Going back to school shopping the easy way. It is all a matter of organizing and planning. Not only will organizing and planning save you money, it will also save you aggravation. The more you are prepared, the easier it will be to do back to school shopping, and you will save money. I don't know anyone that doesn't want to save money.
Decide exactly what you need to buy.
If you don't know what you need, than ask parents of older children what supplies is needed for that grade/class.
Make a list of all the school supplies that you need to buy.
Check all the school supplies that you already have.
Make a list of what you need to buy, and make a list of what you want to buy. What you need and want are not always the same thing.
Look in catalogs or on the internet with your child to decide what you need/want. Knowing exactly what your child wants/needs ahead of time same you time when you are shopping trying to decide.
Ask your child to make a list with pictures or a detailed list of exactly what they want for school.
Think twice before you buy "fashionable supplies", usually it will cost more, and it will go out of style quickly.
Your child can decorate notebooks, and book covers with stickers, drawings and other creative ideas. Which will save you a lot of money in the end, and it will provide a creative activity for your child.
Check to see what you have from left over from the year before, and check to see what can be re-used. Some items can be "recycled" with a little creativity.
notebook binders can be "recycled" by recovering the outside of the binder.
New stickers can be added
Book bags can be washed
Trade items that are in good condition with a friend, neighbor or even better organize a "swap fair" at school. Everyone can swap the same item that they brought in, such as a book bag in good conditions can be swapped for a "new" book bag.
Start early so you can start looking for bargains before the "back to school" "rush". Keep a list in your bag, so when you see something on sale you can buy it. That way you can save money and time.
Quality can save money remember "most people can't afford to buy cheap", what you think is cheap will cost you more in the end.
cheap pens leak and then can ruin clothes
cheap pencils and lead refills break quickly
cheap book bag can rip and the zipper can break
Buy basics in bulk when on sale, basis items are always needed.
Store all your school supply's in one place, and throughout the year make sure you stock it up throughout the year when there are sales.
Don't overbuy before school starts. It is common that once kids start school they realize that they either need certain things and/or want certain things. Plan on buying some of the tings after school starts.
Keep all your receipts even if you are sure that you will not need to return it. It will never hurt to save a receipt, but if you don't have a receipt when you want it, that can cause you quite some problems.
Check to make sure that you bought everything that is on your list.
A list of some common school items:
ring binder - loose leaf folder
Paper
dividers
plastic folders
Backpack - Book bag
Erasers
Pens/Pencils -
Pencil Sharpener or pencil refills (check to make sure the size refills that you need)
