| Millions of parents are flocking to local stores to buy | | | | Things like IPODs and CD players will have a lower |
| school supplies. This annual ritual is much different than | | | | price after the big rush is over. Don't let the back to |
| it has been in the past. The rising cost of gas, food and | | | | school pressure force you to make a purchase that |
| school supplies is digging deeper into the family budget. | | | | puts you into bigger debt. When you finally decide to |
| What should a parent do to make ends meet? It | | | | make an electronics purchase look for rebates and |
| appears that parents will have to research longer | | | | discounts on products. Some discounts are immediate |
| hours to find the same discounts on clothes and school | | | | while others must be mailed to the corporate |
| supplies that they were able to find last year. | | | | headquarters. |
| To take advantage of the discounts parents are | | | | Some parents get wrapped up into the back to school |
| learning to work together. Some parents are sending | | | | rush. The whole idea of having the children out of the |
| friend to one store while they visit another store. | | | | house is a reward for a crazy summer. Don't allow |
| Parents are going were the prices are cheaper. | | | | your rush to buy school supplies to put you further into |
| Although back to school shopping is an annual activity | | | | debt. Pulling out the credit card can add 24 percent to |
| parents also fail to take an inventory of everything that | | | | your purchase. Do your best to pay for everything in |
| they already have. This is especially true when a | | | | cash. In fact it might be a good idea to create a bank |
| parent waits until the last minute to do back to school | | | | account where you put money away for back to |
| shopping. A parent can save hundreds of dollars just | | | | school purchases you will make next year. |
| by checking the places in their home where school | | | | Just because there are crowds of people at a |
| supplies were stored last year. | | | | particular store does not mean that it is offering the |
| Parent's can get trapped by the discount sign in the | | | | best discount. It may be an indication that they are |
| store window. The sale sign is nice and big to attract | | | | great advertisers. When making purchases it is best to |
| customers into the store. One store might offer three | | | | go slow. Talk to your friends who are making |
| packs of pens for $3.00. Another store might offer | | | | purchases they may help you to identify the best |
| five packs of pens for $3.00. If you go to the same | | | | places to shop. Parents you can get your students |
| store every year it still may pay to compare prices to | | | | back to school and avoid breaking your bank account |
| get the best buy. | | | | if you make wise purchases. Parents can make every |
| The start of school is not the best time to get | | | | discount count by remembering to start back to school |
| electronic gifts like computers. It may be better to wait | | | | shopping early. |
| a few weeks after your student has started school. | | | | |