MAIN Education Back To School

The Shopping Challenge:
The More Kids the Messier

As a mother of four school age children, I understand there seems to be no easy way to think of shopping for back to school” supplies. This time of year can be very stressful for the children and the adults involved. Here are a few ideas that will help keep everyone's sanity intact.

School supplies are expensive for parents of one child. For parents with more than one child the cost can be astronomical. From pencils to sneakers, it is important to always look for the sale items. Hopping from store to store might be worth the money saved. You can also spend some time online shopping. If you plan ahead to leave time for shipping, you can avoid stores altogether and save money while you're at it!

Another idea that my husband and I have incorporated into our back to school budget is hiring a babysitter while we take one child at a time for the necessary items. It might seem like a waste of money until you realize that you still have your sanity when you get home. Can you really put a price on that? Not to mention that half of the junk that normally gets thrown in, just to get out of the store before security escorts you out, is still at the store. That alone is worth the cost of a babysitter.

If you do have to give in and take everyone, set a limit of one special item per child for good behavior. All of the kids know ahead of time that they have to chose one item - and only one item - in a certain price range. This simple trick helps you avoid the constant flow of begging for every toy or colorful item that you pass. You will have to answer the "How much is this one?" question every two minutes, but it beats dealing with temper tantrums from over stimulated and frustrated kids. It also is a lesson in budget shopping that will come in handy when they are older.

Just like any other time in life, this too shall pass. Take a deep breath and remember that these will all be fond memories before you know it. Enjoy your children and happy shopping!

About the Author
Katrina Cramer-Diaz is a working mom with a background in education and plenty of experience in parenting. She lives in Virginia with her four children.