Nooo! I'm Not Ready!

 I haven't done a 3 Keys Thursday in ages, and I got so excited to write this one, I couldn't stop at three!

It's the time of year that makes teachers wail and gnash their teeth: the emergence of school supplies in a store near you.

It's not the school supplies that are the issue -- teachers will be filling up carts with the stuff -- it's the timing. It feels as though summer vacation has no sooner started than fall is foisted upon us.

As a parent, you might appreciate this. Or, you might feel the same way teachers do, feeling the need to swap out sunglasses for blinders every time you walk into a store. 

No kids? You might be in the best position of all. 

'Tis the season to stock up.

Sure, you can avoid these aisles altogether. Or, you can check your supplies and fill in the gaps at bargain prices. 

Here are a few pointers.

Make a list. If you're parent on a back-to-school supply run, you might have a ready-made list from your child's school. If you're a stationery aficionado like I am, your list looks more like a wish list. Keep your budget in mind when you make your list (once I'm in the store, I want to buy it all!) so you can stay on track once you're roaming the aisles. 

The store list might not be your list. Many stores have posted lists of recommended school supplies. The key here is recommended -- and who's doing the recommending. The store stands to gain quite a lot if you buy everything on the list. Caveat emptor -- stick to the stuff you need, and maybe a few things you want.

Don't forget your styles. While back-to-school prices can offer the opportunity to try something new, don't forget to look at the selections through the lens of your styles. If it didn't work before, chances are good it won't work now, no matter how cheap it is. If you think it might work and the price is right, give it a go. Now's the time.

Comparison shop. When all the signs are screaming "SALE!" it's easy to assume you're getting a deal. With your list in hand, page through some flyers at home, or do a little online sleuthing to see whose prices are promising and whose promises are empty.

Don't feel like you have to compromise. Shopping the early sales gives you plenty of time to walk away and think about what you really want. Better to go back and get the right thing than to spend more to replace the wrong thing you bought because it was (allegedly) a deal.

While I'm in no way ready to think about back-to-school, I'm always ready to find a good planner, notebook, pen (my local dollar store has my favorite one!), or organizing tool at a good price. 

And when all the stars align, one trip might just set me up for the whole school year.