| Back to school supply shopping can be a stressful | | | | Your second category should include clothing items |
| time, however, if you plan ahead and come up with a | | | | such as jeans, tops, sneakers, gym clothes, |
| game plan, you can lessen the stress for the entire | | | | underclothing, shoes and coats. |
| family. | | | | 3. Set a budget. Let each child know before hand how |
| Here are some tips that worked well for my family | | | | much money you are budgeting for back to school |
| over the years. | | | | supplies. It is important to teach children to stay within a |
| 1. If you have more than one child, consider taking each | | | | budget. Hand the child some sales flyers from local |
| child shopping on a different day. This will allow you to | | | | stores and have them make a list of items that they |
| spend one on one quality time with each individual child. | | | | are interested in. Take a calculator with you during |
| Make a day of it by planning some shopping time and | | | | your shopping trip and allow your child to keep track of |
| then do a quick lunch. This is also a good time to | | | | the expenses. |
| discuss personal topics and safety issues with your | | | | 4. Break Time. All children need a little break time during |
| child. | | | | a full day of shopping. Let your child pick out a place to |
| 2. Plan ahead! Sit down with each child and come up | | | | stop and eat lunch. Allow them a little unwind time to |
| with a list of school supplies that he or she will need. | | | | break up the day. |
| Break the list up into 2 categories. | | | | The trick to avoiding back to school shopping stress is |
| Your first category should include school supplies such | | | | to plan out your shopping trip ahead of time. Make a |
| as notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, paper, book bags, | | | | few lists, carry a few snacks, set a budget and be |
| book covers, etc. | | | | prepared. |