College students and parents of college kids do you back to school shop?

Question

Like for clothes and supplies such as notebooks pens etc...How much is your limit?

Answer 1

My kids are not in school yet but I can't wait to buy them new stuff for school......but I am 28, a SAHM and Full Time College Sudent and my husband takes me back to school shopping every semester! Cute huh? lol

Answer 2

For my 2 kids, my limit is £100.

You can get things really cheap from placeslike Asda.

Answer 3

I buy up as much as I can during all the BTS sales.. I have a large tote I keep stocked so that during the year I don't have to run to the store at midnight when my son says oh by the way I need pencils or a notebook.... it works great..

Answer 4

I am a fourth year psychology major at a University, and as a freshman, I went crazy going to all of the back to school sales, but have learned that the very best way to shop is throughout the year, when you see sales, you buy what you may need in future semesters.

As for limits, never spend over 100 dollars (except for required books, which are much, much more expensive). There is no need to go over 100 dollars for supplies, because ultimately, you need notebooks, pens, pencils, and a book bag. The rest are items that you could live without if you had to. I go by the old "K.I.S.S" phrase (Keep It Simple Stupid!) because if I do not follow that phrase, I would spend much more than I can afford to spend.  So I stick to the very basics.

For supplies:

I have three packs of pencils that I bought a week after the spring 2008 semester ended, because I got the pencils on a "buy 2 packs, get 3rd free" at a "Dollar General" store. They were only 50 cents. So for one dollar, I got three packs of pencils.

Also, I get other items from friends-- for example, a friend had several bookbags that they were just storing in their closet, so I asked if I could have one, so I didn't pay anything for my bookbag.

As for books for college, I shop at www.half.com which has 100 dollar college books for under 50 dollars.  Prices vary of course, but it is usually around half of the actual cost and usually the books are barely used so in excellent condition.

The main thing, though, is to get items that you may need (notebooks, pens, pencils, Post It notes, book markers, highlighters, etc. ) whenever you see them on sale, and do not be afraid to go to "Dollar" stores, because a pencil is a pencil is a pencil, and regardless if you pay 50 cents for a pack of pencils or if you pay 1 dollar for a pack of pencils, they get used the same. So don't be afraid to shop at the "cheap" stores-- right now, saving money is the key.

When it comes to birthdays, or other holidays, when people ask what I want as gifts, I always say "school supplies". They are always items that I can use, and it saves me money :-)

One last thing to remember when it comes to money when in college: Always keep ten dollars in your or purse. You never know when you might have to put a little extra gas in the car, or pay a friend to take you  somewhere, or even on those long days on campus having to stop some place to grab a bite to eat. So I always keep ten dollars in my wallet, and when I dip into that money, I always immediately replace it. Often, after classes, class mates say "lets go out for coffee" or "lets stop at the cafeteria to discuss this upcoming exam" and having that extra cash allows me to never have to say that I can't go.

Answer 5

Before I go back to college I try to do some shopping. Not that much though since I'm no longer a freshman. I do live in my dorm so what I have for now works. As for clothes I try to get things that I will use through out the year, that way i don't have to be doing constant shopping.

Answer 6

Sort of. Just basic supplies, but not as much as when I was younger

Answer 7

This depends completely on the financial situation of the parents. Before my freshman year of college my parents bought half the stuff for my dorm room and all my school supplies. Now they don't get any of my school supplies unless I am with them and they are shopping for my sister.

Once in college my parents believe you need to get that stuff for yourself. They don't go out and clothes shop any more before school for me, but they shouldn't have to. They bought my computer and a lot of supplies for me freshman year but now I am okay doing it on my own. I ask for clothes for christmas and my birthday but I am old enough to do most things on my own.

I have cousins who are in grad school and their parents still pay for everything, the difference is that their parents can afford to. I have scholarships and grants which I use, and I work two jobs even in the summer, and one in the school year. I love everything my family does for me, but its not like high school, they don't bring me to the mall and say, okay you have $600 or to staples and say, here is $75. They make it up in other ways and if I need something or help they are always there. You have to grow up sometime, and I guess college is a good time :)

I am super glad they still pay my car insurance though, lol, I am not ready to be that grown up. In college your biggest expense will be books, and tuition. School supplies, clothes, general things like makeup or shampoo are all pretty low cost in comparison. Half.com is great for books, so is Amazon, just look around for a good deal. Family dollar is great for things like shampoo, cleaning products, and even some school supplies.

Answer 8

I am going to be a Sophomore this year, and I live on campus at my community college. My parents stock up on the notebooks, pens, pencils, and such when the sales are on (my two other siblings are still in high school), and give me as much of it as I need. However, I have a lot of scholarship money, so for the expensive binders and other supplies, I purchase the rest of my things. However, if I do need help with anything big, my parents are there to help. Hope this helps a little.

Answer 9

yes. and i usually dont set a limit if the sale is eal good