BARBARA NORDBY Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Monday, August 14, 2006 12:00 am
With the price of gas these days, just driving to the store to do your school shopping could drain your budget. Once you get there, there are aisles of tempting, shiny new supplies - pencils without bite marks and crayons with pointy tips - to coax the money from your purse.
The average American family with schoolchildren will spent $527 getting ready for school this year, according to the latest National Retail Federation survey.
It would be hard to avoid back-to-school shopping altogether, because having the right supplies lets students participate fully in class activities. Having some new clothes helps them feel they fit in and marks the beginning of a new school year as an important event.
But there are many ways a family can make the experience less of a financial burden.
University of Wyoming extension educator Milton Green said parents can save money and headache by taking some time to plan ahead for what a child really needs and how much the family can afford to spend.
"One of the biggest pitfalls that I see is for them not to budget, to set out a very rigid budget for each child," Green said.
That helps avoid impulse buys, which are tempting with so much trendy merchandise out there.
"From a merchandising standpoint, a marketing standpoint, back-to-school is a very significant event," Green said.
Like grocery stores do, discount chains offer "loss leaders" of sale goods, and hope you spend more on regular-price items while you're there. Sticking to your list of sale items will save your budget.
Planning ahead helps too.
School supply lists from area schools are available at major retail stores, and a family can pick these up ahead of time and see what they already have on hand at home.
Authors of many websites on frugal living suggest last year's backpack may just need tossing in the washing machine, and last year's notebooks may have plenty of fresh pages. Last year's ruler can still measure and last year's scissors can still cut.
That goes for clothes, too. Last year's wardrobe can be updated with new shoes and a few key pieces or accessories, without a total overhaul.
Frugal parents also recommend knowing when to spend more for quality, like a tough backpack that won't tear, and where to save, like on regular, generic pencils instead of expensive glitter pencils.
Once you know what you'll need, Green said, "It pays to shop around a little bit." Visit different stores and check advertisements before making decisions about the more expensive items.
And finally, don't buy what you can't afford.
Even if items are on sale, "If you're buying back to school supplies on short term credit or credit cards, be careful," Green said. Have a plan for paying off debt, otherwise, "You're paying a huge amount in fees and interest."
It doesn't make sense, he said, to stock your kids up with supplies if you're still paying for them when Christmas rolls around. Buy the minimum of what they need now, and add more throughout the year when your budget allows.
As soon as stores clear out the school supplies, they put out Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations, and it's always more fun to approach the holidays debt-free.
You may qualify for free supplies
The Salvation Army is hosting its annual Stuff for Students drive, which helps low-income families with the expense of shopping for school supplies.
Students from kindergarten to 10th grade can receive a free backpack full of school supplies such as markers, pencils, scissors, crayons, glue, folders, notebooks, paper and binders.
Case worker Erica Gassiot said she would like many more people to apply for the assistance, and that people can apply at the Hope Center, 441 S. Center St., through Friday, Aug. 18. No appointment is necessary. Approval is based on family income, and many people will qualify, Gassiot said.
The Salvation Army will also contact area schools so if students come to school unprepared, they'll know where to come for more supplies.
For more information, call 234-2002.
Collection bins were set up at area stores this weekend so shoppers could donate supplies or money. If you missed the chance and would like to donate, stop by the Salvation Army Hope Center at 441 S. Center St. in downtown Casper. Everything but backpacks, which have already been donated, is needed.
Students will receive their backpacks full of supplies at a free barbecue Aug. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army church, 625 S. Jefferson St.
Reach Barbara Nordby at (307) 266-0633 or at barbara.nordby@casperstartribune.net.