It’s back-to-school season-and that means it’s time to go shopping!
But school supplies can get expensive!
Those numbers can start to add up-and quickly! That’s why places like Walmart will see a lot of activity this weekend.
According to the National Retail Federation, families plan to spend at least $97 per child on average on school supplies like notebooks, pencils, and backpacks this year. They say it’s the second largest highest amount since the recession!
And more than 60 % of parents will spend their money at discount stores like Walmart…while 35% plan to shop at office supply stores like Office Depot or Office Max.
But the one thing these shoppers have in common are their plans to set a shopping budget.
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Meet Qwanika Mikell and her 8-year-old daughter…she’s a big girl now!–going into the 4-th grade at Memorial Day School in Savannah…
…And she says shopping for school supplies hasn’t been as nerve-racking as she thought it would be…
“It’s not as stressful as you would think. The school supplies the ‘school supply list’…so everything is there…so , you know..financially, it’s not that bad,” Mikell said.
It’s also not that bad because she says the secret is…
“You just have to shop and look for sales…”
And to have a budget in mind before you walk down those store aisles…
“I try to set a budget…maybe $300…maybe $300 or $400 dollars. I just try to set a budget and stick with it, but it really depends on where you shop for your items,” Mikell told News 3.
But I spoke with the mother of a 1st grader who told me the where part of the equation is not always so obvious.
“I’m pretty surprised, because I went to the dollar store thinking it would be cheaper there, but some of things here are cheaper than the dollar store,” said Rashena Platt, her son is going to be a 1st grader at Shuman Elementary School.
“I had to buy paper, a first-grade writing tablet, crayons, glue sticks, erasers, pencils…,” said Platt.
And this year parents are not only having to buy supplies for their own kids, but to help out in the classroom, too…But Qwanika says she doesn’t mind helping others.
“I think it’s a pretty good idea, you know? Some people may be less fortunate and if other parents and students can help out in any way that we can, I look at it as more of a positive–a plus–than a negative,” Mikell said.
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If you know a student in need, make sure they come out to the Back-to-School Expo on Saturday, August 15th.
It’s happening from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Savannah Civic Center.
Organizers at the expo will be giving out notebooks, highlighters, index cards, erasers and notebook paper!
You can also donate supplies at the WSAV studios and at Live Oak Libraries throughout the Savannah area.
