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Back to School Sales
By Daphne | July 14, 2008
School may not start for several more weeks depending on where you live. If you have a list of required school supplies then search the sales for various items that are needed. For items that you know will be used often such as paper and pencils stock up on those.
Even if you aren’t a parent of a school-aged child but you work with them as a public school teacher, youth group leader or Sunday School teacher, now is the time to stock up on things that you can use for those craft projects like crayons, glue and scissors.
If you know someone who has a child and isn’t able to get to the store, some of the prices are too good to pass up, be a good friend, and call the person to let them know about the sale or ask your friend if you can pick up a couple since you’re at the store anyway.
Even if you aren’t a coupon person, check the sales papers and shop early. For a week long sale, you may be out of luck if you try to get the sale items on the last day of the sale. On some items there is a limit to the amount you may buy if so, you could go into the store with another person, even if this is your own school-aged child to make a purchase for you. Shopping alone? Make a purchase, put it in the car, then come back in a make another purchase. Generally large stores have more than one cashier and you can go to another cashier to pay.
Pencils are useful. Having your own pencil sharpener is golden. The cute cheap sharpeners are often just that - CHEAP. For a pencil sharpener, it should do just that - sharpen pencils. It does not need to have fancy bells and whistles. But having a pencil sharpener with a receptacle to catch the shavings, is small and that sharpens pencils is what is important.
Stock up on filler paper. But, even though there is a surplus of paper at home, don’t tell your child about it, and do not let him or her carry all of the paper to school at one time. Otherwise your child may use all of the paper at one time, which would not be a savings at all. So teach your child to use school supplies wisely, and not waste them. Still if you have a child who is heavy handed with glue or always seems to break pencils, buy extra because three or four months into the school year you will wish that you purchased extra paper and pencils on sale rather than paying through the nose for them.
For an older child, do not skimp on backpacks. Too many times I have seen parents searching for a new backpack a few months into the school year because the bag has ripped or torn or is otherwise irreparable. Buy a good quality bag, even if you get a deal on it. Make sure that it is one that your child can easily carry loaded and empty. A stylish bag may not be strong enough to carry everything that is needed and a bag that is very sturdy but too heavy will be difficult for your child to carry. Find a happy medium and hopefully a bag that will last at least one school year.
One last tip, don’t go too overboard when buying extra school supplies, because you will need a place to store them. Pencils and pens don’t take up too much room, filler paper, spiral notebooks require more space, consider that when you are shopping.
No children, but you like to stay organized, are in school yourself or use school supplies for personal uses? Now is the time to stock up!
If you have space, buy some extra school supplies for stocking stuffers. They take up space in a stocking and will definitely be used!
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Topics: July 2008 |