Back-to-School Tips

It’s that time of year again when children head for the little yellow bus and parents rejoice.

Unfortunately for people in debt, that back-to-school time of year can mean a financial headache when trying to make and stick to a budget for school clothes and supplies.

Here are some back-to-school saving tidbits for people in debt, from the website Frugal Cents. 

An important lesson for back-to-school shopping while in debt is to take a careful inventory of things that you already have. Can you re-use school uniforms from last year? How about notebooks or other school supplies. Doing this will allow you to determine and pay only for your real needs.

Once you have done your inventory, write out a list of the things that you still need. Prioritize the list by importance, putting the absolute necessities near the top. Be on the lookout for sales and in some states tax holidays. Shop at used book stores for textbooks. Use online resources to save money, where  possible.  As far as clothing, buy plain and simple designs, because they match more easily and plentifully.

Be honest with your children and help them understand the situation. Send them to school with a packed lunch to save money. Remember that a hard time for you is a hard time for them, too.

If you follow these suggestions, you can ease the burden that you feel and that your children feel as you make your way through this difficult time.