The good news is you get to go shopping. The bad news, however, is none of it is for you.
I’m talking about back to school shopping for the kids. From clothes to school supplies, you have a long way to go before your kids have everything they need as they enter into a new grade.
Your kids want to look good and have the nicest backpack full of the coolest school supplies, but you are on a budget. Here are five tips on how to get your kids all their wants and needs while sticking to your set budget at the same time.
⦁ Properly Plan Before Shopping
First and foremost, it’s important to assess what is actually needed. While some items need to be replaced every year, such as shoes, a backpack and school supplies, not everything needs to be replaced. By figuring out what is necessary and what isn’t, you can significantly lower the back to school shopping cost. Remember, not everything has to be bought before school begins.
After gaining an understanding of your child’s needs, you can accurately set your budget to avoid overspending while you and your kids are shopping.
⦁ Get Ahead of The Game and Shop Early
Have you ever went shopping during a major sale, but you arrived too late and everything you set out to buy was gone? Well, the same can happen with school shopping. As a result, shopping early is crucial to ensuring your child gets everything they need.
With that said, you also should strive to utilize the back to school sales offered by retail stores. Be sure to pick a day where the sales are in and the people are out.
⦁ Stick to The Budget
It is very easy to overspend when shopping for school supplies, especially when your kids are there with you. Similar to shopping for food while you are hungry, shopping for school gear with your kids makes you stop at every turn as a new item catches their eye.
Annette Masterson is a licensed broker with EXIT Realty Bob Lamb & Associates in Murfreesboro, TN. She has developed one of the most successful real estate teams in Rutherford County, known as Masterson Network, that specializes in new home construction and residential listings and sales throughout Middle Tennessee. You can email Annette at mastersonnetwork@gmail.com or call her at 615-896-5656 (Office) or 615-533-1660 (Cell) for more information.
Be sure to keep both yourself and your kids focused on what you set out to achieve in the first place. Otherwise, you may end up purchasing clothing and supplies your child only wanted in the moment.
⦁ Compare Prices Online and Save Money Where You Can
If you plan to do your shopping in store, then you should utilize the wonderful advancements of technology. In many cases, retail stores will offer cheaper prices online and offer free in store pick up. Be sure to check prices online before heading out to try and find deals that aren’t available in store.
If you plan to shop mostly online, the opposite applies. In some cases, you can purchase certain items cheaper in store than you can online, so be sure to know where the best deal is before purchasing.
⦁ Make The Most of The Experience
Going shopping with your kids is a fantastic way to spend quality time with them, which is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s society. Make the most of the opportunity and turn it into a fun day out with your kids.
In other words, buy them ice cream, visit an arcade and maybe budget a little extra for the toy or video game they’ve been desperately asking for.