Ad
GreatSchools: Involved Parents. Successful Kids

Print article | Back to article

Ten tips for smart back-to-school shopping

Page 3 of 3
By GreatSchools Staff
 

Help your school while you shop.

If your school participates in a program like eScrip or OneCause, you can shop for supplies from a participating merchant who donates a percentage to your school.

Plan now for next year.

Some schools send a back-to-school list home with kids on the last day of school so that parents can shop for the best bargains. If your school doesn't do this, get together with other parents or your parent organization and talk to administrators about how you can help your school put together a list earlier next year.

At some schools, parent organizations negotiate with a supplier and buy supplies for the whole school at a discount. They often add a small extra charge that goes to support the parent group.

Susan Furr, a parent at the University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Lousiana, says her school parent group has purchased supplies this way for a number of years and virtually all of the families participate.

Here's how it works: The teachers deliver their lists to the school office, which delivers it to the parent group. The group negotiates a price for each grade with the vendor and adds $5, which goes back to the parent organization. The supplies are delivered directly to individual teachers, so there's no shopping hassle for parents.

"People are always saying, 'Don't you need help?' I feel guilty. It's really easy," notes Furr.

 
Page 123Single Page
Facebook  I'm reading: Ten tips for smart back-to-school shoppingTweet this!    Digg 
 

comment Post a comment on this article


Yes, I agree to the GreatSchools Terms of Use and give GreatSchools permission to post my comments for other parents to read.

Note: Your email address is required if you would like a response from GreatSchools.org.

Comments from GreatSchools.org readers

12/17/2009:
"Cool site."
10/2/2009:
"Excellent article. Definitely going to start shopping earlier in the summer to watch out for deals. I sent my kids to the Sears Arrive Lounge Site to pick out clothes and help make shopping easier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMZ87jYhiGk"
08/18/2009:
"Great article! We're going to share with our clients."
08/4/2009:
"this time we are reusing many of the items from last year since they are in good contion and still have open space to be use. We just have to buy some minor items. The school district also had a back to school rally where the gave lots of the supplies she will need to use in class. "
08/25/2008:
"The school supply shelf is a really great tip! Recently my mom got out my younger brother's list (7th grade) and was going to go shopping for him. However, she had all of last year's supplies in a drawer, and she spen $0 on his supplies. It is a great time and money saver."
08/14/2008:
"My son struggles with organizational skills, and using a planner is impossible. It's lost, incomplete, in his locker, etc. It's just not very helpful. Does anyone have any practical suggestions?"
08/11/2008:
"When I worked at an elementary school in north Louisiana, I suggested that the teachers simply request the school fees plus a bit more to cover supplies. For example, parents paid $60 at the beginning of the year, and that covered any and all school supplies as well as workbook fees, Time for Kids magazines, and their recorders for Music class. Then the teachers did all the shopping! As a teacher, I might need more folders this year but have a surplus of something else. (I know I had more glue and Kleenex once year than I knew what to do with!) The teacher could use the money then to purchase as needed crayons, uniform-color and size folders, generic pencils, loose leaf, or whatever was a need for his or her classroom. This alleviated the distraction of students losing or damaging supplies that belonged to another, too. If the crayons needed replacing, the parents weren't asked to send more. The teacher just budgeted to cover any costs that arose during the year. The parents! were very excited to let us do the shopping for them...no making trips all over town and listening to the children whining about needing every item in the store! I can only imagine the ordeal if I had to take more than one child shopping for school supplies! It worked for us. Why not suggest this strategy at your school? "
07/29/2008:
"These tips are great to read . . . and recap. It's good to also sit and show these to my 4th grader who loves to be involved in her school. Thank you!"
01/28/2008:
"my daughter started school in a new country. they only gave us the list by e-mail late on saturday night. we only had sunday to by evrything and we wern't able to get evrything in the amount of time. if your child has got into a new school in a different country i think as soon as you know if they have got in ask for the list immediatley. it saves that last minue rush for things! "
01/25/2008:
"Staples sometimes has sales on different supplies: highlighters, pens, pencils, notebooks, and binders! If you ever have a chance to stop by your local Staples pick up what is on sale and keep it in a designated area, like the school supply shelf. Chances are, next year you will have most of your supplies!"
01/22/2008:
"Here are some general tips for school supplies- Must have supplies are: pens pencils looseleaf highlighters calculator pencil case 1 notebook per class a binder w/ dividers or a folder for every class graph paper or graph paper notebook for math"
08/22/2007:
"This is way too confusing the stuff you need is here: Book Bag/ Backpack Planner/Agenda (if your school doesn't provide ask them) 3 ring binder 1/2' minimum Subject Dividers (at least 3) Standard Notebook Paper ( 3 holed; no spiral tear-outs) Pencils and Pens (blue, black, and red ink must have available in class everyday.) Zippered Pen/Pencil Pouch that can fit into backpack Ruler (optional) Colored Pencils (optional) No markers or white-out (depends on grade and school) This List is for 6-8 grade ^_^"
08/19/2007:
"It also helps to shop different stores of the same chain. I live in St. Louis and if I drive an additional 10 minutes to a different Wal-Mart or Target the savings can be substantial. I purchased notebook paper at $.10 versus $.30. It may not sound like much. But I bought 2 cases of 20 packs. Also once school has begun many stores seek to get rid of the excess school supplies and they may go even cheaper. It is a good time to get extra to cover the broken crayons and the supplies teachers say they need come January. "
08/6/2007:
"I used this concept with my son when we first moved to the area at Meadeowview Elementary in Bossier City, LA and it works great. No hassel and congestion of shopping. Kudos to PTO. Great job and we appreicate you all."
AD
tracker Rocket Fuel