1. HAVE A GAME PLAN. I have learned throughout time that having a list or goal will help you keep focused on what you need to buy. I don't know about you but I have this tendency of getting distracted by the pretty items at the store and end up buying things I don't need and lose the hard earned cash specifically meant for something else. So make sure you have a checklist of things to buy. Schools usually give them out during enrollment or registration. Make sure that you have the checklist on hand especially when you go start buying at your local school supplies store or stationary store.
2. REUSE or RECYCLE! You won't need to spend a single penny! You can save up on buying school supplies by recycling or reusing stuff that's already there in your house! Look at your checklist than go ahead and rummage through that huge pile of what looks like junk in your closet, desk drawers, bags, or your kids' room and check the stuff lying around there. Believe me I did that once and I found a stack of unused notebooks shoved somewhere under the study desk, lots and lots of pens that are barely used, or an old but functioning mechanical pencil. Double check all of the ink of your new found ball pen treasure and throw away the ones that are no longer working. Sharpen pencils, clean the pens, or other school supply item that can still be used. You and your children will not only save money but save the planet as well by being a good and responsible consumer!
3. BUY WISELY. What I mean is that before you go out and buy stuff, canvass first the places where you can get the best deals out of the budget that you have. "Knowing is half the battle" as G.I. Joe once said. So get your game plan on the roll by checking out your local bookstores or school supplies' stores and compare prices! Also, some have found a lot of cheap or affordable school supplies such as ballpoint pens, erasers, rulers, or notebooks at bargain shops, stalls, or bazaars. You can probably get a bigger discount if you buy wholesale! There are stores like that and maybe that could work for you!
A word of caution though -- you get what you pay for. Cheaper school supplies may also mean low quality school supply items. So try to balance your budget and get a mix of affordable school supplies that you typically replenish within the year (i.e. pad paper, notebook, etc) with a bit more expensive school supplies (i.e. compass, mechanical pencil). You want to get the best out of your money but at the same time not waste it on stuff that can be broken or become useless even before the end of the school year.
