Learning The ABCs Of Smart School Shopping (NAPSA)—Getting all your school shopping done before the last minute can be as easy as A-BC. Here are some tips to help parents get started. A stands for assessing the situation. Start your shopping plan by coordinating what your kids will need and what they already have. Get out the lists and compare. Can your second grader use the backpack your fifth grader got as a gift but never used? Does your middle school student really need more jeans? Should your freshman college student get a new sleeping bag to take with him? Most schools supply lists of what a child will need—ranging from number two pencils in first grade to extra long sheets in college. B stands for being prepared. Before you buy anything, make a list and think about where you can get needed items as inexpensively as possible. Since kids outgrow and lose so many items, this is not the time to invest in longterm use and a great time to look for more trendy inexpensive items kids love. C stands for consolidating your efforts. To save time, pick a store where you can do one-stop shopping. This is especially important for families with more than one child. For example, at Kmart you can get school supplies, clothes and the basics needed to equip a dorm room. For grade schoolers there’s everything from pencils, notebooks and backpacks featuring their favorite characters, to great basics like jeans, tees, sweaters and hoodies. For middle school girls there are trendy paisley print camis, watches, beaded shoes and suede Showing your kids the ease of one-stop shopping for dorm and room essentials can teach them an important lesson. mocassins, and for boys there is an array of athletic wear addressing every sport andstyle. High school girls looking to create their own signature style can find everything from bangles, metallic leather belts and animal print camis to the signature Thalia Sodi brand featuring denim skirts and rhinestonejeans. College students can find dorm basics with style, such as comforters, pillows, laundry bags, bean bag chairs, telescope tables and towels. There are also small portable vacuums and speciallydesigned laundry baskets large enough for a week’s worth of laundry. Rather than having to run from store to store, one-stop shoppingis the way to go for busy parents. Taking the kids along can be a great lesson in budgeting your time and your money wisely, and gives them an opportunity to start finding ways to express their own personalstyle.
