Tips and tricks to get you through back-to-school buys
Brittany Hobson, Arts & Culture Editor
The start of school can be an expensive time, but it doesn’t have to be. Use our tips to ease into a stress free school year. THE PROJECTOR/Brittany Hobson
For college kids, back-to-school shopping no longer means heading to Wal- Mart with your school-issued supplies list. It doesn’t even mean begging your parents for that six-pack of smelly markers. No. College back-to-school shopping means keeping track of textbook costs, laptop costs and all other costs imaginable.
We can’t save you from the price of textbooks and tuition, but we can save you from spending a fortune on clothing, food and some of those other little things you might need between September and April.
SHOP VINTAGE
The excitement of heading into a new school year includes the back-to-school outfit shopping. This may not be the case now since money is going toward books and tuition, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up new threads. Instead, shop for “new-to-you” pieces.
“Students will come in for the common things like the plaid shirts and t-shirts. Something they can wear in school,” said Doug Shand, owner of Vintage Glory located in the Exchange District.
Shand said he sees a lot of younger people looking for affordable versions of items like jean jackets.
“I have at least 25 Levi jean jackets, which are really popular because new ones are over $100,” said Shand.
Shand has been operating Vintage Glory for the past three years and said the key to finding good pieces in vintage stores is shopping regularly.
“You have to go out all the time because the pieces don’t really come to you,” he said.
If you’re looking for that perfect plaid shirt but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg head over to Vintage Glory for affordable secondhand finds. The Projector/Brittany Hobson
DITCH THE HILROY
Homework is inevitable, so why not do it in style?Danika Bock, who co-owns stationary store Tiny Feast, said she finds students are more excited to do school work when they’re writing in what feels like a personal item. “One of the things that we noticed when we opened is people would come in and say ‘now I’m so excited to go do my homework,’” she said. “It sounds stupid, but that’s the whole idea to it.”
Tiny Feast specializes in simple, hand-crafted organizational items for anyone looking to scrap their post-it notes and cellphone day planners.
“We’re more so about simplicity than about too much decorative things,” said Bock. “There’s a fine balance in there between finding something you like using, but still really practical for you as well.”
So switch that plain Hilroy notebook for a floral hard-covered one, and get to work.
Spice up your school supplies with one-of-a-kind items from Tiny Feast. Doing homework never looked so good/Brittany Hobson
PIN AWAY
If you’re doing research online, check out bookmarking website Pinterest for links to easy meals, clothing options and cool products. Just typing in “back to school” gets you tons of app ideas, organization tips and night-before breakfast recipes.
Pinterest also offers a back to school board in conjunction with teachers to give students easy tips on meal preparation, organizational tools and back-to-school hacks. That way, you’re getting advice from the pros.
Students say…
How do you save money during the school year?
Alysha Barrie, 21, business administration
“It’s my first year, so I’m going to have to make a budget. I already cancelled my gym membership and just use the gym here.” The Projector/ Brittany Hobson
Phong Nguyen, 19, business administration
“I buy all my books used. I also rent a room close to school so I don’t have to pay for a bus pass.” The Projector/Brittany Hobson
Yana Matviechuk, 18, electrical engineering
“I take out student loans and just save all the money I can. I put it in an account and leave it there.”
