Florida has a special time every August where there is no sales tax for Back to School expenses, an exemption for clothing of $100 or less, school supplies of $15 or less, or the first $750 of personal computers and computer related expenses, as well as other items. This exemption is very popular and can save 6% sales tax in Florida for expenditures estimated for back to school at $630 by the National Retail Federation. Even if the grandchildren, such as ours, do not live in Florida, this Grandma looks for what they need in Florida and brings it to them at the next visit.
This is not the only way that grandma can be the star for parents and grandchildren with back to school expenses.
Tip Number One: The new backpack
The articles on how to save money for back to school seem to all say not to buy the fad backpack which is likely to be more expensive than others. The commentators say that the backpack, the lunch box, the thermos, are all likely to the rage now but in a few months not so much. As the grandma, offer to pay the difference between what the parents are willing to spend and, for example, the minions backpack.
Tip Number Two: Luxuries and Necessities
Grandma usually does not have the responsibility to teach the grandchildren life lessons, but back to school is a great time to teach the difference between luxuries and necessities. This Grandma asks if she can buy one necessity for the grandchildren. See post on nap mats. Then, this grandma might buy a luxury second item as well that the grandchild might covet. I explain how lucky the grandchild is to be able to get one thing he or she really wants. Explaining the difference between needs and wants becomes easy.
Tip Number Three: Look for Discount Codes on Www.retailmenot.com
Retailmenot.com is always the last place this Grandma looks before buying anything on line or even in a store. Grandpa recently laughed as this Grandma waited on a check out line and went on the website and found an in store 10% off coupon on the item to be purchased. 6% tax savings and 10% additional off is a big deal. Finding discount codes is called going to aggregator, according to the Miami Herald, August 8, 2015, on how to “Shop Like a Ninja,” and how to save on school supplies. The article says that some aggregators, such as fatwallet.com highlight back to school items.
Tip Number Four: Buy Something You Want to Buy for the Grandchild
Interestingly, the same article said that school supplies cost 41% less in the store than buying them on line. This Grandma likes to buy personalized items for the grandchildren, such as personalized pencils. This is not an expensive item, such as buying 12 with the grandchild’s name on them for less than $10.
Tip Number Five: Buy the Low Hassle Alternative School Boxed Supplies for the Parents of the Grandchild
All the consumer tip articles say NOT to buy the boxed supplies that the parent-teacher organizations sell as a fund raiser, where they offer supply bundles that require no shopping because they cost more than buying the same items individually at the store. Yes, they cost more than buying at the store, but with two working parents, they mean no trip to a store when the parents are hassled for time and money. Offer to buy the box for the grandchildren or pay the difference, usually $20 according to the consumer tip articles, between the supplies and buying them as a boxed set. After all, the boxed supplies are a fund raiser for the school and a win-win for grandma to contribute to the school the grandchild attends and save two working parents’ time.
Tip Number Six: Buy a Special Back to School Item of Clothing or Special Sneakers for the Grandchild
Yes, most of the time, the grandchildren have enough to start the school year in the way of clothing or sneakers. However, new school year breeds desire for new something. If you are able, buy one special item of clothing or, even more important to the grandchildren, special sneakers. With this Grandma’s tips, you will make the grandchildren happy, and, as important, you will make the parents of the grandchildren happy.
Their happiness brings grandma
Joy,
Mema
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