| Every August it is time to buy back to school supplies. | | | | - Buy plastic dividers for binders. |
| You look at the list and wish you did not have to | | | | - Dividers are constantly pulled on as they are turned. |
| spend the money. It seems like every year your child | | | | Tabs can rip off paper dividers. The plastic divider will |
| needs new supplies because last year's are literally | | | | last longer and can be reused next year. (Save the |
| worn out. They are ragged or torn and will not work | | | | inserts) |
| for another year. You probably know the first two | | | | - Buy plastic slash pockets (or a combo divider |
| secrets to save money, but are you doing them and | | | | pocket). Slash pockets allow handouts to be put into |
| do you know the other 3? | | | | binders until they can be hole-punched. Otherwise they |
| Secret #1 | | | | tend to be loose in the backpack and usually get bent |
| Everyone knows secret #1. Buy on Sale. Most back to | | | | or even torn. Save space and money by buying a |
| school items go on sale at the office stores (Staples, | | | | combination of plastic dividers with slash pockets. |
| Office Max, Office Depot), major discount stores | | | | Secret #4 |
| (Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target) as well as drug stores | | | | Buy colors or designs over characters. Characters are |
| (Walgreens, CVS, Rexall, etc.) Watch the sale ads and | | | | cute, but they go out of style quickly. Use them for the |
| compare prices. (Do not waste gas going to 3 or 4 | | | | early grades, but get more realistic as children get |
| stores, choose one or two.) | | | | older, probably middle school and definitely high school. |
| Secret #2 | | | | Secret #5 |
| Do you practice secret #2 - buy in bulk? Most people | | | | Buy for practicality and durability. |
| buy computer paper in bulk, so why not buy lined | | | | - Cheap backpacks will not last more than a year. |
| paper and graph paper in bulk too? Guesstimate how | | | | Textbooks are getting heavier. Save frustration - buy |
| many packages of paper you might use this year and | | | | better quality and it will definitely last all year, maybe |
| buy more while it is on sale. If you over-estimate, it will | | | | 2-3 years. |
| be good for next year. By the way, pens tend to "get | | | | - Binders without locking rings will fall and come apart. |
| lost." Buy a package of 10 instead of 2. | | | | Students will also be frustrated trying to put papers |
| Tip: Keep a tally on your calendar adding more if | | | | back in order. |
| necessary. In January transfer that tally to the new | | | | - Fabric book covers will last longer than paper, and |
| calendar, and you will be more prepared next August. | | | | protect the textbooks so your student is not tempted |
| Secret #3 | | | | to doodle on the covers -- possibly costing you money. |
| Choose plastic over paper. If you haven't noticed it, | | | | - Buy washable markers - permanent markers do not |
| more and more materials are being made with plastic. | | | | come out of clothes (or textbooks). |
| - Buy spiral notepads with plastic covers. The plastic | | | | - Instead of "zipper lock" plastic lunch bags, buy the |
| cover will protect the covers from ripping as they are | | | | cheap plastic containers - in case they do not make it |
| taken in and out of backpacks. | | | | home. |
| - Buy plastic folders. Paper folders easily bend and rip | | | | Help your students make better supply selections this |
| inside backpacks from being taken in and out. Plastic | | | | year, and you will reap the benefits of having supplies |
| folders with pockets will last longer, and can be used | | | | last longer and save you both shopping time and |
| next year. | | | | money. |