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(HealthNewsDigest.com)-Money-wise shopping is “in” this year for parents who want to stretch their back-to-school budget as far as possible.
Parenting expert Stacy DeBroff offers the following tips for both students and parents who want to get the most out of each dollar they spend on school supplies:
• Check for weekly deals: Check newspaper ads and store circulars to take advantage of weekly discount specials such as pencils, notebooks and filler paper.
• Needs vs. wants: Selecting school supplies lends itself to teaching children about money, budgeting and needs vs. wants. Make a list of your child’s required supplies, prioritizing the list with necessities first. Once those items are taken care of, let your child use any money left over for discretionary spending on such popular items as Omnitech Laptop Skins and Staples Calculator Skins that add personality to essential school supplies.
• Buy in bulk: Stock up for an entire year or go buddy shopping with friends to split the cost of school supplies. A 28-pack of pencils may cost more up front, but you’ll have extras when your child inevitably runs out.
• Think long-term investment: Investing with a long-term attitude in higher-quality basic supplies, such as the Staples Better Binder, means not replacing them as often.
• Get tech savvy: Flash drives, graphing calculators and even laptops are a common need for many students. Purchasing these items does not need to be a major setback for parents, though. Think of them as long-term investments, since they should carry students through several years of school. Remember to teach your children the importance of taking good care of these things and keeping them safely locked up at school.
• Let youngsters learn the value of money by helping others: In addition to offering values on school supplies, Staples is teaming up with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ciara and DoSomething.org to encourage teens to make a difference this summer by collecting school supplies and dropping them off at their nearest Staples store now through September 19.
“The feedback during our inaugural school supply drive in 2008 was inspiring,” said Demos Parneros, president of U.S. Stores at Staples. “With help from celebrities like Ciara, we will continue to raise awareness for underserved youth who need the basic supplies to succeed in school.”
To get involved or to check out a list of the most-needed school supplies that can help make a difference, visit www.dosomething101.org.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ciara is teaming up with DoSomething.org and Staples to encourage teens to help other teens in need of school supplies.
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