It’s that time of year! The season of searching for #2 pencils, brightly colored binders, and that oh-so- special book bag is here. It’s an exciting time, full of anticipation for children and their parents.
As the first day of school approaches, families often find shopping for crucial school supplies comes with a heavy price tag. Parents can end up unloading hundreds of dollars on back-to-school gear.
Fortunately, with South Carolina’s Sales Tax Free Weekend coming up in early August, you can save even more.
You want to supply your child with the right materials, but you also want to avoid over- spending. So how can you make the most of your hard-earned dollars? It’s simple: plan to shop smart.
- Follow the list: Teachers regularly provide a list of required materials. Don’t stray from what is suggested, as extra items often go unused. Your child may plead for extra colored pencils that will end up untouched the entire year. Prepare your child in advance for sticking to the list.
- Double check the closet: It’s possible that some of the supplies you need are items you already have from the previous school year, and likely still in good condition. Check closets and drawers for binders, folders, and pencils that can be utilized this year. Every dollar saved counts!
- Avoid big brands: Your child may want the trendiest product from the most prestigious brand, but that doesn’t always translate to best quality. Well-known brands traditionally have higher price tags, but the items are virtually the same as those sold by lesser-known brands.
- Shop with cash: Estimate how much you’ll need to buy the items on your back-to-school list. Take that amount of cash to the store, and try to buy all materials with cash only. That way you won’t be tempted to overspend. Your child can help keep track of your purchases as you shop.
- Coupons, coupons, coupons: The Sunday paper is a great place to find discount coupons on back to school supplies. Your child may want to join in the fun. You can also check websites like RetailMeNot, Groupon, and KrazyCouponLady to find deals and discounts.
- Put extra money towards college: Open or add to a Future Scholar 529 college savings account for your child. For any questions you may have about SC’s 529 College Savings Plan, refer to the Future Scholar.com’s Common Questions page. To start investing in your child’s future today, check out the Enrollment page.
With these tips in mind, your child will get the important supplies he or she needs for a successful year, and you won’t break the bank. When you use you open or add to a Future Scholar 529 college savings account, your child won’t just have a successful year, he or she will be on the path to a successful future.
Curtis Loftis is the State Treasurer of SC and the administrator of SC’s Future Scholar 529 college savings program.