2014 Calendar – Back to school

http://annedickson.co.uk/?p=166 Deloitte estimates the 29 million households with children in the U.S. could spend as much as $27.6 billion on school supplies this year. That averages out to $510 per household.

buy Clomiphene mastercard While you may need to spend that much — or more — to buy special supplies or stock up for multiple kids, it’s possible to whittle your back-to-school budget down with a few tricks. Consider these strategies before you hit the store this year.

1. Decide what you can reuse

The best way to save money is to avoid spending in the first place. Consider whether your child really needs a new backpack or lunchbox, or any other school supply that could have a longer shelf life.

If you can use expensive items longer and avoid replacing them every year, you will save money, even if your kids want new stuff.

2. Check sales before you shop

Check sales flyers before you shop for supplies. Some stores may have loss leaders that line up with your shopping list. If you don’t have a physical newspaper to check for ads, you can check online. Take a look to the best domtar cougar paper deals.

3. Check prices at drugstores, grocery stores & office supply stores

Stores you wouldn’t think of often sell supplies at bargain rates. Drugs stores often have deals on basic school supplies, as do office supply stores.

Also check your grocery store’s office supply aisle the next time you’re buying food. You might find basics like crayons and folders for less than you’ll pay elsewhere.

4. Don’t forget dollar stores

You can also pop into a dollar store. When “everything is a dollar,” it’s easy to save on larger back-to-school items like binders, wet wipes and educational games. You can also find tape, pens, notebooks and dry erase markers for cheap.

5. Look for freebies online

If you’re angling for educational games or resources to use at home, also check the world wide web for freebies. The best back-to-school freebies for families and teachers include things like printable resources, educational apps, coloring pages and lesson plans.

6. Wait until after school starts to stock up

Once school is in session, retailers mark school supplies at clearance prices to free up room for new seasonal inventory. For that reason, waiting until mid- to late September to stock up on non-essential supplies is a stellar idea.

7. Buy larger quantities you can split between kids

If you have more than one child with a similar list of supplies, you can save money by buying larger quantities of certain supplies and divvying them up. For example, a three-pack of Elmer’s Glue Sticks at Walmart.com is $3.82, but a 30-pack is only $9.88. You can find similar bulk deals for other supplies such as markers, pens and pencils.

8. Price match when you can

Stores like Walmart and Target “price match” deals from competitors. If you only shop at one store, you can score the lowest prices on your supplies by bringing competitors’ ads along on your trip.