Education
Since I'm writing this just a few weeks before the Fall term starts, if you're college-bound, you should have already registered. If you haven't, get busy!
Once you're registered (and that certainly hits the bank account hard!) you'll need to get books. Be sure to ready my article on saving money on textbooks. It could mean the difference between surviving on ramen or actually eating food for the next several months.
At this late date, saving money on college is a moot point, but we'll get to that in a later article.
School supplies
Whether you're heading off for higher ed or have a kindergartener catching the bus for the first time, there are many ways to save money on school supplies.
The loss-leaders to get you into the stores are fabulous this time of year, but one must consider the gas to get the store. No point in spending $3 a gallon on gas to save $2 on supplies. Some alternates are to shop with a friend, walk (maybe not, in this heat!), or just stop for the loss-leaders when you're running other errands.
Another boon to school shopping this year is the Virginia Tax Holiday, which starts at 12:01 a.m., August 5th and goes through midnight on the 6th. Basically, that's all day this Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 5-6, 2006). There's a pretty specific list of what qualifies for zero sales tax. You can check out the list on the state's site.
It's fun to get kids excited about the new school year by letting them pick out new supplies, but you'll spend a LOT more. Perhaps just let them pick out a new notebook or backpack, and skip the cutesie stuff, that's where the totals really add up. I do most of my school supply shopping at Office Depot; they have all the basics, and don't carry the latest kiddie craze, reducing the pressure on me to buy it.
In many of the stores in the Tidewater area, including Office Depot, Walmart, etc., a good number of the elementary schools will have printed lists of supplies available. Not all of them participate, so before you head out, go to the school's website and print it out. You can find Chesapeake Public Schools listed on their site.
Another tip: before you head out and buy all new stuff, take inventory of what you have left over from last year and don't purchase more of the same. (I speak from experience and the 40+ spiral notebooks I have in the closet!)
Computers
As with the loss-leaders on school supplies, there are many awesome deals on computers right now. Some are big money savers, some give you nice perks. For instance, Apple is offering an amazing back-to-school deal for college students at the official Apple Store for Education: Buy a Mac & get a free iPod nano.
But don't let this mac-loving computer geek sway you! There are deals
all over the Sunday paper and online as well. Tiger Direct is offering Free Shipping w Select PC Purchase.
I also find Tiger Direct to be a place for great
deals on upgrades. Many times you'll find you don't need a new computer,
just an upgrade.
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