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Back to School! Both a sense of a relief and rush of stress come over most of us at the start of this season. While there are some expenses that can’t be cut, there are many areas where you can save time and money.

Be careful not to find yourself getting swept up in the Back to School ritual of buying more than you need for the sake of feeling prepared. By following a few key steps, you can save money and be ready for when the school bell rings.

Review What You Have

This is a great time to stop and review what your children already own. Set aside a morning for you and your children to dig through forgotten piles, open every drawer and try on anything that hasn’t been worn in a while.

Are there any items with tags still attached? Don’t worry – it happens to all of us – but take a moment and remember why the item was purchased, why it wasn’t worn, and how you can prevent dollars from being wasted that way in the future. Make a specific list of items you will need to get your family through the first few months of school.

Consign

Now that you know exactly what won’t be worn again, invest a few minutes in figuring out local consignment opportunities. A handful of shirts, shoes and pants in good condition can quickly turn into additional funds. Less clutter and more money – can’t beat that!

Buy Only What You Need

Sale! Sale! Sale! Marketers know you’re opening your wallet right now – what’s another few dollars? And it’s on sale, so why not? Don’t let that eye catching word distract you from your list. Be sure to calculate the real total of each item. In many cases, August is not the best time to buy jeans and other Fall items that your children won’t need for a few more months. Hold off on Fall items until they are needed as the sales will be better and you will avoid having your children grow out of the items before they get a chance to wear them.

By following these steps, you can gain more control of your wallet this season and make sure your kids have everything they need as they go back to school.