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Five Back-to-School Shopping Tips To Save Money!

It is that time of year again to start buying your school supplies. Is it brand name or no name products? Time to make your decisions and decide on which clothing and bags to buy.

If your children are at grade school then you already have some idea of the items they need. However, if this is the first time you are buying your childrens school clothing etc, a few tips on what and where to buy would be helpful.

You wont lose your mind and waste money if you follow these five tips.

BUY EARLY

Don't wait too long to shop because you will find all of the shelves empty at your favorite store. Shopping early ensures the best deals.

There will be plenty of supplies on sale by August. Don't forget dollar stores for low prices on pens, paper and a myriad of other necessary items.

Got off to a late start? Then check out office supply or stationary stores, where they're likely to stay well-stocked on all the essentials. These kinds of stores can save you a lot of time and effort since they're bound to have what you need.

GET OUT THAT MEMBERSHIP CARD

Ask around and see if your friends with kids or any of your own college classmates need supplies, because you could shop together at a shopping club or bulk store.

Pool your group's resources. Even if you can't find all you need, you'll save money on pens, paper and similar items by buying bulk and splitting the supplies among yourselves.

CHECK YOUR SCHOOL

Ask if your school has brought in a pre-packaged purchasing system. If they have, then the cost of bulk items can be shared between parents and students.

This will save you time, money and the hassle of shopping around or deciding on what to buy.

END OF SEASON BARGAINS

Now's the time to stock up on summer and sport related clothing. If your child will be taking part in after school activities like swimming or gymnastics you can get a great deal on their gear with end-of-season sales.

Winter wardrobes can built from your kids school clothing if you choose multi-use clothing. The likes of cropped trousers can be tucked into high boots, skirts worn with thick tights and tank tops under shirts.

As a note of caution: make sure you're aware of school dress codes when making fashion choices. Some schools forbid bare shoulders or skirts shorter than a required length.

THE PERFECT BACKPACK

Remember that injuries can easily occur when your kids are carrying their school bag. Make that it is not carried below waist level and that you buy one with should strap padding. A good idea is to buy one that also has a waist strap which will give extra support.

Discomfort can be caused by carrying heavy books in hobo bags or slouchy purses. If your kids must use a bag or sac then make sure it is one with a strap that crosses the body to distribute the weight. Ideally heavy books should be carried in a properly work backpack.

Every new school year holds possibilities and excitement. Have fun with back-to-school shopping and try not to stress out!

Donna Brancheau has been tutoring & teaching in the San Diego area for 30 years. For powerful tutoring advice, visit her tutoring web site. Also, be sure to get unique copies of this article or other insightful education articles to use on your web site!