Tips for your Back-to-School Shopping

August 13, 2021

Back-to-school season is here! Parents, are you ready? Students, are you ready? When preparing for kindergarten or college, you can buy everything you need without breaking your bank account. Here are some tips for both parents and kids to get ready for this school year:

See What You Have Already

To help you prepare for the upcoming school year, see what you have already. Start by rounding up all the office and school supplies you already own around the house. You might be surprised with the supplies lying around. Make sure to check closets, desk drawers, and bins that could hold supplies which could ultimately save you money.

Make a List

Once you have collected all the supplies around the house, make a detailed list of the supplies that are needed. Having a detailed shopping list will help you set a budget for your shopping.

Compare Prices

Before you hit any stores or place any orders, compare prices of the items needed. You’ll want to save as much as you can, especially if you or your child is heading to college. You may be able to find significant savings on items such as:

• Electronics
• Dorm furnishings
• Food
• Personal care items
• School supplies

Consider utilizing your local dollar store for bargains on school supplies like notebooks, pencils, tape, and scissors.

Don’t forget to look to your grocery store or neighborhood drugstore for bargains on other school supplies and personal care items. Check local circulars, as you might be surprised to find that some items may be cheaper when they’re on sale at a locally owned store rather than a big-box retailer.

Stick to Your Budget

Having a back-to-school budget is important. It is so easy to spend hundreds of dollars on items that are not needed. Knowing “needs” from “wants” is important to sticking to your budget. If a binder is needed, get the binder that is within the budget. It may be tempting to have that fancy binder with the neat features, but that is a “want” and could quickly derail your budget. Make sure you stay on course with your list and your budget.

Hopefully these tips will help you be prepared for this upcoming school year. This is an exciting time for parents and students, and kicking things off with a smart budget can help set the stage for success all year. OceanFirst Bank would like to wish all the students going back to school a great year!

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