Back to School – The Booklist

Posted On November 7, 2011

The Booklist.  That little piece of paper either brings out feelings of love or loathe. It’s that time of year again.  You are just getting your head around the Christmas Concert and wham, you now have to think about next year.   This week we received our booklist for 2012.  MY FIRST BOOKLIST EVER.  I have written them, advised parents about them, but this time its all mine to buy.  The reality has hit.  My baby is starting school.  I am all about planning ahead and lists and obviously this is no exception.  So here we go…

SURVIVING THE BOOKLIST. 

What to do NOW.

1. READ IT. Read the list thoroughly.  Especiallay the bit where it says what you have to do with it!  Does it have to be returned to the school?  Does it have a closing date?  Look for other details such as how items are to be named.  You may order $50 worth of name labels for Christmas only to find that all items go into a communal container to be shared with the class!

2. COPY IT. Photocopy it.  Or even better scan it. You will thank me in January or when step 3 fails.

3. SAFE PLACE. Put it in a safe place. (Also part of step 2!)  You do not want to loose this list in amoungst the Christmas Cards!  For me it is going in my Smile File!  As soon as it arrives!

4.  PLAN OF ATTACK.  I know it is only November but generally you will have to decide NOW how you want to order your books.  Most schools have three ways of ordering. 

 1.  The no brainer

Fill out the form with your credit card number and the school does the rest.  Nearly all schools now offer this option.  If they don’t, you will usually find a local newsagency or book store who will do this for you.  This is the option to go for if;

  •  You are time poor
  •  You hate shopping
  • The list is very specific
  • It’s your first child starting school so you do not already have any of the items.
  • You want your child to have the same as everybody else
This option WILL cost you more as you can’t shop around and elbow youre way to a bargain at the back to school sales.  It also means that if you have more than one child you will receive a truck load of supplies, all at once usually at the last minute, leaving you and your dining table up to your elbows in contact, labels and markers. But you will get exactly what you need, with no naughty note form the teacher telling you you bought the wrong books and you haven’t even touched a shopping trolley.
 
 
 
2. The 50/50.
This way you order some items through the school but shop yourself for the rest.  If your school has the previous option they generally offer this option.  You just tick off the items you want the school to source and purchase for you.
This is the option if
  • Some items are specific but it is generally your usual stationary, pencils etc.
  • You are keen to get a bargain at back to school sales
  • You already have some of the items 
  • You have a bit of time to shop around
  • You would love for your child to have a few special/personalised/choosen themselves items.
This is probably the approach I will be taking.  If you do the 50/50 my advice is have the school order the books and texts.   Generally these books are pretty specific and the school is probably getting a better deal than you are because they are buying in bulk. Buy the stationary (pencils, crayons, glue etc) yourself.   I used to love picking out my own pencil case and erasers etc.  Now that schools have become so uniform, it is the only thing kids can have that is individual!
3. D. I. Y  
This option is best if
  • You are a skilled and experienced shopper
  • You have more time than money
  • You don’t need to buy texts or specific items.
  • You are crazy
Sorry but I don’t recommend this option.  By the time you chase up 10 bookstores searching for that Year 1 Picture dictionary your child will be graduating.   Even exercise/writing books are generally very specific and there is nothing more annoying (for both teacher and parent) when you buy 10 of the wrong kind of book.   If your provides all texts and books and you are only required to buy the stationary this is a great option and by far the cheapest.  My advice is to not buy items yourself just yet, come January the stores go back to school crazy and you can pick up an amazing bargain from a HUGE range!
Oh and give your school a pat on the back because they have just made both your jobs so much easier! 
THE TIP TO READ NOW
BEFORE ORDERING ANYTHING…..
Ask your child’s current teacher if any items from this year can be used next year. Most schools and teachers are happy to send home anything that did not get used this year!  This could include, 
  • Scissors
  • Dictionary
  • Atlas
  • Calculator
  • Sharpener
  • Plastic Folders
  • Art/Sketch Books
  • Scrapbooks

This will save you both time and money!!!

I am a stationary addict and love back to school shopping, lucky for me I have been at school for the past 27 years in one form or another!  This time I am excited to experience the thrill of picking out a squeaky new pencil case for my little man!  Perhaps I could get two birds with one stone and get him one for Christmas???

How do you do your back to school shopping??

 

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