There's so much involved in the back-to-school shop, especially if you have more than one child. Between book lists, stationary and budgeting, mums can be run ragged. The best strategy for back-to-school shopping is to get organised; decide what you need, stock up on the basics and look out for sales and promotions.
 
Here are some top tips to really succeed when it comes to completing your list efficiently and under budget.
 
Take inventory
 
Sort through last year's supplies to see what can be reused. Resolve to set up a place to keep your school supplies together over the summer. Do this early in the summer, so you know what to look for during the remaining weeks and are able to take advantage of special offers. Keep your supply list with you so if you spot a bargain you can cross it off your list.
 
 
Make a list and get your child involved
 
Use the recommended supplies from your child's school or teacher as a starting point. If you don't have a list yet, check with parents at your school who have older kids or use our helpful back-to-school checklist. You should also sit down with your child and go over your list together as this is a great way to teach them organisation skills.
 
 
Separate wants from needs
 
Most school supplies don't go out of style, and your child will happily use the unsharpened pencils his older sister didn't use. But, beware the power of trends and avoid getting into arguments with your older child about whether they really need a certain school bag because everyone else has one. Set a budget for supplies and help your child to learn about priorities. This way they learn how to manage money and if they want, they can start saving up their pocket money for the fancy items your budget won’t allow.
 
 
Keep an eye out for promotions
 
There are always great back-to-school offers and promotions throughout the summer that you can avail of; however it’s important to prepare your shopping lists early in the school holiday so that you’re ready to snap up the deals when they appear. The later you leave it, the less likely you are to get deals on the items you want.
 
 
Buy basics in bulk
 
You know that paper, pencils, glue sticks and notebooks will always be needed and in large supply too as your child inevitably loses them during the school term. Euro shops, grocery stores, like Tesco and online shops are wonderful sources for buying these items in bulk.
 
 
Figure out when quality counts
 
Schoolbags with a warranty might be a good investment, even if it costs more. Also when buying items like crayons, colouring pencils, markers and water colour paints, name brands definitely seem to last longer.
 

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