Financing Your “Back to School” Needs

Brittany Paulus, Ohio Treasurer

As summer starts its decent to fall and school is getting ready to start, the mood changes for everyone.  Some of us get excited for the “Back to School” sales at the local mall.  Others get pumped for the upcoming football games, while still others celebrate the end of their summer job.   While these things are important in a student’s life, there is one thing more important than the rest.

Saving money can be hard this time of year, since there are so many things we “need” to go back to school.  As citizens in our society, we feel that a new year has to start off with new stuff.  This is not necessarily true.  Yes, notebooks and paper are pretty much needed as new, but pens, pencils, book bags, and clothes do not need to be bought new.

Pens can be bought in bulk from name brand companies for less than five dollars a box at a discount store.  In most cases, a box of about 10 pens lasts through the school year, and into the next.  Pencils are the same way, although they may not last as long as pens due to sharpening and erasing, it will save money to buy in bulk.

Book bags should only be purchased every two to three years, sometimes longer.  Unless a book bag rips, tears, or loses a strap, it does not need replaced.  Many calculators have a lifetime warranty.  They may be more expensive than some, but they last a lot longer.

I hope all of you remember to shop smart and have a safe and fun school year.