Buying School Supplies Does Not Equal Breaking the Bank

Every child's first day of school should be a good one, and having the necessary school supplies is a smart start in the right direction. You don't have to spend a fortune, though--here are a few suggestions.

Dollar Store--If you have a store near you where all the items cost just a dollar, make a beeline for it. Whether it's The Dollar Tree, Mighty Dollar, or some other dollar store, stock up on school supplies, including notebook paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, book cases, pencil holders, index cards, scratch paper, markers, crayons or tape for just a dollar each. Some items might even be two for dollar, so keep an eye out for them.

The essentials, like paper and pencils, are just as good from the dollar store as they are from anywhere else. If you can, give your child $5 or $10 dollars and let them choose the supplies themselves. They will quickly learn to do the math.

Family Dollar--If there's not a dollar store near you, no need to despair. Family Dollar wants your business, so look for sales. You may even get two packs of notebook paper for the price of one, even better than the dollar store. This is also a good place to pick up new clothes, including socks, underwear and shoes, so a one-stop shopping trip will save you time and money.

Dollar General--These stores are popping up all over in my neck of the woods, and there's a good chance they're in your neighborhood, too. This chain has over 8900 stores in 35 states and tend to be located in small to mid-sized communities. Prices are very reasonable.

Office Depot--If your child is in middle school or high school, chances are they need more sophisticated items. In that case, check out the flyers in the Sunday newspapers because stores such as Office Depot and Staples are vying for your business as much as any discount store.

A recent Office Depot flyer had folders for a nickel, composition books for 50 cents, Sharpie Highlighters for 75 cents and computer paper for a dollar. They also had calculators, staplers, printers and computers--definitely worth looking into.

Plan Ahead--If you find yourself in a bind during back-to-school shopping, plan ahead for next time even if you have to start buying in January or June. When you go grocery shopping pick up a notebook or package of paper and set it aside. You may actually pay more for the item, but by the time school starts you will have one less thing to worry about--which is priceless.