Back to School craze? No sweat!
2013-May-22 14:06
2025-Jan-01 22:25
Summer is just about to wave goodbye and classes are about to ring the bell. And there you are, stressing over how to make your budget fit for all the school supplies you will need. That is why it's never too late to make a checklist.
1. Make a checklist
Before anything else, you should jot down the things that you will need. Aside from the list of school supplies that teachers will provide before classes start, it's best to be able to avail of them before school starts so that you can start shopping early. Shopping early means avoiding the hassles of traffic with other shoppers and getting away from the price increase in the market. These are some of the basic supplies:
Before anything else, you should jot down the things that you will need. Aside from the list of school supplies that teachers will provide before classes start, it's best to be able to avail of them before school starts so that you can start shopping early. Shopping early means avoiding the hassles of traffic with other shoppers and getting away from the price increase in the market. These are some of the basic supplies:
- notebook
- writing pad
- pencils
- pens
- crayons
- folders
- envelopes
- bag
- uniform
- writing pad
- pencils
- pens
- crayons
- folders
- envelopes
- bag
- uniform
2. House Search
Before you take your shopping bag and head for the door, check all over your house first and see what you still have and what you don't. Check if you still have supplies like adhesive tape, staples, fasteners, paper clips, etc. because if you don't, you may want to add them to your shopping list. So, if you still have supplies in stock, put a check on your list.
Before you take your shopping bag and head for the door, check all over your house first and see what you still have and what you don't. Check if you still have supplies like adhesive tape, staples, fasteners, paper clips, etc. because if you don't, you may want to add them to your shopping list. So, if you still have supplies in stock, put a check on your list.
3. Reuse Old Notebooks
Now, if you have spiral notebooks that you think were hardly use last school year, you can take out the pages by "unbinding" them from the bunch and making your own notebook. A good thing about making your own notebook is that you not only get to save money but you also get to customize it the way you like.
Now, if you have spiral notebooks that you think were hardly use last school year, you can take out the pages by "unbinding" them from the bunch and making your own notebook. A good thing about making your own notebook is that you not only get to save money but you also get to customize it the way you like.
4. Do-It-Yourself Bags and Pencil Cases
Aside from notebooks, you can also create your own bag and pencil cases out of old clothes. There are a lot of tutorials available on books or the internet on making your own bag out of your old jeans or jacket. Again, you save money and you have fun designing. All it takes is creativity and some sewing skills and supplies and ta-da! your very own school bag. An important note on these DIY bags is that you must make sure that the stitches and the fabric are durable to ensure that it won't break with heavy books in it.
Aside from notebooks, you can also create your own bag and pencil cases out of old clothes. There are a lot of tutorials available on books or the internet on making your own bag out of your old jeans or jacket. Again, you save money and you have fun designing. All it takes is creativity and some sewing skills and supplies and ta-da! your very own school bag. An important note on these DIY bags is that you must make sure that the stitches and the fabric are durable to ensure that it won't break with heavy books in it.
5. Scratch Papers
Last school year may have been a mess with a lot of papers all over your room but do Mother Earth a little favor by having them stick around for another year. These papers may still have room enough for your doodles and other writings that don't really require a clean sheet of paper.
Last school year may have been a mess with a lot of papers all over your room but do Mother Earth a little favor by having them stick around for another year. These papers may still have room enough for your doodles and other writings that don't really require a clean sheet of paper.
6. Shopping Time
Time for the event some are waiting for while some are dreading for. Before you leave your house, don't forget your list, which by now, should also include some estimated prices so that you know how much money you will need to bring with you. It's always best to estimate a little more than the exact price so that you don't fall short in budget. This list will be your priority list which means that you are setting aside your wants to settle your needs.
Time for the event some are waiting for while some are dreading for. Before you leave your house, don't forget your list, which by now, should also include some estimated prices so that you know how much money you will need to bring with you. It's always best to estimate a little more than the exact price so that you don't fall short in budget. This list will be your priority list which means that you are setting aside your wants to settle your needs.
If you're buying school supplies for someone else, it's best to consider taking them with you so that they can choose what they like. Some kids like to have notebooks or pencil cases with a design of their favorite cartoons on it. You will also have to make sure that the uniforms you buy are comfortable for them. Still, they should be advised that you are under a budget so you can set limits on the price tags you'll be looking at.
However, just because you're on a budget doesn't mean that you should go all out cheap. You don't have to compromise the quality of things to save money because sometimes, in the end, you spend a lot more replacing damaged materials. You may also want to consider that you could be spending money for hospital bills if you buy supplies that are harmful to children. Studies have shown that some school supplies may contain lead, a chemical that poses danger to kids. Thus, choose your shopping destination carefully and always check if these supplies are toxic-free.
A brand new school year is a season of opportunities and one opportunity before it starts is that of discovering that you can take responsibilities. Reduce your expenses, Reuse old objects and Recycle them into new and useful ones. Who knows, you may have a knack for being creative and resourceful.