In this strange year, everything is especially expensive and difficult due to the pandemic and new rules. We share tips for saving.
Make a basic wardrobe.
Things that go together like building blocks can save you time and money. Write a list of clothes for the student and stick to one style – so that almost any “top” and “bottom” can be worn together. Buy packs of tights, packs of socks, and other little things for the whole year right away.
Firstly, it will be more convenient for you to pick your child for lessons and sections: you can just put on anything from the closet. Secondly, it makes washing easier. You don’t have to fuss in the middle of the week and urgently wash your shirt because there is nothing to put on trousers without it.
Read also: 8 Financial Lessons Learned from Coronavirus Pandemic.
Thirdly, you will not need to buy anything during the year while clinging to “that cute blouse” and a million other unnecessary things that caught the eye of the child.
Conduct an inventory
Take stock of your stock before buying anything. There is a high probability that you will find unopened boxes of pencils, forgotten plasticine, blank notebooks, or a full pencil case that the child considered lost. So you can immediately cross it all off the shopping list and not type unnecessary items in the store.
The same goes for clothing. Ask your child to measure the cabinet’s contents and evaluate what can be left and what will need to be replaced. The variety of clothes available can give the illusion that you don’t need to buy anything, but in fact, things may be small or worn out.
Wait for the start of the school year.
Don’t rush shopping before discounts arrive. They usually start after September 1st. Of course, if you see a sale with the right thing in August, don’t miss the chance. It makes sense to buy in advance what you need on the first day of school, such as clothing for the ruler.
The rest can wait. Even textbooks – usually at the start, children are engaged in repetition or introductory lessons. Also, much of the list of books and items that schools give out at the end of the summer becomes irrelevant or changes by the beginning of the school year.
Go to the wholesale depot.
This is especially beneficial if you have several schoolchildren in your family, and the number of stationery you need tends to infinity. But even when the child is alone, you can cooperate with other parents and buy in bulk.
It makes no sense to go to the base for a couple of notebooks, but some retail outlets allow small wholesale – purchases from several pieces. Typically, prices for these options are lower than in-office supply stores, but you may have to spend more time traveling: wholesale centers are rarely located in the city center.
Think about what might not be new
Some things you need to buy every year – clothes, shoes, backpacks. They wear out, or the child grows out of them. But the first musical instrument or furniture for a nursery can easily be bought from hands.
At the same time, introduce the student to the idea of smart consumption. It is unlikely that the child will be impressed that he helps to save the family budget. But he will surely be pleased to know that by using second-hand things, he helps conserve the planet’s resources.
Order things online
Usually, schoolchildren like to choose their own clothes and office supplies. But in a store, it can be difficult to explain to a child that he likes is too expensive or unnecessary.
This problem can be solved by shopping together online. You can immediately set up cost filters and show items from an adequate price category. Another way is to add the options you have approved to the cart and choose from them. Download marketplace applications to your phone. They have additional discounts that are not available on the site.
See what the hypermarkets have.
Stationery and other school supplies can be bought in supermarkets. There are huge collapses, and prices are usually low, especially if it’s a store brand. Also, this way, you can purchase everything gradually, for example, during grocery shopping.
Also read: 12 Superstitions for Raising Money That Can Work
This is convenient if the family does not have a car, and it is problematic to buy everything in one go. Be on the lookout for themed markets or fairs that appear specifically for September 1st and then stop working. They usually overcharge there.
Save on flowers
When each student in the class brings a bouquet to the teacher, it turns into unnecessary expenses for the parents, and the teacher is drowning in flowers. If you want to congratulate the class teacher on Knowledge Day, buy one bouquet from everyone or a flower in a pot that will not wither in a couple of days.
Many modern teachers say that even this is not necessary and it is better to buy something useful for the class. You can also take part in the action “ Children instead of flowers ” – at least, this way money will be useful, and schoolchildren will have the opportunity to do something good.
Adapted and translated by Wiki Avenue Staff
Sources: Life hacker
