Five handy tips for back-to-school shopping

BACK-to-school shopping can be stressful for parents for a number of reasons, ranging from crowded malls and energetic children accompanying them on the trip to the fear of overspending.

John Bradshaw, head of marketing at Pick n Pay, said as the last weekend before schools reopen comes around that parents shouldn’t dread shopping for school supplies as, with some careful planning, it was possible to save both time and money.

He gave five tips on how to shop smart:

1) Don’t buy the box: some schools offer a service where you can get your stationery requirements delivered in a box. While convenient, this is often more expensive than buying them yourself.

By taking the list and buying the stationery yourself, you can save hundreds of rand – and what better way to start the year than with great savings.

2) Pick your brands: remember, sometimes a good private-label brand from a supermarket will do the job very well.

Do your research and ensure you are getting good value for your money.

3) Think of the year ahead: this month offers the best specials on stationery. If you can, buy all the stationery your child will need for the year and take advantage of the great back-to-school specials.

4) # BeatTheBoomerangBlues by planning lunches: avoid those frustrating boomerang lunches (when the food comes home again uneaten) by thinking ahead and creating varied, healthy lunches that your kids will actually eat.

There are many affordable, quick- and- easy recipes that allow parents to prep lunch boxes in advance and avoid morning rushes.

For inspiration, visit Pick n Pay’s Back to School website.

5) Get creative: instead of buying wrapping paper or covers for your children’s books, encourage them to create their own, if their school allows it.

This can be done by cutting out pictures from magazines and newspapers or drawing their own designs.

Not only will this save you money but it is also a fun activity to share with your children before school starts.