Savvy Ways to Save on School Supplies

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With school rapidly approaching once again, the annual trek to the store to get school supplies is about to return as well. Whereas shopping for school supplies was once limited largely to finding pens, pencils and notebooks, today's parents are finding that school supplies are becoming more expensive, and that a wider array of items are requested each and every year.

That said, shopping for school supplies doesn't have to be so overwhelming, no matter how long your child's list is.

Buy generic when possible. Generic supplies are typically less expensive and will help ensure that you won't have to purchase all new supplies the next time the latest blockbuster movie comes out. Functionality over fancy is a good rule of thumb to follow.

The early bird gets the worm. Avoid shopping for school supplies at the last minute. Starting early allows you to shop the sales and keep an eye out for bargains. And don't limit yourself to one store. Check out office supply centers, warehouse clubs, department stores, and pharmacies to find the sales that are easiest on your budget.

Buy in bulk. Buy in bulk can save you significant amounts of money, particularly for parents of more than one student. This is ideal for supplies that are used more than others, such as pens and pencils, paper, and paper clips. Set up a storage cabinet or supply cabinet in your home, like a business office would have, that can house the supplies. Send kids to school with only a few items at a time so they're not lost or traded.

Shop best price for the value. Supplies need to handle the wear and tear of an entire school year, so cheaper items that won't make it through the year could cost more in the long run. Spend more time and money when shopping for electronics such as scientific calculators.

Work with teachers at your child's school. See if your child's school can implement a policy to send home school supply lists at the end of the school year so parents can get a head start on purchases over the summer. Some tech-savvy teachers have their own Web pages where they list supplies, reading lists and homework assignments.