Money-wise shopping is “in” this year for parents who want to stretch their backtoschool budget as far as possible.

Parenting expert Stacy DeBroff offers the following tips for both students and parents who want to get the most out of each dollar they spend on school supplies.

•Check for weekly deals. Check newspaper ads and store circulars to take advantage of weekly discount specials such as pencils, notebooks and filler paper.

•Needs versus wants. Selecting school supplies lends itself to teaching children about money, budgeting and needs versus wants. Make a list of the child’s required supplies, prioritizing the list with necessities first. Once those items are taken care of, let the child use any money left over for discretionary spending .

•Buy in bulk. Stock up for an entire year or go buddy shopping with friends to split the cost of school supplies. A 28pack of pencils may cost more up front, but extras will be on hand when the child inevitably runs out.

•Think long-term investment. Investing with a longterm attitude in higherquality basic supplies means not replacing them as often.

•Get tech savvy. Flash drives, graphing calculators and even laptops are a common need for many students. Purchasing these items does not need to be a major setback for parents, though. Think of them as long-term investments, since they should carry students through several years of school.

Remember to teach children the importance of taking good care of these things and keeping them safely locked up at school.

•Let youngsters learn the value of money by helping others. Staples is teaming up with DoSomething.org to encourage teens to make a difference this summer by collecting school supplies and dropping them off at their nearest Staples store now through Sept. 19. The supplies will be donated to less fortunate youths.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.