It’s almost Back to School time and this year we are dedicating ourselves to helping YOU save money. From “swap meets” to on-line specials we have the top tips for saving money on back to school items.
Host a school supply swap meet: Invite friends, family and acquaintances to come to the swap meet with gently used items that can withstand another year of school. The items that tend to attract the most attention are: school uniforms, textbooks, trade books, backpacks, and tech devices such as calculators and e-book readers. When planning a swap meet, I recommend finding a centrally located spot such as a church basement or synagogue. This way everyone can come to the same place. Have a few people “work the door” which means they inspect the items coming in and give one ticket per item that can be swapped. In other words, if you bring 2 textbooks, a calculator and a fresh spiral notebook you will get 4 tickets allowing you to get 4 “new” items. To get the word out, post flyers around town (coffee shops, grocery stores and the library) or send out an Evite asking friends to forward the invitations and so forth.
Buddy up at the warehouse stores. I love a great deal which often goes hand in hand with buying in bulk, but as a mom of an only child, I am often reticent to buy materials at a warehouse superstore because of their quantity. A good way to remedy this issue is to buddy up and purchase the items with a relative or friend. It’s a great way to share the savings!When it comes to buying textbooks, think outside the box! Buying high school text books can is a huge expense, so it’s a good idea to think outside the box with these ideas: Check out www.bookrenter.com ~ where you can rent a textbook for the fraction of the cost as buying new. Look into buying a used textbook on-line via a virtual marketplace such as eBay, Craigslist, Amazon or Facebook Marketplace. *To ensure you are buying the correct copy, make sure the ISBN number on the book matches the ISBN number of the required textbook. Look into the possibility of “downloading” the textbooks on a computer or e-reader. Usually eBooks are much less expensive and are much easier to carry. Of course, you will need to purchase a laptop or eBook reader such as Kindle, Nook, or IPad, but chances are you will make up that cost after downloading only a few texbooks! Another smart tip: Check out mysimon.com, which allows you to comparison shop in one place. You might even find 2 for one deals that might be perfect if you have more than one child.
Get SmART about Trendy Items: Recently I took a stroll down a “back to school aisle” at my favorite superstore and realized one of the biggest trends was “licensed” folders and notebooks that are dotted with pictures of young movie and / or music stars. The only problem with these items is they are between 50-75% more expensive than their “non-licensed / plain” counterparts. Now, I know there are many who would argue that having “tween dreams” on folders motivate kids to take out their folders and learn. And perhaps they are right, which is why I came up with a really “smART” idea. Maker your own “tween dream” notebooks by creating stimulating and fun collages using pictures from magazines and newspapers These collages can easily be slipped into the font cover of a notebook and as an added bonus, they can be CHANGED when the “it” guy of the year becomes “yesterday’s news.” to learn how to make trendy notebooks and binders, check out my latest visit to You & Me this Morning on WCIU Click Here!
Help your kids afford non-essential items (the ones they just have to have!!)Instead of saying “no” to the non-essential school items such as fuzzy mirror for the locker or the latest comic book hero backpack, encourage your kids to buy the items with the proceeds they can earn by hosting a garage sale. The end of summer is the perfect time for your kids to clean out their rooms and sell off toys, books and games they no longer use. In return, they could use the money earned to buy the items they really want but don’t necessarily need. It’s a great way to help your kids learn the value of money while still honoring their need to get things they REALLY want!
Use Coupons: Before you go shopping, check for coupons. Here’s a list of sites that can help:
www.CouponMom.com
www.savings.com
www.ecoupons.com,
www.thesavalots.com
www.thecoupondiva.com
