school kit list. Have they outgrown last year’s clothes? Is their backpack falling apart? Where on earth is their pencil case? By planning this before-school shop in advance, you can save yourself a few bob.

Wait A Few Weeks

Of course, you should check off the important essentials before the start of term, so your kid isn’t going to school with two inches of their wrist showing. Yet, smart parents leave what they can until term-time begins and make use of the school supplies on sale. Treat your kid to a set of funky stationary at a fraction of the price.

Clothes Swap

If, in the vast parental network, you have made a few friends, try to get them interested in a clothes swap. This is all the better if their kids are older as they may be willing to hand you school uniform that doesn’t fit their children anymore. You can put your wallet away for another year.

Sewing

On another note, if their clothes still fit, but have rips and splits in them, save yourself money on expensive school uniform by mending them yourself.

Go To Supermarkets

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For trousers, shoes, and skirts, visit your local supermarket to grab cheap school clothes. Supermarkets also sell inexpensive stationary, so save fuel by getting all your school items from one place.

Factor In Lunch

Investing in a decent lunchbox and planning meals for the week will save forking out for school dinners, and will contain food that is much healthier for your child, if you do it right. Scan your supermarkets for lunchbox deals like sandwich fillers.

Stick To Your List

Getting carried away can be easy, especially when the kids start pulling puppy dog eyes, but stay firm and keep to the list. Children are often driven by fads and they really can do without half the things they say they need. Although you should encourage healthy studying by purchasing a good set of homework equipment, there is no need to go overboard.

Forget The School Picture

Your child probably hates picture day – having to wait in a queue and sit very still for a cameraman isn’t our idea of fun either. Most of the time the photo is atrocious anyway and you could do one better on your camera phone from the front porch. Save yourself a couple of hundred pounds, or spend it on a trip away and create better memories than a school photo.

Buy In Bright Colours

Not only is this a cheerful alternative to black and more black, but choosing brightly coloured items will help your child to not lose stationary so frequently. Label whatever you can, so if it ends up in lost property, it finds its way back to your child, and you don’t need to go out and buy another load of school equipment.

This guest blog was written on behalf of www.soswitch.com by financial writer Francesca who lives in the UK.

By on September 20th, 2012

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

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7 thoughts on “Don't Spend a Bundle on Back to School Essentials!”

  1. You give great advice, and I love your site. Another great thing about back-to-school this year was Wal-Mart had some great sales on school supplies!

    Reply
    • Yes they sure did Beverly in fact that's where we bought my daughter's school supplies this year 🙂 Thank you so glad you love Powered by Mom we love hearing from our readers.

      Reply
  2. Great ideas! We've started home schooling my son this year, some areas we saved, others are taking a hit for supplies, but I think it will even out after this first investment.

    Reply

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