Muscat, August 20
With back-to-school season approaching, being prepared and planning ahead by saving and being thrifty are crucial skills for smart shopping. This helps avoid large and unexpected financial burdens, especially since the back-to-school season follows other events that strain the family budget, such as the holidays and summer vacation.
Financial experts point out that education-related expenses can be divided into two categories: non-recurring expenses like stationery and school bags, and recurring expenses such as school fees.
When preparing for school, it is important to create a summary list of tuition fees, consider the difference between educational vouchers and what the family needs to pay, account for additional fees, and compare different schools based on quality, costs, and benefits.
Parents can make wise purchases by choosing stores that offer school supplies at lower prices than big retailers, buying basic stationery items like pencils and notebooks in bulk, and sharing items like geometry boxes among their children.
Encouraging children to save and only buy necessary supplies is also important.
Tips for purchasing school supplies include planning ahead of the back-to-school season to anticipate price increases, taking inventory of existing school supplies, creating a shopping list with the family to ensure all needed items are purchased efficiently, and buying the right quantities of essentials like pencils, erasers, and notebooks to avoid frequent trips to the store.
Buying school uniforms early and choosing bags with comfortable straps are also recommended.
During the back-to-school season, families and students have different preferences. Some prefer shopping in person at stores and libraries, while others prefer online shopping from home.
Parents can take advantage of online deals. Smart retailers cater to this by offering their products in-store, online, on social media, and through promotional messages and emails.
SHOPPING TIPS
- Create a back-to-school budget
- Check out school supply offers
- Prioritise function over fashion
- Team up for bulk purchases
- Don’t overdo it on supplies
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