Saving Money on Your Kid's Back-to-School Shopping is as Easy as Learning the ABCs

With summer ending and fall nearly in full swing, it's time for kids to gear up for another school year. As students know, this means new backpacks, pencils, and notebooks. As parent know, this means a back-to-school shopping list that can be anything but budget-friendly. Read on for easy, money-saving tips that ensure your little student starts the school year off right, without breaking the bank. 
 

An estimated 56 million students will be enrolled in elementary, junior high and high schools across the nation this fall. While retailers eagerly embrace the back-to-school season, many parents cringe as the costs add up for school supplies, sporting equipment, electronics, and new clothes.

Today's tough economy makes it challenging to invest in our children's education and future, and purchasing school supplies can be especially expensive. Stretch your family's back-to-school budget with these smart saving tips:

Assess Wants vs. Needs

Before you leave the house, make a list of items you'll need and be realistic about prioritizing needs and wants. Do a complete inventory of what supplies you already have at home. Sure, it's fun to buy all new, but if you just bought a new set of markers or a package of folders last spring, you can probably hold off a few months before restocking.

Remember, too, that prime shopping season is before school starts. Delaying non-essential purchases on items such as clothing until after school is in session (such as during or after the Labor Day holiday, when items are marked down) can net big savings.

Budget, Budget, Budget

Once your prioritized list is complete, determine what you can afford to spend on each category - school supplies, electronics, clothing and other. Use free online budgeting tools to help you stick to that budget. Comparison shop, check out online deals and watch store circulars for sales. Subscribe to receive emails, text or Twitter alerts from your favorite stores for special sales. Some stores even reward shoppers who "check-in" through social sites with more discounts.

In addition, some states also offer a tax-free holiday for back-to-school shopping. Buying in bulk can save money, too. Look for multi-packs of items like scissors, pencils and markers.

Don't forget that the annual back-to-school shopping excursion can be a great money management learning exercise for older kids. Share your budget with them, and help them make selections to keep your checkbook on target.