Already buying school supplies

Heck no, I think you are a pretty smart mama, Do you know how many times I was caught in a pinch, not only not enough money but gezzz supplies were sold out. Ouch that hurts. go for it :)) wish I had the forethought sometimes to do that.

I can only *wish* that my daughter's school had sent home a supplies list. Instead they sent home a school uniform list. :(

Buying school supplies is a task we all who care or have children must do and the earlier the better. I have things that I have stock piled from when it was either on clearance from the previous school year. Like you said it is better to get started early for those hard to find items.

I think shopping early for school supplies is a good idea. I mean, when it starts getting closer and closer to school, it's harder to actually find what you want. I know around here, stores sell out pretty quickly on some items. Spreading it out is easier I think because you don't have to worry about spending too much at once or missing out on getting what you need.

No, it's not crazy because you'll be able to find a lot of items already and you won't have to worry about buying them in August. However it's nice to shop around during school time because you can find some low prices on stuff you might use such as pens, note pads, sticky notes, and such. Pablo

Me too! You actually did a great job. I thinik you have good organizations skills. I also did shopping for school supplies early so I could avoid the long cue for the cashier, and the people rushing. Also, I could still have enough time in case there are items I have forgotten to buy. Way to go sister!

I don't think you are crazy, I think you are smart! When August hits, it will be a madhouse and things will be picked over! Also, to spread out the spending is smart. All those supplies add up to a hefty price! (I remember well!) My daughter is headed to college this August and I already have her texts! Rather than buy them in the bookstore (which is ALWAYS marked up) I went on ebay and amazon and found all but one of them!!! Don't forget goodwill and garage sales for those uniform necessities!! I know they are big sellers here at the garage sales and at our goodwill!

I think it's great if that's what you want to do. We aren't done with school yet here and the stores don't have any school supplies on sale. They will probably go on sale after July fourth, but since I have one in high school and one starting college, I think I'll wait until I know exactly what they need and that might not be until after school begins.

Heck no your not crazy! I am planning starting right away! I have a daughter going into kindergarden and a daughter going into grade one. I figure with school fee's, indoor runners, supplies, backpacks, lunchroom fees, & some new school clothes I can't afford NOT to buy them now!

I am really looking forward to buying supplies when I am in San Francisco in a couple of weeks. I will get their wardrobes, rucksacks, lunch boxes, and everything else I can think of while I am there. The prices and variety are so much better than what we can get here, especially with the wharehouse shops. I am with you all the way and like getting all the shopping done as sales present themselves. I guess technically, I stared the school shopping last January when I bought the plane tickets ;-)

Actually my fiancee has you beat. She buys most of the children's school supplies the year before when the stores mark everything that they couldn't sell down. She knows most of the basics that the children will need from year to year. She was able to get the packages of six dry erase markers for just fifty cents a piece. New backpacks only cost two dollars each. She actually does this with a lot of the stuff around the house. She buys everything she can when it gets marked down if she thinks that we will have a use for it. There have only been a few items that we haven't found a use for yet.

heck no your just being smart it cost alot just to get our children educated these days so where we can save money we should my baby girls only 15mths and ive opened a bank account to put money into for all her education plus already so it wont cost us as one big some the money will already be there.

Looks like we're sharing a brain this week! I love to shop, and was just wondering what my three year old is going to be needing when she gets into kindergarten. That's sometime off, but you can never be too prepared. A friend of mine just sent hers off to kindergarten this past year and spent almost $400 in school supplies for her two kids, new clothes and back packs (in one day!). I was shocked. My husband would go out and live in the garage if I ever pulled a stunt like that. I think she could have taken your advice on stocking up and just bought all the stuff gradually over time and it wouldn't have hit them so hard financially. Thrifty thoughts! That's what keeps us saving so much money. Keep the ideas coming. Cheap moms like us need all the advice we can get.

One caution, in my area, atleast, the prices are lowest in July and many stores have free after rebate school supplies. I always bought ANY free after rebate school supplies because eventually they'd usually show up on the school supply list. Also, to save money, for next year you might talk to the PTA about doing what my daughter's middle school did. The PTA bought supplies wholesale and volunteers made up packets which they sold at just barely over cost. They used the money they made to provide school supplies to families who couldn't afford them. The best part was you avoided the whole hassle to find the hard-to-find items (also, I think after a few years the PTA started pressuring the teachers to be a little more reasonable.)

I buy my college notebooks, folders, etc early. I just noticed that they are already out at Walmart. I've waited in the past until August - but then everything is picked through and I can't find the notebooks and folders (the plasticy ones) that I prefer to buy. I think it's good to get it out of the way and beat the mad & crazy crowd that goes at the last minute.

This is a good idea. I do the same for my daughters high school stationary supplies. I almost never order amnything off the official school order form now. I wait until Kmart have their school sales, but buy what is needed on good specials. Plus, this year, she saved a lot of her folders, etc & she just reuses them. It saves a lot of money.

I don't think you are crazy for doing it at all. I think it is very smart of you to beat the mad rush. I would do the same thing if my daughter got a list of supplies she needed for school also. I think it is great also that you can go ahead and get it all over with and get everything they need and also save some cash. I used to shop early for my daughter too when they sent a list home.

I'm so glad I don't have to go school supply shopping anymore, lol. Twistable crayons? Oh My! When my daughter was in elementary & middle school, I always shopped early as they would send the list home at the end of the year. This was always helpful when trying to stretch an already tight budget. If you know your local stores history of sales, you can usually do pretty well on the basic supplies. Once they reach high school, it's a whole different matter. They don't send the list home until the first week of school. I know it's because some students may have to change their schedules after school starts, but what about the parents that have to pay for the supplies? We miss out on all the good sales unless you buy what you consider "the basics" like pens, spirals, notebook paper, binders and folders. Everything else depends on what class they're taking. Basic calculators don't cut it either, lol. Now they have to have the $100+ kind. ~:O

My gosh, no, you are not crazy. It is a good idea for so many reasons. Besides all the money you will save, you really don't wan't to have to deal with how crazy it can get trying to fight the crowds. Just remember to save a few things until the week or so before school to let your son go and pick out by himself and help him start getting excited for school to start. I hope you are an organized person. My mom used to buy things ahead of time for us because there were four of us and it was easier for her that way. But then she would put stuff away and forget where she put it. Very frustating (for her, we always thought it was funny.)

Hi sedel1027! I am a teacher, and I love to buy classroom materials and items during this part of the year! I think that it's a great idea to purchase these items now, as the sales are at the highest percentage at this time of year. I see that you have caught on to this ;.D It's obvious to me that you are a great parent, and teachers really enjoy working with parents who are as responsible and prepared as you appear to be! I hope that your cutie has a great school year in 2007-2008!