7. Stick to the List
Schools send supply lists out to parents—usually, to local stores. Remember to make a list of what you already have. The ruler purchased last year will work for this year’s classes, too. Instead of paying more for fancy notebooks, buy stickers and let your child decorate plain ones. Some things—like pencils—you always need, so it makes sense to buy those in bulk. You can be sure many stores will have back-to-school deals and sales. Allow the kids one thing that’s not on the list to inspire them to work hard (and to keep the begging to a minimum).
