What are the ways to save
1. Arrange an audit
If your child is not a first-grader, there are likely school supplies lying around in his closet that are suitable for further use. Sharpen old pencils, tear out blank sheets for drafts from half-written notebooks, wash a fabric pencil case in soapy water, clean dirty erasers on thick paper or sandpaper.
You look, it turns out that your student is one-third staffed.
2. Make a list and follow it clearly
In order not to buy too much, ask the class teacher for a list of necessary stationery. Specify how many pages should be in notebooks (12, 18 or 24) and whether they are purchased centrally.
If there is no connection with the teacher, write down the most necessary things on the sheet. Don’t buy anything “just in case”. Always have time to purchase the missing later, when you really need it.
In the meantime, here is an approximate list of school supplies for the first time (taking into account the fact that various trifles like erasers are constantly lost, forgotten, and go into the pencil cases of classmates).
3. Avoid Globes and Notebook Holders
Although these two things are associated with school, many children never use them.
The globe takes up precious space and collects dust. Stands are usually not very convenient: schoolchildren often tear sheets when they try to quickly turn the page of the textbook. And these unstable iron structures fall noisily. To place the book at an angle on the table, it is enough to place a pencil case under it.
4. Don’t pull to the last
Get the goods on the list at least two to three weeks before the first call. There is no flea market yet, the assortment of goods is wider, and the sellers have not raised the price in the wake of the general hype. The most affordable prices for popular stationery and the best choice, oddly enough, are provided by chain hypermarkets where you go for groceries.
5. Team up with other parents
Buying goods together is always cheaper than buying alone. You don’t have to join the whole class. For a small wholesale, it is enough to agree with three to five parents. Discounts can be a nice 5-20%.
6. Take advantage of discounts in online stores
Track sales and promotions. In addition, when ordering for a certain amount, many online sellers offer pleasant bonuses all year round, such as free shipping or the opportunity to purchase at wholesale prices.
7. Do not involve a child in the purchase
A trip for office supplies in the company of a junior high school student is fraught with an increase in the check by one and a half times. The child grabs everything he likes, so it’s harder to stick to the list. In addition, children are greedy for colorful covers, bright colors, pendants, trinkets and other decorations that drive up the price. And often make the purchase less suitable for the main purpose – study.
If a student wants to tearfully participate in the process, so be it: let him choose a couple of school supplies (for example, a sketchbook, one notebook with his favorite character and a folder). But make the main purchases yourself, guided by common sense.
8. Don’t be tempted by cheapness
The student does not need premium stationery. But this does not mean that everything that is the cheapest will suit him. Suspiciously low prices may indicate poor quality. The pen will stop writing the next day or will leak, staining clothes, briefcase and notebooks. The pencil will tear the paper, and the sharpener will break the lead. As a result, you will pay more.
How to choose school supplies
How to choose notebooks
Avoid notebooks with bright white smooth paper and glossy covers with cats, dogs and cartoon characters. They are more expensive, and bright pictures distract from the educational process. In addition, it is more difficult to write on a smooth surface: the paste smears easily and leaves stains. And on a beautiful glossy cover with Superman or Cheburashka, you will have to stick a rectangle cut out of a regular notebook to indicate the subject, class, school number, first and last name.
Here are a few signs of a “correct” notebook.
- Neutral cover.
- Slightly rough paper.
- EAC marking on the back. This means that the product complies with the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union. According to the existing standard, the density of paper in a school notebook should be at least 60 g / m2. The higher it is, the more comfortable it is to write and read. For example, in the USSR, 70 g / m2 was considered the norm for a school notebook. Some manufacturers still produce notebooks with high density paper. They are a little more expensive, but there are no sagging marks from a fountain pen on the sheets.
- Clear, but not too bright line. Smudged outlines or too much contrast between lines and paper irritate the eyes. The second point: the ruler should match on the turns and in the light. Explicit offsets complicate reading and writing.
By the way, you can buy some of the cheapest notebooks with gray paper – they will come in handy for drafts.
How to choose covers
Pay attention to the density indicated in microns (µm). The lower the number, the cheaper the cover. And the sooner it breaks. Acceptable quality starts from 110 microns.
How to choose a pencil case
The main rule is that the pencil case must be durable. After all, it will be accidentally dropped and deliberately thrown. And also – in a hurry to open, pulling out “with meat” poorly sewn zippers or buttons that are kept on parole.
The second important point: do not buy complete pencil cases. As a rule, they are filled with not the highest quality stationery at inflated prices.
The best option for younger students is a folding pencil case with a strong zipper. It will fit all the necessary accessories for the lesson. Having opened such a pencil case, the child will see pens, pencils and erasers at a glance. He does not have to rummage in search of the right thing, as is the case with a cosmetic case or a tube.
Pay attention to the inside of the pencil case. It should be plastic or textile – then you can easily wash the thing or even wash it in a typewriter. But the cardboard walls will not survive the cleaning.
How to choose a pen
A light ballpoint pen about 15 cm long with a rubber insert fits perfectly into a child’s hand, which prevents fingers sweating from tension from sliding down. Make sure that the ampoule does not scratch the paper, but at the same time writes thinly – otherwise ugly spots will appear in the notebook.
How to choose a simple pencil
For the needs of the student, an ordinary wooden pencil is best suited. When choosing, consider three parameters: the shape, the hardness of the lead and the type of wood from which the case is made.
Edged pencils are easier to hold than lead with a round and smooth shell.
Hardness should be standard, hard-soft. It can be identified by marking TM or HB. Separate T or H (from the English H – hardness) are placed on hard pencils designed for thin lines and drawings. Such a stylus will scratch or tear a school notebook. The letters M or B (from English blackness – blackness) give out a soft stylus for artistic sketches. It does not wash well and leaves stains on paper.
The best materials for pencils are cedar, pine or jelutong. Their dense, durable and at the same time soft wood is easier to sharpen and lasts longer. But the price will also be higher. Standard school pencils are made from linden. Alder and poplar go to cheap consumer goods. Such products can delaminate and crumble during sharpening, they quickly lose their presentation.
How to choose colored pencils
About the same as simple ones. Plus one more tip. Smaller artists will benefit from thicker pencils with a triangular body that fits comfortably in a pinch of thumb, index and middle fingers. The lead in such a pencil is also thicker than usual and therefore breaks less often.
How to choose a sketchbook
Again, pay attention to the weight of the paper. For schoolchildren of primary and secondary grades, it is better to buy albums with sheets with a density of 160–200 g / m2. They will withstand both felt-tip pens and paints. Thinner sheets are suitable only for pencils and wax crayons.
Attachment matters too. Glued sheets will quickly disintegrate, it is difficult to tear a sheet out of an album on staples, so the best option is a model with a spring connection.
How to choose an eraser
It is very convenient if the eraser is attached to the body of the pencil. So you will not lose it and it is always at hand. Separately, it is better to buy a nondescript “washer” made of natural rubber (rubber). Bright synthetic options work much worse, which crumble and leave dirty marks on paper or tear it.
In any case, before buying, arrange a test drive with an eraser: draw a line on paper with a pencil and erase it.
How to choose a sharpener
It is better to take a sharpener with a container for collecting chips and holes for pencils of different diameters. Get ready for the fact that you will have to change this tool at least once every six months: the blade becomes dull over such a period and already breaks, and does not sharpen the lead.
How to choose rulers
For a younger student, a ruler 10–15 cm long is enough. In the middle classes, you will need a longer device plus a triangle and a protractor.
A universal choice is a ruler made of lightweight plastic with clear divisions. You can also take a wooden one, but it is more bulky, and when wet it can swell and deform. But given that the rulers, like other little things, are quickly lost, the chances of spoiling are small.