News
BACK TO SCHOOL : BUDGETING FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Saturday, August 15, 2009 10:18 PM CDT
Special to The Commercial
LITTLE ROCK — It’s the annual end-of-summer ritual: parents and children, lists in hand, perusing office supply and other retail outlets to purchase what’s needed for going back to school.
“For parents foreseeing the dollars flying out of their wallets as fast as the supplies are filling the shopping cart, there is hope,” said Laura Connerly, an extension family resource management instructor with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Connerly offers these tips to save money at back-to-school time:
Look for sales. Sale flyers are abundant. Make a list of the supplies you need. Use the flyers to compare prices at different stores.
Use coupons. Check the Sunday newspaper for coupons. You can also sometimes find coupons online.
Compare brands. Store brand items are usually less expensive than name brand products. Store brand pencils, paper, school glue, and crayons usually serve just as well as the name brand items.
Consider store options. Dollar stores often have low prices on school supplies. Specialty stores may charge more. Think about the stores available in your area and consider where you will get the best prices. Second-hand stores may have backpacks and school clothes.
Find assistance if you need it. Some schools or local community groups provide school supplies for families in financial need. If you qualify, and if you need assistance, check with schools and community service agencies in your local area to find out if they provide school supplies.
For more tips on managing household expenses and other resources, contact your county extension office, or visit www.uaex.edu.
Print this story | Email this story
|
