It is almost back-to-school shopping season and for college kids especially, these tough times will call for tough dorm_roommeasures. More parents have to cut spending just to afford tuition and board. In fact, there are many more college students who are living at home with their parents to cut down even more on college expenses.

For kids who are in their second or higher year of college, there may not be as great a need to purchase a lot of supplies but textbooks and clothing will still be an expense. For kids just going off to college for the first time, clothes, books, and whole dorm accessories will be necessary. It can be a huge expenses, especially to parents who are having trouble keeping up with tuition costs. Even grade school and high school parents are finding it hard to keep up with school supply lists, extra curricular registration fees and other kid-related expenses.

Here are some tips to help students cut back-to-school spending and still have all they need:

Look Around Your Home
Before you go spending a ton of cash on all things new, look around the house for supplies you already have. If your kids have been in school for awhile, there are probably some pencils and notebooks stashed somewhere you have forgotten about. For bigger items needed for dorm life, what you don’t have, your friends and family might.

Shop In the Yard
This is the high point of yard sale season. There are always yard or garage sales being advertised in communities. This is a great way to find dorm-sized refrigerators, carpets, and decorations. Pay attention to any sales announcing college or student-related stuff. Sellers usually like to highlight these items for a quick sale. You can also look around in the classifieds over several weeks and see what comes up.

Moving Sales
If you live in or near a college town, the best time to hit a moving sale is when school ends and students who are not returning want to get rid of their wares. If you missed a move out sale at the dorm, look for other moving sales around your neighborhood. When people are moving, you usually have a great opportunity for negotiating prices you want to pay because at that point people just want to get rid of their stuff so they don’t have to move it.

Shop For Plain Value
While marketing experts know just how to lure in your kids with the fancy versions of everything, you need to shop for the plainer items that can usually cost half of what a character-themed version does. For smaller kids who may not understand why they can’t have the “cooler” version, purchase a few packs of stickers they can use to decorate folders and notebooks and such.

Bulk Up on Supplies
If you have multiple kids in school, save money by shopping at a wholesale club where you can buy school supplies in bulk. If you only have one or two kids, get with another mom and split the cost and the supplies.

Go For a Refurb
If your child needs a computer or cell phone or other electronic item, look for refurbished goods online.

Check With the School
For bigger ticket items, check with your child’s school and see if they have any deals or promotions going where students are eligible for discounts.



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