By Dawn Casey-Rowe, Edudemic
Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, Back-to-School season strikes fear in the hearts of America. If you’re a parent, you may be afraid you can’t keep up with the latest styles and gadgets. If you are a teacher, you’re scurrying around trying to find the best deals possible in order to supply your classroom. It’s easy to put yourself in financial peril doing these things. In teaching financial fitness to students, I’ve had to take a long, hard look at myself.
Julie Pusey (R) and her daughter Brianna Pusey, 9, shop for back-to-school items in a Target store. With the start of school nearing, retailers are stocking up in anticipation of back-to-school shoppers. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
The last few years, I’ve said, “No more!” As a mom, I’m going to be reasonable about my son’s back to school needs. As a teacher, I’m no longer shopping to supply my classroom.
I came to education from Corporate America. I have fond memories of visiting a supply cabinet for a pencil, pen, or anything I wanted. Tape? No problem. Scissors? Got you covered! When I wanted things to do my job, they were just there. Magic! So should it be with schools.
Tips to Save Cash on Back to School Supplies
Don’t Buy Everything
Parents, you’ll get pressured into buying the latest and greatest. Give in, and you’ll be cashing in your savings. Instead, go through your child’s drawers and see what they really need. Fill in the holes on your shopping trip but make sure they know you’re not replacing the entire, still-good wardrobe like it’s Fashion Avenue. Get in that habit early on to avoid the pressure that comes with being a parent of teens, when the prices get uglier than the fashion. Caving to pressure means your bank account goes down with you.
For teachers, you know there’s always a student without notebooks, pens, pencils, and supplies. You run around buying the sale stuff, filling boxes, knowing it’ll bail a student out in the end. If you never pass up the five-cents limit 50 offer, you’re heading for disaster. Note this–every dime adds up in the end, or subtracts from your bottom line. Watch it if you want to stay in the black!
Keep Track of What You Spend
Buying the doorbusters or clothes here and there on impulse adds up. There’s a reason stores advertise those specials and place them in strategic places throughout the store. They know teachers and parents are weak this time of year.
When you impulse buy and don’t read your credit card statement or add up your receipts you’ll spend more than you planned. I spent years buying things for the classroom and not paying attention to my statements and slips. When I finally woke up and smelled the coffee, the debt I incurred for the privilege of doing my job was immense. You, too, can rack up some serious debt by not paying attention.
Don’t Try to Save The World
If you’re a teacher, you know this feeling. You’ll do “just one more thing” for your students. We can’t do everything, nor can we help each student by spending our way into debt. If you do this, you’re putting your financial future in peril. As a parent, you may overextend your budget wanting to give your kids that head start. As a teacher, there’s the desire to save every last kid. If you examine what kids really need to be successful, a loving environment, you’ll find that to be free.
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