Every new school term parents prepare their children for going back to school. Getting ready for back to school is a period of the year where the pressure is on the parents more than the children. Children are off enjoying the holiday break , and they’re not oriented on worrying about school supplies in the middle of it all. 

Preparing for going back to school means parents really do need to start preparing ahead of time. Waiting until the week before school to buy supplies, schoolbags, and shop for uniforms in a rush can be a bad idea and only adds to the stress and costs. Taking the time to prepare means the back-to-school money crunch is something other parents have to deal with and not you. Here are some ideas to helping the back-to-school budget.

When you receive the list of your child school needs, reject the need to scramble to the stores. There are plenty of supplies to go around but carry your list in your purse at all times, and shop over a period of time, keeping an eye out for sales. Sales is always a good  starting point for kids back to school items.  Aim to shop without the children to reduce any situation of over spending and going over your budget. 

Avoid buying items with the latest cartoon character on it. While your child may love the current characters from the Disney cartoons, in a couple of months that same character will fall from favour, replaced by another. The adorn lunchbox and schoolbag so loved at the beginning of the year will end up being items the child doesn’t like any more. 

For children that take lunch from home, parents should buy the best lunch boxes that will help keep food warm/cool and safe for consumption. Most schools do not have microwave or  refrigerators for student use. Avoid using zip-lock baggies and choose some reusable plastic containers with leak-proof seals and soft-side. A thermos is a nice idea for hot meals during cold winter months. Keep in mind children love fast, easy food.

Choose rugged, well made and durable schoolbags . Children’s schoolbags go through some rough treatment, and the “cool” bags often end up with rips and tears midway through the school year. Backpacks are better choice, and can get quality bags from the camping section of a store. The zippers and pockets on these backpacks are useful for children. 

Shop for uniforms/clothing through out the year to have more than enough stock. You hardly get school uniforms on sale so when you see this grab, if in your child’s size or projected size. Buying a size up can be of help on sudden growth sprout days. Try to avoid the “in” thing, however, being “in” is important to teens and peer acceptance. For this reason, allow your child/teen to select one or two pieces of clothing that are hot fashion as a bit of a compromise.

Almost every high street in UK has a pound store where everything is sold for one pound or less. some of these stores can be hit or miss but can be useful for simple stationary. In some cases items can work out more expensive in one pound store when compared to sale in regular retailers. However, pound stores can be very useful for back to school items if not they will not be on the high street.

There are other plenty tips to help with the transition of back to school, but beginning with these thrifty ideas is a start.