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Stretch your back-to-school budget

By Melissa Cassar

Budget cuts have taken their toll on practically every public service, including school districts. Parents are probably already being asked to contribute more and more to fund their children's classroom and extracurricular activities. That means when it comes to personal budgeting, you have to do more with less.

Take back-to-school shopping. Some of the money you earmarked for new clothes may now have to go toward classroom supplies or to pay for childcare you need because after-school programs have been shuttered.

Here are a few tips on how to better manage back-to-school expenses while helping your school get through tough times:

First, calculate how much you can afford to spend without blowing your overall budget or racking up debt. Consider spreading some purchases like clothing throughout the school year – added bonus, your kids won't outgrow everything all at once.

Next, make a comprehensive list of all anticipated expenses, and leave wiggle room for unexpected ones as well. A few strategies:

• Try to recall what you bought in previous years – and compare notes with other parents.
• Find out the financial commitment for extracurricular activities like athletics, music and art programs. Consider things like uniforms, membership dues, private lessons, field trips, etc.
• Don't forget public transportation, school bus charges or your share of gas for the car pool, if any apply.
• Compare the cost, convenience and nutritional value of school lunches and food you prepare yourself.

Prioritize "needs" versus "wants." Although outgrown shoes should be replaced to ensure proper physical development, you can probably get one more year's use out of an older computer if money is tight. Share your decision-making process with your kids – it's never too soon for them to learn about delayed gratification and compromise.

Before buying new clothing or accessories, look for "gently used" items in the closets of your older kids, friends and neighbors, at garage sales, thrift or consignment stores, and at online shopping sites like eBay and Craig's List. Also note many retailers post discount coupons in newspapers and on their websites.

A few additional shopping tips:

• Wait until after school starts to shop fall clearance sales – that's when department stores want to make room for holiday merchandise.
• Although shopping online can save you money, time and gas, shipping and return costs can undo your savings, so anticipate these expenses before making a purchase.
• Understand your school's dress code so you don't buy inappropriate clothing.

With a little careful planning, you can stretch your dollars and ease the financial pain of back-to-school shopping.

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