Back to School, on A Budget

As hard as it is to comprehend, summer break is quickly counting down in Polk County and before long, schools will be back in sessions for our local students. Many of our schools here in Florida, both public and private, have a long list of needs and requirements before starting a new year, including uniforms for students, supplies for the classroom, etc. If you are currently unemployed, or are coming out of a recent period of unemployment, this long list can be overwhelming financially, since school supplies can be costly. However, you don’t need to panic. There are ways to manage your child’s back to school list on a budget, and we’re here to help.

  • Mark your calendar for tax free weekend! Tax free weekend is the best time to stock up on any large-scale items your student might need, in addition to clothing and miscellaneous classroom supplies needed for their year. Not having tax stuck onto your overall purchase adds up quickly, from boxes of crayons to a laptop computer for your rising college student.
  • Secondhand uniforms. Uniforms are outgrown quickly, often before they ever start to show signs of wear. Some schools offer a uniform “closet”, where parents can return uniforms in good condition and swap them out for uniforms in a new size. This recycles uniforms that have plenty of life left in them, and saves families money. Another great stop for secondhand uniform shopping is your local Salvation Army. Many leftover uniforms are dropped of here each year, and you can snag some great deals for your student.
  • Clip coupons and shop online. Many major retailers offer back to school sales, and will include extra saving in coupons on their website, in their newsletters, or even in your newspaper. Cut these out as much as possible, and then stack them to get maximum savings when able. Watch online stores as well, since they offer sales at this time of year, and will often have special hours when things are marked down more than usual, or when they offer free shipping on your purchases.

We hope you will feel more at ease heading into school shopping with these tips. If you are ready to pick back up the job hunt when your kids are back in school, PHR Staffing Solutions is ready to help you make it successful. We will work with you to find a job that perfectly matches your skills and qualifications so you have maximum chances of doing well and enjoying your job. Give us a call to get started!