Every year at the end of one school term we get a little flyer sent home from school. The flyer offers a packaged deal for school supplies for one price, and the price depends on the grade. This year, the company that is offering this service wants almost $40 for my third grader’s school supplies.
I admit that the offer was tempting. I could fill out a little form, send in some money and be done with supplies for the year. Then reality hit. By shopping on my own, I could save at least half of that fee, or up to 90 percent of it if I was a smart shopper.
To complicate matters, the school doesn’t release a supply list until about a week before school starts. They say that they haven’t consulted with the teachers. If that is the case, I wonder, how does this company know what to supply?
I get around this little dilemma by just taking a look at last year’s list. Working off of the class list for the year before (with the appropriate grade) has never steered me wrong.
Next, armed with the list, I look online and in the flyers for bargains. There are bargains going on right now. Did you know that the back to school season officially occurs the day after Independence Day here in the U.S.? Different items go on sale at different times, so I stock up on what I need based on those sales. Right now crayons, markers and pencils seem to be at an amazing discount (.25 cents for 24 crayons!). Later, closer to September, notebooks, glue, erasers, folders and other items will go on sale.
Before I even hit any of the stores, I check my own supplies. Many times I already have exactly what we need from past stockpiling trips. I always by extra supplies. This way, I can replenish the kids supplies throughout the school year, I have extras to use at home with my younger children, and I can out together care packages to send to the teacher to help other children.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
Favorite Deal Websites:
Related Articles:
Creating a Rich Environment for Kids