Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Going back to school without breaking the bankWith a new school year just a few weeks away, many parents are facing one of their largest single expenses of the year - getting their kids ready to go. "Buying school supplies, along with new shoes and clothes, can put a strain on the family budget," said Suzanne Boas, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta. "And waiting until the last minute to shop can lead to frenzied shopping, overspending, and unnecessary credit-card debt. A little planning can save time and money." CCCS offers tips to help families get ready. Start by taking a thorough inventory of what you already have. Round up all your excess school supplies and check the closets for clothes and shoes that fit and are still in good shape. Make a list of things you still need, and develop a budget. Then, prioritize your list, with the most important items at the top. If your budget requires you to cut items from your list, start at the bottom. The next step is to compare prices of different items. If a store five miles away is offering a low price on blue jeans or uniform prices, it may be worth the drive. Buy underwear, socks, and other basics in quantity when they are on sale, making sure to allow for growth. Check as many newspaper advertisements and catalogs as possible before you finally make your purchases. And don't forget to check consignment, discount and outlet stores, as many carry quality school clothes and uniform components at lower prices. For younger children, who grow so quickly, consider swapping clothes with friends, family and neighbors. Another important strategy is to remember that what you buy is as important as how you buy. Basic, durable clothing will stretch your dollars significantly. Check for strong buttonholes, secure buttons, reinforced stitching, firmly woven or knitted fabric, and basic styles. And avoid fad items, as they will likely be "cool" for only a short time. Some important things to remember about back-to-school shopping: Children grow quickly. What fits in August might not fit in January. So look for clothes that your kids won't outgrow too quickly, like blouses and shirts with long tails, or shorts and pants with elastic waistbands. During the school year, you can turn pants into shorts or make short sleeves out of long sleeves, as your child grows. Consider consigning clothes that no longer fit as a way to earn money for new clothes. Kids like "easy" clothes. For younger children, getting the best value for your dollar means buying clothes they like to wear. Look for articles they can manage without much help. For example, front openings, flat buttons, easy-to-reach pockets, elastic waistbands, and large necklines make it easier for kids to get dressed in the morning. Remember, the easier it is for them to dress themselves, the less stressful your mornings will be. Save on school supplies. Before you run to the "Back to School" section at an expensive retailer, compare prices with lower-priced outlets and office-supply stores. You might find that the spiral notebook with the really colorful cover is more expensive and has less paper than the one with the plain cover. Some schools will bundle school supplies and offer them for sale - this may be a less expensive way to get what you need, and will certainly save you time. Raise money-smart kids. Shopping for school clothes and supplies also gives parents a great opportunity to teach their children about spending habits. Sit down with your children and talk about the budget for supplies and clothes. Let them do the comparison shopping and point out that if they get the more expensive sneakers, they have to cut back in other areas. Not only will they learn about smart shopping, they will value what you buy for them much more. The old college try. If you have a student going away from home for school, give them some of your older household items for their dorm or apartment. Buy demos, display items or used products. Area garage sales can produce many of the items your college student will need to outfit their new digs. And even though your teen may be begging for a cell phone, instead stock up on discount phone cards. If you do provide a cell phone for safety reasons, buy a prepaid plan so they are required to stay within specific minutes every month or use their money to buy more minutes. For purchasing incidentals, provide the student with a prepaid credit card that will allow you to increase credit limits as often as needed. If the decision is for them to open their own credit card, review the importance of paying bills on time -- and hopefully in full -- each month, how to stick to a monthly budget, and how to differentiate between wants and needs. The best lesson you can teach your teen going off to college is financial responsibility. The most important strategy for back to school shopping is to stick to the budget you set. Bring only as much cash as you need, based on your budget, and leave your credit cards at home. You will prepare your children for another wonderful school year without breaking the family budget. For 41 years, families have turned to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Atlanta for help with money problems. CCCS is a nonprofit, community service agency dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve a lifetime of economic freedom. A United Way partner, CCCS provides free, confidential budget counseling, community and personal money management education, debt management programs, and comprehensive housing counseling. CCCS is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children and is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Governed by a community-based board of directors, CCCS is funded by creditors, clients, contributors and grants from foundations, business and government agencies. Service is available at offices throughout metro-Atlanta and north Georgia in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. CCCS offers around the-clock help by phone at 1-800-251-CCCS or at its Web site, www.cccsinc.org. CCCS Atlanta is the headquarters for the CredAbility Network, a family of agencies serving consumers in north Georgia, south Florida, middle Mississippi and east Tennessee. eorgia branches of CCCS are in downtown Atlanta, Cobb County, Decatur, Douglasville, Fayetteville, Gainesville, Gwinnett County and Rome. Visit www.cccsinc.org or call 1-800-251-CCCS. |
|
Copyright 2005-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |