School Shopping for the Frugal Parent

Well here it is again, time for school shopping. Seems like it comes around faster with each passing year. Add the rising costs of fuel and food and what's a frugal parent to do. As a frugal parent myself, I know the stress of having to complete that back-to-school shopping list. Luckily, I have a few tricks when it comes to getting them all, without going bankrupt or insane in the process.

Now there are some people out there who may frown upon this one, but that's because they don't care about stretching a dollar, probably don't have to either. Anyway, you can load up on school shopping duds simply by checking out local yard sales and thrift shops. I have found many great deals on like new and brand new clothing (also brand name) for much less than you might expect. Some of these places will even let you fill up a bag for one low price. For instance, our local thrift shop often holds these bag sales at the end of the month. All you can get in one bag for five bucks and as many bags as you can carry! Many yard sales also do this just to get rid of their stuff.

Nobody understands school shopping like the dollar stores. Yes, these are great places to stock up on all those school supplies, from paper and pencils to notebooks and more. And if you're one of those obsessive bargain shoppers, you'll save even more during their school shopping sales, as if their prices weren't low enough already. The dollar store is also a great place to find deals on food items for snacks and lunches. Why pay for pricey school lunch when you can pack your own for less?

Buy in bulk. It's always a good idea for the frugal parent to buy in bulk whenever possible. You can never have too much in the way of school supplies, especially paper products. This is also a good way to save on the cost of food. Of course, with hungry kids willing to eat everything in sight, you may want to hide and divide. I always put away the extras so they don't wind up eaten or used in one day.

Take advantage of school shopping online. As long as you're a savvy shopper (and I know you are), you can discover lots of hidden treasures on the world wide web. You can take advantage of school shopping sales, special promotions and coupons, as well as no or low-cost shipping deals. Always stick with and shop at places you trust, read the fine print, and pay attention to the return policies.

Don't overlook the buying power of Ebay. This is a great place to find plenty of school shopping deals. There are numerous items, from clothing to school supplies, that can be purchased for lots less than some of those pricey department stores. You can even find brand names for over half the cost.

So there you have it. These are just some of the many ways a frugal parent can save on school shopping. Nothing is better than saving money. After all, before you know it, the kids will be driving-that's another stressful event!