Ready for school?

The approaching start of the school year can be stressful enough without the pressure that comes with shopping for school supplies, clothes or even dorm accessories.

Taking the time to strategize your different types of purchases, and being intentional about what you plan to buy can help you stay close to your budget and leave room for you to focus on the other activities that come with this new season.

We asked three Everence Financial^® experts to share some advice on how to plan ahead, so you can stay on top of your shopping list and ready for the school year.

1. Set your intention: When planning for back-to-school shopping, there needs to be some thought-out intention, said Roger Dishong, an Everence Financial Consultant in Hartville, Ohio. Locate the school supply list and dress code policy from the school ahead of time so you know what should and shouldn’t be purchased for the school year.
   
   “Having a list ahead of time will alleviate confusion and disagreements during the shopping experience,” Roger said. “It will also help avoid buying and getting things that won’t get used for the school year.”
2. Strategize on types of purchases: Separate one-time purchases – like book bags, uniforms and notebooks – from recurring supplies, advises Kevin Gil, an Everence Financial Consultant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prioritize one-time purchases, which tend to be more expensive, and treat recurring supply purchases as secondary. If possible, buy recurring supplies in bulk to save money.
   
   “On the theme of strategizing, start shopping early and spread your major purchases over several weeks to avoid a large up-front cost,” Kevin said. “Consider buying large items one at a time weeks before school to reduce financial stress.”
3. Second life for school supplies: Think about the items on your list that you might already have and can be given new life, said Mikayla Abbett, an Everence Financial Consultant in Goshen, Indiana. It’s OK if you can’t always get the latest back-to-school styles – most items can be reused year to year, like gently used folders, scissors or calculators. Make an inventory of what you already have at home before buying anything new.
   
   “Sometimes the best way to save money is to try to avoid spending it in the first place,” Mikayla said.
4. Give yourself permission to say "no": Sometimes it’s not possible to buy everything on the list outside of what’s essential. And that’s OK, Roger said. There is often mounting pressure from advertisements to buy. Instead, you can buy the essentials and a few outfits first, and then add items throughout the school year.
   
   “Stick to your list, and it will provide some financial peace and clarity to allow you to focus on helping your child start the next chapter,” he said.