Back To Shopping Stress

Back to School Shopping Tips For Parents

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

It's that time of year again...the kids are going back to school! I need to take them back to school shopping but I'm a little nervous. The malls are going to be so crowded and with three kids of all different ages, it's going to be a mad dash from store to store. Do you have any advice for how we can make back to school shopping a little bit easier on the whole family?

Sincerely,

Shop Right For School

Dear Shop Right For School,

The back to school season can be an exciting and stressful time for everyone. Especially when it comes to the shopping part. Hopefully my back to school shopping tips will get you on the right track for the first day of school.

Back to school shopping tips for parents:

1. Shop armed. Don't leave home without snacks!! Keep a large plastic bag stocked daily within your purse. In that plastic bag keep juice boxes, little water bottles, individually wrapped or packaged snacks like raisins, goldfish crackers, and pretzels. Most kids will quit crying when fed if they're hungry.

2. No marathons. Be realistic. If you have a child shopping with you, you won't be able to shop the same way you would if you're by yourself, in sneakers, with a caffeinated drink in hand.

3. Keep your keys and wallet together. Get a nifty wallet with a key ring hook so you can reach in and grab everything you need without rooting through a suitcase sized purse full of odds and ends with tampons flying all over the place -- at best!

4. Pay for parking. If you're used to saving the valet parking fee and looking for a space to save money, this is the time of year to treat yourself to valet parking. You will buy yourself, possibly, an extra hour or more of peace. Let the valet parking crew load your car. It's a good investment in some power shopping!

5. BRING THE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST WITH YOU!! If you don't have the list that the teachers want you to get your children, call or e-mail jyour child's teachers and/or school BEFORE you go shopping for any supplies.

6. Make an inventory of your child's closet A WEEK BEFORE you go shopping. Know what your child has and doesn't have, needs and doesn't need, fits and doesn't fit. Then make a list of what you want to buy your child on your back to school shopping trip.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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