Back-to-school time is just a few weeks away. Finally children can stop complaining about being bored at home, and parents can breathe a sigh of relief for the needed break. However, this time can also bring financial challenges for many parents who are faced with rising costs and shrinking budgets.

What can parents to do when the prices of everyday necessities are climbing out of reach, their paycheques remain constant, and their kids keep demanding the latest, coolest stuff to go back to school? If you are faced with this dilemma, take at look at the following money-saving tips:

Make a budget

As with all your other spending needs, it’s best to make a budget. Know exactly how much money you can afford to spend on back-to-school and allocate funds accordingly. Plan to spend more money on important items like shoes, but cut back on the cost of disposable supplies such as stationery. Involve your children in this budgeting process, so that they can appreciate why you may not be able to fulfill all their desires for expensive items.

Start early

Get a head start by getting the book and supply lists as soon as possible from your child’s school. Starting early gives you enough time to hunt for better deals, and if you wait until the last minute you might be forced into buying higher-priced items without concern for the cost. To really think ahead, continually look out for off-peak sales during the year on standard items like crayons and exercise books.

Need to control your spending habits? CLICK HERE!

Look out for bargains

Accustomed to only shopping in well-known uptown locations? You’re missing out on a world of discount buying opportunities available downtown, or in off-beat locations. Walk around with your school list and make notes of the prices of required items at different locations. There are some stores that have special discounts days, so postpone your purchasing until those times. Ask other parents to share their best bargain locations.

Stick to the basics

For school shopping, leave out the bling. Your children really don’t need to have a wardrobe full of brand names, what they need is high quality, durable items. Look for real leather school shoes and sturdy equipment that can last for the year. Stay away from backpacks and lunch kits with action heroes or cartoon characters. Although these might be able last for more than one school year, they may be rejected by your kids next year if they are out of fashion.

Don’t buy everything at once

Find out which items are really needed for the start of school. Some books may not be used until the following terms, so you could concentrate on buying for the first term if money is limited. Check around at home before you start shopping, to see if any of your children’s clothes still fit, or if you had stored away extra pencils or notebooks that were never used. Don’t buy too many clothes in your kids’ current sizes – buy some one size larger to take care of growth spurts during the school year.

Team up

Wholesale shopping may be the answer to cutting costs. While you might not need three dozen notebooks or a case of pencils for your own children, you could join with other parents and purchase supplies together. You could also check with them for school books and equipment that their kids have outgrown, which might be appropriate for your younger children. Some schools and churches have organized swap meets where these exchanges can be done.

Check out alternative shopping locations

If you have internet access and a credit card, shopping online can provide you with more variety and significant savings. Stick to well-known sites such as Amazon.com, Target.com or Walmart.com to find deals on school supplies and children’s clothing. There are several companies in Jamaica offering services which allow you to ship your online purchases back home. Take advantage of outlet malls and other inexpensive options overseas, by combining your summer vacation with an annual shopping excursion for your children.

Start planning for next year

It’s not too early to start preparing for September 2009. Make a plan to save something every month for your back-to-school expenses, and next year’s shopping will be almost stress-free. Download a school expenses calculator to help you calculate the monthly savings amount required to pay all your school-related bills for the upcoming year.