I don't have kids so I don't need back to school supplies. But my husband's church collects gift boxes for poor children around Christmas. I stock up on fun and cheap things during back to school sales to put in the gift boxes.
Last year I bought a lot of back to school supplies, for my household & also for a teacher friend. But this year has been odd - I just haven't found the time or inclination.
I don't have children and my husband and I are no longer students, so I don't typically shop back to school sales. The only exception is if I happen to need something for our household at this particular time of year (for instance, I run out of paper or need a glue stick). Then I would take advantage of the sales. But otherwise, no.
Don't try to keep up with your rich roommate / dorm-mates. Some college towns are really expensive and the stores near campus will have double or triple the prices compared to stores further away. You might find it's better to bring a semester's worth of detergent, ibuprofen and everything else along with you from home. Make sure you know how to do laundry before leaving home. Otherwise you'll ruin all your clothes. The school bookstore will charge 5-10x as much for school supplies as Target or anywhere else. The student health clinic often has free condoms and really cheap birth control. If you need this service, use it! There is no excuse for not! Don't gain the freshmen 15. If you do, you'll have to buy a new wardrobe.
I definitely shop the back to school sales for school supplies, such as crayons, pencils, notebooks, paper and such. I take advantage of the loss leaders as much as possible for both school and home office.
Yes, I have a "home office" so it's always worth looking at the back-to-school sales. This year, I've bought some decorative labels to help organize stuff at home.
I do shop back to school sales for some household things (no one is actually in school), but I won't go out of my way for them, going to multiple stores or buying to meet dollar back amounts.
Like others here, I have used these sales to buy office supplies. But I also buy these items to donate to social service agencies, since some families can't afford to buy the needed items.
I don't typically shop back to school sales, since I don't have a student in my life. I have, however, taken advantage of a good price on a laptop during a back to school sale once.
Yes! Staples has great deals on notebooks, pens, and other back-to-school supplies for pennies on the dollar. August is the month when I stock up for the entire year.
I discovered this year that I can and should buy back-to-school supplies in bulk during the sale for the entire year--including supplies for home as well as those to be used for classroom donations throughout the year. I mean to use that to our advantage and save up for a back-to-school supplies budget for next year when it comes around again! =) 'Just love these sales!
"This strategy has worked fine for the past twenty years, but it fails badly during severe economic downturns"
Following the economic downturn in the past few years, what do you now think about this?
Personally, I think the key is understanding the availability of credit and reacting accordingly. If you have sufficient credit readily available, then it can have a seriously detrimental impact on your long-term wealth keeping an emergency fund in low interest paying accounts:
I am not in school and have no kids - but I still shop the back to school sales sometimes! It's such a great time to stock up on notebooks and nice pens and the like. I usually purchase my own items like this for work in order to have stuff that is pleasant to use.
Yesterday I received 2 money orders for 980.00. And was instructed to take them to my bank and deposit them for clearance and then go to western union. and do a mystery shopping on sending this to the other person with address provided but before I do to cash the money orders and take out 200.00 for myself and then email them on how the service was and how long it took and how clean was the store and so forth. and it came in a big white business envolepe. looks good and sounded good but they dident want me to hesitate they wanted me to do it right then. and that's where I said something is wrong with this. its a scam, Im going to send it back to them with a letter.
Growing up, my five younger siblings and I would always go back-to-school shopping. I now go back-to-school shopping... for grad school:) I like to follow and utilize moneysavingmom.com's blogs on different sites to find back-to-school items I can get for free. When my husband and I decide to have kids, we will most likely continue the tradition of "back-to-school shopping." I remember back-to-school shopping being an exciting and fun event I was able to share with my family; I hope to encourage the celebration of school starting :)
I don't have kids so I don't need back to school supplies. But my husband's church collects gift boxes for poor children around Christmas. I stock up on fun and cheap things during back to school sales to put in the gift boxes.
Last year I bought a lot of back to school supplies, for my household & also for a teacher friend. But this year has been odd - I just haven't found the time or inclination.
I don't have children and my husband and I are no longer students, so I don't typically shop back to school sales. The only exception is if I happen to need something for our household at this particular time of year (for instance, I run out of paper or need a glue stick). Then I would take advantage of the sales. But otherwise, no.
Don't try to keep up with your rich roommate / dorm-mates. Some college towns are really expensive and the stores near campus will have double or triple the prices compared to stores further away. You might find it's better to bring a semester's worth of detergent, ibuprofen and everything else along with you from home. Make sure you know how to do laundry before leaving home. Otherwise you'll ruin all your clothes. The school bookstore will charge 5-10x as much for school supplies as Target or anywhere else. The student health clinic often has free condoms and really cheap birth control. If you need this service, use it! There is no excuse for not! Don't gain the freshmen 15. If you do, you'll have to buy a new wardrobe.
I definitely shop the back to school sales for school supplies, such as crayons, pencils, notebooks, paper and such. I take advantage of the loss leaders as much as possible for both school and home office.
I recently blogged about this topic here:
http://www.motherfrugal.com/2013/08/06/letting-the-monkeys-back-in/
I usually find backpacks and clothes for much less at garage sales and thrift shops, so I generally don't shop the back to school sales for those.
Yes, I have a "home office" so it's always worth looking at the back-to-school sales. This year, I've bought some decorative labels to help organize stuff at home.
I do shop back to school sales for some household things (no one is actually in school), but I won't go out of my way for them, going to multiple stores or buying to meet dollar back amounts.
Like others here, I have used these sales to buy office supplies. But I also buy these items to donate to social service agencies, since some families can't afford to buy the needed items.
I tried this hear in Texas 100 degree summer temps it killed my grass.
I wait until these sales to buy any office supplies I need for everyday living.
Rub Baby Powder on the oily stain. Then launder.
I don't typically shop back to school sales, since I don't have a student in my life. I have, however, taken advantage of a good price on a laptop during a back to school sale once.
I do try to stock up on supplies this time of year. There have been some good coupons this year too!
Yes! Staples has great deals on notebooks, pens, and other back-to-school supplies for pennies on the dollar. August is the month when I stock up for the entire year.
I discovered this year that I can and should buy back-to-school supplies in bulk during the sale for the entire year--including supplies for home as well as those to be used for classroom donations throughout the year. I mean to use that to our advantage and save up for a back-to-school supplies budget for next year when it comes around again! =) 'Just love these sales!
Of course! This is when you can get pens, writing paper, etc, for dirt cheap!
"This strategy has worked fine for the past twenty years, but it fails badly during severe economic downturns"
Following the economic downturn in the past few years, what do you now think about this?
Personally, I think the key is understanding the availability of credit and reacting accordingly. If you have sufficient credit readily available, then it can have a seriously detrimental impact on your long-term wealth keeping an emergency fund in low interest paying accounts:
http://moneystepper.com/emergency-fund/
Haha. Very funny (and very true) stuff!! Great list.
I am not in school and have no kids - but I still shop the back to school sales sometimes! It's such a great time to stock up on notebooks and nice pens and the like. I usually purchase my own items like this for work in order to have stuff that is pleasant to use.
I stock up on some items my kids use for everyday. Like crayons, markers, and tape but we homeschool so I do not need to buy alot of other items!
Always shop the sales... no matter what I'm buying. Tax free weekend is a great time to shop too, but sometimes I don't have a list together by then.
Yesterday I received 2 money orders for 980.00. And was instructed to take them to my bank and deposit them for clearance and then go to western union. and do a mystery shopping on sending this to the other person with address provided but before I do to cash the money orders and take out 200.00 for myself and then email them on how the service was and how long it took and how clean was the store and so forth. and it came in a big white business envolepe. looks good and sounded good but they dident want me to hesitate they wanted me to do it right then. and that's where I said something is wrong with this. its a scam, Im going to send it back to them with a letter.
I usually buy back to school items just for the house (I'm a sucker for notebooks!) This year I still have plenty left from the last few years though.
Yes, I shop back to school sales and buy school supplies and clothes
Growing up, my five younger siblings and I would always go back-to-school shopping. I now go back-to-school shopping... for grad school:) I like to follow and utilize moneysavingmom.com's blogs on different sites to find back-to-school items I can get for free. When my husband and I decide to have kids, we will most likely continue the tradition of "back-to-school shopping." I remember back-to-school shopping being an exciting and fun event I was able to share with my family; I hope to encourage the celebration of school starting :)