Stop Buying YEARLY School Supplies, Clothes, & Pointless Sh*t
You DON'T need a new outfit to learn
According to Savings.com, "the typical parent expects to pay $592 for supplies, backpacks, and services like haircuts for the new school year. Clothing is the costliest category: parents plan to spend an average of $142 per child on new clothes for school."
But parents aren't the only ones paying for school supplies. Students and adults without children who enrolled in academic programs also buy more clothes, supplies, and books than they need yearly.
What's the point?
All I ever needed for school was a pencil and some paper, and once I went digital, I only required a laptop or tablet.
You can get the paper supplies for a couple of bucks or less.
Backpack Hack
It might be news, but you can use the same backpack for your entire academic career or until it falls apart and can't hold your stuff anymore.
Many of the items we stuff our backpacks with are optional anyway.
Book Hack
If it doesn't bother you or your child to read something digitally (as many do on social media), then leverage digital books versus paper books; it will keep your backpack and environments less clogged, more minimalistic, and more organized.
Punch Capitalism In The Face
Many schools are capitalistic. If you can, share books with other students or use free or used versions of textbooks if you need them for class.
Some classes say you will require a textbook, but you don't really need one.
I don't recall buying any books for my senior year of college (my heaviest course load); if I did, it was very few. I finally figured it tf out (and yes, I still passed my classes).
Clothing Hack
Did you know that you can wear the same clothes year after year?
You don’t need a new outfit to learn.
Unless your physique has significantly changed (e.g., you had a gigantic growth spurt or lost or gained mass), the clothes you wore last year will also work for this year and probably the following year.
School Supply Hack
You don't need ten different notepads. You might not need notepads at all since things have gone digital.
On that note, you might not even need pens and pencils. But if you do, go to your friend's house and take some of their pens, pencils, and extra notepads, and you get yourself some new supplies.
School Supplies You Can Get For $1:
Pens
Paper
Pencils
Notepads
Technology Hack
I kept my first MacBook for almost ten years until it gave out on me. I keep my laptops for as long as possible before obtaining new ones.
You might not need a laptop and an iPad or tablet. One will do unless you have specific and meaningful use cases that require both.
Avoid Buying More Sh*t
One of the key ways to build wealth is by making as many intentional purchases as possible.
The more intentional you are with your money, the better for your bank account and overall financial portfolio.
The best part about school is not the supplies or the clothes you wear but the experiences and education you learn.
Many need to re-shift their focus to the primary goal of school:
Obtain a quality education.
Supplies, clothes, and yearly technology upgrades are unnecessary.
This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Not all information will be accurate. Consult a financial professional before making any significant financial decisions.