Five Back-to-School Shopping Tips To Save Money!

Time to start buying school supplies - and don't forget the clothing, bags and decisions and arguments about brand name or no name products.

If you are a parent buying for your grade school children you've been learning the ropes for a few years. However, if your child is new to school or you're doing your own school shopping for the first time, you can benefit from a heads up on how, what and where to shop.

You wont lose your mind and waste money if you follow these five tips.

BUY EARLY

Wait too long and you're sure to find the shelves empty at all your favorite discount stores. If your biggest concern is getting a good deal, shop early.

All of the items you need will be in the stores by August and don't forget that the dollar stores will be a good place to get all of your pens, paper and accessories.

Head to the office supply stores or stationers if you're starting late. Although they may not have the best prices, they'll probably have what you're looking for. Buying everything in one place can save you a lot of time.

GET OUT THAT MEMBERSHIP CARD

Membership or other bulk stores are a good place to shop if you have friends who are shopping for their kids.

You may not be able to get everything you need but essentials like paper, pens and the like can be loaded up and split among everyone saving you money.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Ask if your school has brought in a pre-packaged purchasing system. If they have, then the cost of bulk items can be shared between parents and students.

Not only will this mean great savings - it also saves you all the hassle of finding supplies, shopping around or dealing with complaints about brands or colors.

END OF SEASON CLOTHING

Stock up now on summer clothes and sportswear. End-of-season sales are a great way to find deals on clothes, especially for children participating in after school sports.

Look for clothes which can be worn in more than one season. By being a little creative, summer clothes can be work for winter wardrobes as well. Consider that you can pair cropped or Capri pants with boots, you can put warm tights under a skirt, and tank tops can be worn under something warmer like a sweater or long sleeve shirt.

But be careful to consider fashions choices in the context of school dress codes. Short skirts or bare shoulders may be forbidden at some schools.

THE RIGHT BAG IS KEY

Don't forget that kids bags can cause soreness or headaches if they're too big and heavy. The right bag should sit above the waist and have padded shoulders and a waist strap in order to provide good support.

Heavy books shouldn't be carried in hobo bags or sacs, but rather in a backpack that is correctly worn on both shoulders to prevent strain. If you will be purchasing a bag, however, make sure it's a style with a body strap to spread out the weight.

Have fun with back-to-school shopping and don't get to stressed. Look forward to the excitement and possibilities ahead of you in the new school year.