Back-to-school season can be a blessing or a curse for students and long-past graduates alike. On the one hand, it marks the end of summer and carefree vacation days, not to mention the return to classes which aren’t always very exciting.
On the other hand, it offers the promise of a new year and the fresh starts that come with it, as evidenced by any planner you can pick up off the shelf. Counting the days or dreading the moment department store shelves break out in spiral-bound notebooks, back-to-school season and the shopping efforts that come with it are inevitable. When you do start this season’s school supply shopping, you’ll get the best results with a few particular products in mind.
Also Read: How to Make a Real Impact as Educator
Now, more than ever, the electronic ins and outs of the upcoming school year are crucial. Working through online courses or utilizing digital tools in the classroom, a modern student (or, for that matter, teacher) would be hard-pressed to avoid using computers and other electronics in the classroom—or while shopping for back-to-school supplies.
Whether you’re browsing a refurbished laptop store to get a warranty-backed new laptop for college or you’re hoping to add some discount accessories to your refurbished laptop from the year before, the right hardware, software, and other online store finds can set the school year up for success.
Of course, there are no avoiding manual school supplies, either. While some people might not see binders, ballpoint pens, or agenda books as fun, you don’t have to be a stationery enthusiast to make shopping for back-to-school essentials a little more fun. For example, consider browsing the shelves with your unrelated interests in mind. K-pop fans might find themselves drawn to kawaii journals, erasers, or pencil cases.
Little ones who want to grow up to be a superhero might love a folder or notebook featuring Ironman or Wonder Woman. It might come as a surprise, but a fun pencil or other school supply can transform even overwhelming, busy days into the “glory days” you hear others recall with nostalgia.
Even choosing a particular aesthetic or color theme for your next year’s must-haves can turn a routine shopping trip into a sort of game. To add an extra rule to the game, browse your favorite dollar or discount stores, clearance racks, and budget-friendly sites like SHEIN to find all your cute stationery needs for less.
Finding the right outfit doesn‘t stop being a challenge after the first day of school. If anything, it can be even more difficult to compare with your back-to-school look! You can help mitigate this problem by picking out plenty of clothing for the new school year in advance.
Whether it’s a sleek pair of ankle pants, a classic plaid skirt, or a simple pair of jeans, crafting the best possible wardrobe now can ensure you always have something to wear for the school day ahead. You made your prior purchases because these pieces caught your eye at the outlets or mall—chances are, they‘ll do the same while hanging in your closet.
If you’re not a fan of checking items off your back-to-school shopping list, you might relish that this is a limited-time event that will soon pass until next year. However, you don’t have to dread the school shopping season. Instead, find ways to make the experience more enjoyable, whether that’s finding items you’re excited about or simply trying to make shopping itself more fun. Even those who love nothing more than a new pack of crayons can benefit from a little extra pleasure—after all, there‘s no such thing as having too much fun.