While every school year is different, one thing that remains the same is the desire to save on school supplies. Parents are looking to save on more than just dollars and cents. They want to save on time and stress, too.

To help, here is advice on how to get parents and their children off to a successful start this school year.

•Shop early. Vacation is a good time to inventory what supplies are already on hand. Make a list of what each child needs and start looking for the best deals. Many stores offer bargains on school supplies during the summer months.

•Create a budget: While it can be good to get children involved and let them choose some items, it’s a smart idea to have a budget. If children know how much to spend, they can do the math. Budgets can teach children a valuable lesson in both math and economics.

Parents can also involve their children in the shopping process by showing them how to look for a good deal.

•Keep a family calendar: Buy and post a bulletin board or calendar to help keep everyone on track.

Keep children up-to-date on key dates, including school assignments/ tests and extracurricular activities. Also, consider color coding each child’s schedule to stay on top of all the things to do.

•Search for savings. Walking up and down the aisles to find the right product at the right price for a child isn’t hard. Check out the local circular from stores for the top deals each week.

•Buy basics in bulk. While teachers provide lists of specifics, the basics that students need to start out the school year are pretty consistent, so it can pay to buy in bulk, especially for families with more than one child.

Getting organized, looking for deals and mapping out the best way to prepare for the start of school will lead to a stress-free and easy experience.

This story provided by North America Precis Syndicate Inc.