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

What is it going to be this year when choosing your school supplies. Do you go for brand names or no named products when looking for bags and clothing.

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.

These five tips will help you save money AND your sanity!

BUY EARLY

The best things go fast at the discount stores, so don't delay. Start your shopping early in order to find 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.

Head to the office supply stores or stationers if you're starting late. Although they may not have the best prices, they'll probably have what you're looking for. Buying everything in one place can save you a lot of time.

BUY IN BULK

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.

Buy the large discounted packages of pencils, paper and other common supplies divide them up between everyone. You may not find everything you need, but you'll save money on the essentials.

YOUR SCHOOL MAY HAVE WHAT YOU NEED

Ask if your school has a purchasing plan for supplies. You may be able to split the costs of a bulk order with other parents or students.

Not only will this mean great savings - it also saves you all the hassle of finding supplies, shopping around or dealing with complaints about brands or colors.

END OF SEASON BARGAINS

End-of-seasons sales are on now, offering great deals on clothes for summer and sports. If you have a child active in school sports, now's the time to stock up on their gear.

Keep your eyes open for clothing which has multi-season possibilities. A summer tank top can go under a winter sweater, cropped pants can be worn with boots and skirts can be matched with warm, comfy tights. With a little creativity, you can be both frugal and trendy as you transform warm weather styles into fashionable cool weather clothes.

Some schools enforce strict dress codes so bear this in mind when selecting clothing. Skirt lengths and bare shoulders should be taken into account

FINDING THE RIGHT BAG

Don't forget that kids bags can cause soreness or headaches if they're too big and heavy. The right bag should sit above the waist and have padded shoulders and a waist strap in order to provide good support.

Properly worm backpacks should be used for heavy books and not slouchy purses or hobo bags. If bags or sacs are to be used then make sure that you get one with a fitted strap that crosses the body. This will help spread the weight.

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, Horizon Bound. Also, be sure to get unique copies of this article or other wonderful education articles to use on your web site!