Back To School Supplies Lists get Big

Back To School Supplies Lists get Big

Article by Ray Thomas

Back To School supplies – people are shopping for some strange things!

Many parents watched something get bigger during the summer besides their kids’ bellies -  their  back to schools supplies list.

Thanks to the weak economy and school budget cuts, an increasing number of schools that once asked families to supply only academic-focused items such as paper, pencils and notebooks now are asking them to also send their kids to school with items such as sanitizers, wipes, and facial tissues The average spending per family on school supplies is up 17% this year compared with 2009, climbing to .39 this year vs. .62 in 2009 based on some estimates.  Facial tissues have shown up as a top-10 most-wanted item on back-to-school lists in some studies.Some parents are annoyed with this.  They say that schools should be more concerned about people’s lower budgets who are unemployed now.  Some schools are asking kids to bring in art supplies like Wikki Stix for projects and even disposable cameras.Other items on school lists:Wipes. A majority of parents in say their teachers ask for disinfecting wipes. This year, the brand placed this marketing sticker on single packs: “Hey, Mom, take me to school.”*Hand sanitizer. Back-to-school is a big season for Purell,*Batteries. Most battery makers have seen a jump in retailer back-to-school displays.In the end people need to shop online for reliable and affordable solutions.Start your back-to-school shopping with a strategy. Even if your child’s teacher hasn’t given out a list of school supplies, you can’t go wrong by sticking with basics and taking advantage of the huge amount of back-to-school sales (many states offer no state tax days during this season). Here’s how:Make a list and get help from your childUse the requested or required supplies from your child’s school or teacher just as a starting point. If you don’t have the list yet, check with other parents at the school or parents who have older kids. They might have some advice about what is required in your child’s grade.  Sit down with your kid and go over that list together. You’ll be teaching them how to get organized, a skill that applies to way more than just shopping.Gifts:

How about some colored paper or colored pencils to impress the new teacher?

Spend Time!Parents spending time with their children – demonstrating reading, writing daily is a huge influence on the child. When children see their parent reading the newspaper, a magazine, or a book, they can connect why they are learning how to do that in school.Focus on Needs not Wants.

Most school supplies don’t go out of style, and your child will still use the dull pencils his older sibling didn’t use. But as any parent with last year’s superhero notebook knows, lookout for trendy items. Rather than getting into an argument with your older child about whether a backpack with headphones is so important because “everybody is getting one,” try setting a tighter budget for supplies. It will help your child learn priorities, learn how to manage cash, and start saving their allowance for the things your budget won’t allow.

Also, you’ll be doing your child’s teacher a favor if you stick to supplies without gimmicks. Pencil sharpeners that light up are distractions in class.Take an inventory.Sort through last year’s supplies to see what’s left over or can be reused. If you can’t find the stuff you ought to set a place to store it now for next year.Shop early and look for bargains throughout summer.The best bargains are often at back-to-school sales. Keeping your supply list in your car or purse or on your phone will help you shop for supplies as you do your other errands.Buy the basics in bulk.You know you need paper, pencils, glue sticks and notebooks. Dollar stores, warehouse stores and even craigslist are sources for buying these and other basics in bulk. Then set up a supply shelf or storage box in your home that you can use all year long. You’ll be able to avoid late-night shopping trips to buy notebook paper whenever you run out. And you’ll know where to find blank notebooks and pencils when it comes time to shop for back-to-school supplies next year.If you set up this storage area near the place your kid will do homework, you’ll be modeling good organizational skills and your child will have what he needs nearby.If you buy 50 pencils send in three at a time. This will help your kid manage their supplies and help the teacher who has little storage space in class. 

About the Author

Ray Thomas is a musician who works from home and loves to blog and give advice on shopping.

He is a big fan of computersupplies.com

This is an idea that I got from my friend Sterling
Video Rating: 3 / 5

More Home School Supplies Articles