Got my daughter's school supply list for first-grade today. You can see it below. Not too bad, I'm sure there will be more once she gets her teacher assignment. I know you're thinking, don't talk about back to school before school is out for summer.
Don't turn away just yet - remember I always say the key to being frugal and saving money is planning ahead. Think ahead. Look past the pool, the beach and the summer fun to August, when the kids head back to class.
If you get your child's list before the end of the school year you have 2 months to work on it instead of the few weeks before school.
(Go here to see how that works.)
GO HERE TO LOOK FOR YOUR STATE'S RULES AND PARTICIPATION.
TIPS --
Shop first at your home. Look for supplies that will meet the need. Designate an area for school supplies in your house and start adding to it.
Use coupons on the tissue, paper goods, Expo markers, soaps, Germ-X, etc.
End of the year clearance -- check clearance aisle for discounts on lunch boxes, back packs, folders, binders etc. There's a period in May to the first of June where stores purge old supplies. Watch your store's clearance aisles for those discounts.
HERE'S MY DAUGHTER'S LIST -- I PLAN TO SPEND LESS THAN $5 ON ALL OF THIS. It can be done. I'll post a round up of how I'm doing to let you know.
(Things I already have are in bold)
3 laminated pocket folders (no prongs and no side pockets) (Paid 1 cent each Walmart clearance 2 years ago. I bought 40)
1 small plastic school box (Bought extra last year at Walgreens paid 25 cents)
2 packs of plain #2 pencils (sharpened) and 2 large pink erasers
2 boxes of 24 count Crayola crayons (no colored pencils) and
1 box of washable Crayola thick classic markers
1 set of
headphones for use in computer lab (My mother bought her an extra set)
1 bottle Elmer's school glue(4 oz.) and 1 glue stick
1 blunt 5 inch
Fiskar scissors (Bought these at Target's BTS clearance sale for 29 cents for a pack of 2)
2 boxes of tissues (Stockpile sale from Publix)
1 bottle of (antibacterial gel)
1 ruled spiral-bound notebook
1 pack of Expo dry erase markers (My mother bought these last year as an extra set, I saved them instead of turning them in to the teacher. I had already purchased 2 packs)
1 roll of paper towels (girls only)
1 box of quart or gallon sized baggies (boys only)
1 pack of copy paper (white paper – girls) (colored paper – boys) (Got the white paper free after Staples rewards)
SO DO YOU SHOP OVER THE SUMMER OR ALL YEAR LONG? HOW DO YOU SPEND LESS WHEN IT COMES TO BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES....