I just started school this week and already the expenses are piling up. I'm looking at over $200 for books alone. I read somewhere that American consumers will spend something like $15 billion on back to school ... ouch!
OK, I know I'm going to have to spend some money this school year, but I want to contribute a little as possible to the $15 billion statistic. How do I plan on doing that? Here's my plan:
1. Take an inventory of what I already have. I probably don't need to buy new notebooks until my old ones are out of paper. And as long as my pens still work and my pencils can still be sharpened, I won't need to shell out the cash. (projected savings: probably only a couple of bucks, but that'll get me a Starbucks coffee which I will definitely need this sememster)
2. Don't worry about buying a designer bag and use a "normal" bag to carry my books. I have a few friends who only buy designer bags and purses every season. I was blessed without that affliction. I think the cheaper the better. (projected savings: $100+)
3. Look for Back-to-School sales. Nearly every store I know is having some type of back to school sale. Keep and eye open and buy only sale items. (projected savings: unknown, but potentially pretty great)
4. Save money for emergency school expenses. I never know when I'll need a few extra dollars for lab fees or supplies throughout the year. I'm going to start saving now, so I won't be caught without the money I may need later on. It also means I won't have to use a credit card if I get in a financial bind. (projected savings: unknown, but interest charges on a credit card is like throwing money away)
That's about it for my plan for the upcoming school year. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.
Catie
