The end of summer is nearing, which means a wonderful time is coming with the unimaginable richness of the color palette. And this is not about foliage, but about various school supplies that I have to buy for my little schoolboy. The annual ritual draws all parents into a kind of "marathon" in various shops and fairs. The main task here is not only to bring the child to school, but also to keep the family budget. Here are some of the mistakes parents make.
Buying Available Items
I never buy things that are already at home. What for? Before going to buy anything at all, I spend a kind of tour around the house. You won’t believe it, but once I didn’t have to buy pencils and felt-tip pens, because I found both in the “halls” of the drawers of the child’s nursery. Be sure to pay attention to the notebooks, and it is better not just to look at them, but to open and check the sheets. This is another item on the list of pre-school purchases, which was practically completed, because I also found many notebooks, clean and ready to work in the new school year.
Another unnecessary purchase may be children's shoes. I always check whether this or that couple is suitable for the child, and also whether he can still wear it. If the shoes or sandals are made of quality material, then most likely the child will be able to shoe them for some more time. Spending on such an item in front of the school will not stretch the family budget and will make it possible to buy later shoes of the best quality at the best price. Also pay attention to the school uniform, if the school provides for it. I check whether it is possible to hem something, to repair it somewhere, because such areas as lightning and buttons require constant care.
I think my idea is clear that before the school you need to buy only those materials and things that are really necessary. You should not spend money on what else is there, because you can always buy or replace during the school year.
Ignore price reduction alerts
Personally, I always subscribe to news from various stores in order to know when there will be any discounts or prices will simply drop. For this, I even started an additional mailbox, which alerts me about new messages.
If you don’t want to mess with newsletters, then simply select the necessary stores and follow them on the official websites or in groups on social networks. Pay particular attention to expensive items on your list, such as technical equipment. You can buy a laptop or tablet with a fifty percent discount if you follow the price changes.
Another interesting fact: in most cases, the official sites of stores offer lower prices than outlets. This can always be compared by calling the seller.
And a little secret personally from me: among the letters from various stores that come to my mail, you can often find discount coupons offering ten or twenty percent of the benefits.
Buying one, not ten
School materials, which in any case will be needed throughout the school year, it is better to take with a margin. Bulk shopping is a working scheme of gain and comfort.
In various office supply stores and specialized bookstores, ten notebooks can be bought at the same time at a lower price than there is to purchase them individually. I always buy a child immediately a box of pencils and printing paper, because it will always be needed.
Favorable wholesale offers can always be found in large retail stores, which also have sites and coupons.
Buying the first one
No retail store can offer all the best deals. I always compare prices on sales or with a coupon in several ordinary stores or sites.
You can find out if sellers offer price comparisons, as this phenomenon is becoming more common. By asking the store about this, you can save very well.
I will explain with an example. Suppose I come to an electronics store and intend to buy a child a USB flash drive (flash drive), get my phone and search for the right product on the Internet at a cheaper price, and then show it to the store employee. In places where price comparison is provided, you will receive the necessary goods at the price indicated on the Web, although in another store.
Buying only the cheapest
Do not get used to buying exceptionally cheap things. This is a significant mistake, because if you prefer products with the lowest quality, you can miss the best quality, albeit at a higher price.
For example, the average price of a good backpack that can withstand the load of textbooks, as well as with a special orthopedic property, can vary from two to four thousand rubles, but you can also find more advantageous offers for such high-quality satchels. The benefit is obvious - you will not need to buy a backpack every year. And some companies offer along with a satchel in the kit a set of necessary accessories, for example, a bag for replaceable shoes, pencil case, pencils and more.
So it is with the purchase of high-quality electronics. These expenses can save thousands of rubles over many years. Branded portable electronics will not only give reliability, but also extended warranty conditions. Due to the fact that such products do not lose price for a long time, they can later be simply resold.
Buying an Exclusive New
Why is everyone so eager to buy everything new? I prefer to look for quality that really matters.
Various fairs and thrift stores are great places to find good school supplies. And here not all things supported are found. Such stores are also supplied with unused stationery. Thrift stores are a great place to buy both a pencil case and notebooks.
Ignoring sales and liquidations
Closing a store can be a great place to buy cheap school supplies. Due to the fact that a large number of online stores is becoming more popular among consumers, ordinary retail outlets are forced to compete with the bar set by various Chinese sites. Bankruptcy is a tragedy for the seller, but a good benefit for the buyer. However, if there are no liquidations in the city, then you should look at sales, which can also have good discounts.
The lack of all this training moment
I am trying to get my child involved in the allocated budget for school supplies. According to many family specialists, one should not miss the opportunity to teach children financial lessons, because sometime they will also have to plan their own budget. According to some studies, the study of shopping can be more beneficial for adolescents than younger children.
I try to talk with the child, to seek compromises, because certain restrictions on the cost of school supplies are simply inevitable. Specialists are sure that it is useful for children to know why a family cannot afford to buy one or another expensive product, choosing in favor of a more modest product.
With a child in all stores
I do not recommend taking your children to absolutely all the shops. The help of the child, of course, is needed, but for some goods it is better to go by yourself.It will be calmer to buy the necessary notebooks and pencils without “small” comments about this or that princess or car.