| As any parent knows, school supplies are a key part | | | | you already have lying around the house! |
| of every fall season shopping list, and as they usually | | | | - Art supplies: Easels, paint palettes and brushes don't |
| need to be bought fresh every year, it's always a | | | | need to be bought every year, and you can revive |
| good idea to stock up and hunt for deals. | | | | dried-up paint tubes with a bit of paint thinner. Another |
| Of course, there are always essentials that will be on | | | | neat trick? Give old crayon bits a new lease on life |
| every back to school list, such as writing utensils, | | | | with something like the Crayola Crayon Maker, |
| notepads and paper, and books, but are there other | | | | available from |
| educational supplies you could be missing out on? Here | | | | - Notebooks & paper products: One of the few things |
| are some tips and ideas to help you save money while | | | | you'll likely need to buy every year. However, if they're |
| ensuring your child is fully prepared for his or her first | | | | just for notes and not for assignments that need to be |
| day back to school in 2010! | | | | handed in, consider tearing pages out of old notebooks |
| Money-saving back to school ideas | | | | and organizing them with three-ring binders. |
| - Make a (shopping) list, check it twice: This is a great | | | | - Electronics: Your child may need several USB flash |
| way to help you keep track of your child's school | | | | drives to save work done on home or school |
| supply needs, and it also ensures you're not buying on | | | | computers, and while it's a bit of an initial investment, a |
| impulse. | | | | netbook is a terrific purchase to avoid stacks of paper |
| - Browse online for ideas first: The Internet has made it | | | | overflowing on your student's desk. You can get great |
| so much easier to scope out deals and product | | | | deals on back to school electronics by shopping with a |
| selections at different stores, so take advantage of it | | | | store like Tiger Direct. |
| to compare prices, formulate your back to school | | | | - Accessories: Things like pencil cases and backpacks |
| shopping list, and make sure you're not aimlessly | | | | may need to be purchased every year as back to |
| wandering around the store. Online retailers like and | | | | school fashions change, but you can probably save on |
| already have great back to school sales for 2010. | | | | items such as staplers and rulers. |
| - Look for coupons, rebates and deals: Even online you | | | | - Math supplies: Does your child need calculators, |
| can find awesome discounts and coupon codes to | | | | protractors or compasses? Check to make sure |
| help you save money for back to school. | | | | you're buying the best math supplies for your child's |
| School supplies for every situation | | | | needs, rather than simply buying the most expensive. |
| Sometimes it might seem like your child's backpack - | | | | Home school supplies |
| and your home - are bursting with school supplies, and | | | | Home schooling has returned to the spotlight over the |
| organizing everything might feel like an overwhelming | | | | past several years as parents look to be more |
| task. So here we've come up with a couple of ideas | | | | involved in their kids' lives, and more people are now |
| for what's needed for different back to school | | | | searching online for the best home school supplies to |
| situations so you can better determine what the | | | | give their children a comparable education experience |
| essentials are. | | | | right at home. |
| Back to school supplies | | | | One terrific line of homeschooling products you can try |
| As these will make up the majority of your yearly | | | | is Teacher Created Resources, which is available from |
| purchases, it's worth trying to consolidate these | | | | and includes stickers, activity books and more, all |
| supplies and figuring out what you need to buy again | | | | specially created by classroom teachers. Teacher |
| and what can be reused from the previous year. | | | | Created Resources even provides some free lesson |
| Try organizing your basic school supplies purchases | | | | guides and activities on its website, so check it out. |
| into the following and you'll have a better idea of how | | | | Look for a home school guide or kit as well if you're |
| much more you need to buy: | | | | not quite sure where to start. And it's always a good |
| - Writing utensils: It's a good idea to test your child's | | | | idea to invest in a multifunction printer so you can print |
| pens, pencils, erasers, and highlighters and throw out | | | | out and photocopy assignments, or even scan in your |
| any that aren't working/broken/too small to be used. | | | | little one's pictures to keep on your computer! |
| You might be surprised at how many writing utensils | | | | |