9 Tips To Make
Back-to-School
Shopping a Snap
Copyright 2006 Pat Brill
It barely seems as if the
final
school
bell rang, and already it's time to get the kids ready to head
back! With everything else you have on your plate, the idea of
back-to-school shopping can be, well, less than thrilling, and
just a little overwhelming.
Relax! These nine tips will help you
get organized and make back-to-school shopping a breeze.
1. Make A List. Consider what each
child needs most and place those items at the top of your
shopping list. Prioritizing needs will help you shop early for
the necessities, and you can leave the unessential items until
later, when you have more time and money.
2. Create A Budget. Knowing how
much you can afford to spend on clothes and electronic items,
for example, can cut a great deal of time out of your
back-to-school shopping. You'll know exactly which brands and
products are within your spending limits ? which means you won't
waste time listening to that sales pitch for a high-priced
computer
that you know you can't afford. Be sure your kids know the
limits before you head out to prevent future hassles with them
over what you will and won't spend for certain items.
3. Use Cash. After you've made your
budget, use cash to make your purchases. When you only have a
limited amount of money in your pocket, you're not as likely to
give in to the desire to splurge on things your children may not
really need or that you can't really afford. This will save you
huge headaches down the road when the credit card bills would be
rolling in. Instead, you'll be patting yourself on the back for
being such a savvy shopper.
4. Plan Your Attack. Knowing when
to shop is half the battle. Choose times when your children will
be feeling their best. Time your shopping to beat the crowds.
With gas prices the way they are, you'll want to map out your
strategy ahead of time. Plan your route and hit all the stores
you need to in an orderly manner and
save
money
at the gas pump as well.
5. Shop Alone When Possible.
Sticking to a budget and dashing in and out of stores is so much
easier when you're by yourself. Plus, you won't have the extra
guilt that comes from kids begging for impulse items that you
have to say no to. Shopping alone may not always be practical,
but do it for as many items as possible. You'll save a lot of
wear and tear not just on your wallet but on your nerves too!
6. Click It. Online shopping has to
be any busy mom's best friend ever! You can find anything you
need online and have it delivered right to your door. That means
no filling up the car with kids and gas, driving all over town,
and ending up back at home with your nerves frazzled and your
credit
card
smoking. You can shop online while at the office or at home when
the kids are napping or have gone to bed for the night or any
other time that's convenient to you, for that matter. Also,
shopping online may save you lots of money, as you can easily
shop around for the
best
deals
and all from the comfort of your favorite PC.
7. Buy Quality. When it comes to
buying things such as
backpacks
and other
school
supplies
that will be used on a daily basis, you'll want to buy the
highest quality you can afford. Remember a bargain isn't a
bargain if an item falls apart in a few weeks and has to be
replaced. So for items that are going to need to withstand a lot
of wear and tear, buy quality. Believe me, you won't regret it.
8. Shop During Tax-Free Weekends.
If your state has a tax-free weekend, be sure to take advantage
of it. This is especially true when you need to purchase large-ticket
items like computers. You'll be amazed at the amount of money
you can save by shopping during this time.
9. Delegate. If you're
time-starved, send Dad to do the back-to-school shopping. After
all, who said shopping has to be just Mom's job? This is a great
way to divide and conquer. You take half of the shopping list
and let him take the other half. Neither of you will feel
overwhelmed by the list of items to be bought, and sharing the
shopping responsibility lessens the burdened too. (Actually,
this would be a great time for you two to make a date to meet
for coffee after the shopping's done and work in a little of
that oh-so-important couple time!)
------------------------------
Pat Brill is co-founder of
http://www.SilkBow.com
which supports Busy Moms with free
gift
ideas and helpful tips to meet
the challenges of motherhood. SilkBow is the perfect place for
the perfect gift. Pat can be reached directly at: pat@SilkBow.com
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