Heart of the Matter

Here it is again…Back-to-School time! As usual, teachers and students alike begin thinking of the new school year. Parents make trips to the store to purchase the items on school supply lists. Teachers begin thinking about ways to give their classrooms a welcoming appearance. Students begin thinking about things like new clothes, and backpacks, lunch boxes and shoes. And retailers…well, they just want to sell it all to us!

Even though my husband is a public school teacher, we have decided to school our children at home during their formative years. We are a homeschool family, and while we are not obligated to purchase items from a school supply list, we still must make preparations for the school year. What better time to purchase supplies than during the “Back-to-School” discount days when many items are cheaper than at any other time during the year?

Here are a few things to consider when making Back-to-School purchases:

Clean House!

Have your children sort the school materials that they already have. Our children have a big drawer that is home for their school supplies. Over the course of the school year, the drawer becomes a jumbled neverland of crayons, bits of paper, broken pencils, dried out glue sticks, paintbrushes, and mix-matched markers. Have the children make a “Fling Box” and a “Keepsies Box.” Everything that is obviously garbage goes into the throw-away category, and can be tossed into the Fling Box. The Keepsies Box is exactly what it sounds like…a receptacle for things that should be kept for use again. Keeping the choices simple…“keep” or “throw away”…makes it easy for kids and speeds up the initial process of cleaning up. Make a rule of thumb that no new supplies are purchased until there is a clean and organized place for them to live.

Inventory What Is Useable

The next course of action will be to see what exactly can be used again. Not everything in the “Keepsies” box will actually be useable. Take the lids off the markers and test them out. Some of them will be dried out, and some will be getting tired. Glue sticks may be used up or dried hard. Paint bottles may be almost empty, and paintbrushes may have ruined bristles. It may be helpful to make a list of things that are still good enough for use. Reorganize that cluttered mess by putting like items together in containers. Often the old cardboard boxes that these items came in are long gone or they have been tossed during the “Clean House” phase.

Make a List of Needed Items

The next step in the school preparation process is to make a LIST of items that you will need for the new school year. This is an important step! Going shopping without a list is a great way to spend more money that you really intend to spend. It’s easy to fall victim to clever marketing on the part of retailers. Plus, by planning ahead and making your list ahead of time at home, you will be less likely to forget something when you are in the store surrounded by a busy throng of shoppers.

Also, things change from year to year with a family that schools at home. The supplies that worked one year, may not really be suitable for the next grade level.

Look for Great Deals

While you are out shopping, keep your eyes open for discounts that will truly be worth your while to take advantage of. Many times, retail stores offer school supplies at a significant discount during back-to-school sales, and then mark them back up 3 to 4 times during the rest of the year. A box of markers may be $1.00 during back-to-school days, but as much as $3.00 during the winter months. The same goes for many other items.

Last year, I found 70-page spiral bound notebooks for a nickel a piece! At 5 cents, I decided to buy 40, because I knew that I might not run across such a great deal again. And, even buying 40 at one time…I still only spent $2.00! We have used these notebooks for all kinds of things, not just school work. I keep a few extra for the girls to take notes during church services. I put one on a key-ring with a metal snap clip and took it to the ballfield to keep records during T-ball season. I gave one to my middle daughter to draw pictures in. The possibilities are endless, and I still have a bunch on hand.

Also, in our state of Tennessee, we often have a “tax-free” school supply weekend in August. On this weekend, shoppers are not required to pay sales tax on certain items. While shopping may be more crowded during this time, you may be able to save as much as an extra 10%.

Be Aware of Marketing Tactics

Just because some items are bargain priced, doesn’t mean that ALL things are on sale! Be aware of retailers’ tactics to try to get you to spend as much money as they possibly can. Shop with your list, and only take advantage of deals that are really great bargains. Take a calculator with you if necessary to determine whether or not that advertized special is really a great buy. Personally, I try to limit my spending during back-to-school days to actual school supplies. I try to make purchases of clothing, jewelry, shoes, etc. at other times of the year, like during end-of season clearance sales, because I think the deals are better on these items then.

Back-to-School Supply Shopping is a Great Tradition

My daughters love going shopping during back-to-school days. They look forward to being able to pick new colors of scissors, pencil sharpeners, etc. They enjoy purchasing things to make the new school year fun. This ritual builds excitement and anticipation for the new grade level, and provides them with an opportunity to feel like they are not missing out on the things that their peers who are enrolled in public school get to do. And, it instills responsibility in them to know that the supplies they purchase have to last all year!

It’s a great family activity that kids will look forward to, and it will kick off the year with a great start!

Visit Elizabeth Davis at Life Worth the Living, where she is living life and loving it!  You can also check out her husband’s Bible website The Bible Lamp Stand.