With many students learning-at-home this fall, parents are left to figure out how to provide their kids with remote learning supplies without breaking the bank. According to Deloitte's 2020 Back-to-School survey, 40 percent of parents expect to buy fewer traditional school supplies while spending 28 percent more on technology. While technology-related spending is expected to increase, the reduction in apparel and regular school supplies might offset the shift in category spending.
Here are several tips to help you save on school supplies in the pandemic age:
Check Your Home Inventory
Toy boxes, playrooms, and backpacks might hide reusable school supplies for the coming year. Before buying new pencils, crayons, and notebooks, perform a quick check of your home. Half-filled notebooks and leftover art supplies can save you money and may be perfect for work done at home. Don't forget to perform a sweep for electronic gear and confirm that the items still work.
If you have extra supplies you don't need, see if you can swap with other families in the neighborhood for needed items.
Create a Low-Cost Workspace
Your child doesn't need a school desk replica to be productive while learning at home. A large table and comfortable chair can work just as well. If you need to purchase a functional workspace, consider a second-hand store or online marketplace. Remember that the learning space is unlikely to be a permanent fixture, so buying new furniture isn't necessary.
Look for Local Support
You might be just a few clicks away from finding low-cost internet services and computer resources. Enter your zip code at EveryoneOn.org and answer a few multiple-choice questions to reveal special offers based on your needs. Community libraries may also offer free online tutoring and access to digital books.
Plan now for at-home learning to avoid impulse buys that can cause you to go over budget. Let your child help by participating in age-appropriate tasks, like planning lunches for the week.
