So while putting my class folders together today, I decided to share some of my favorite tips for purchasing and using school supplies. This is my last year in high school, and I just wanted to help students out. Hope you enjoy!
1. School supplies are always cheaper after school starts...only buy the stuff you need before the first day. Otherwise wait for the sales.
2. Cheap school supplies are 50 cents and under, cheaper school supplies are 25 cents and under, and the cheapest school supplies are 10 cents and under. Don't buy filler paper, packs of mechanical pencils, crayons, glue, spiral notebooks, packs of erasers, folders, rulers, index cards, or pencil sharpeners for more than 5 cents.
3. Scan ads vigorously. You can find the basics of what you need for a penny. And if not, don't spend more than $5 for anything but a backpack or a zip around binder.
4. The best quality, cheapest backpacks are found at TJ Max, not Wal-Mart. They currently have Jansport backpacks for $17.99.
5. Don't buy a rolling backpack. The hallways are too packed for them and eventually it will get too short for you as you grow.
6. I recommend a tote bag as a backpack in middle school such as an Aeropostle tote or a Vera Bradley tote with many pockets, and an actual backpack in high school. That is what I did and I think it is cheaper that way. With tote bags you can use them for two years and after as carry-ons that you don't have to worry about getting dirty. Normal backpacks or messenger bags only last one year, but are more private and easier to carry.
7. There is no need to purchase a planner/agenda/calendar because your school will probably provide one. Only buy one later if they don't. Same with rulers-there are usually inch and centimeter markings on the back edge of your school-provided planner.
8. You only need to buy 1 or 2 spiral notebooks ahead of time...you might need them for maybe two classes. Buy more after if you need to, and remember, college ruled is best.
9. Buy and use color-coded (or different designs) plastic pocket folders for each class. (Also, another tip is a folder with just paper in it. That way, you can just grab a piece of paper real quick.) Only buy a binder if a teacher requests you get one for their class and/or you have a due date to get one. Otherwise, binders cause your backpack to be more heavy than it needs to be.
10. College-ruled filler paper is a must. You need it because you will eventually turn in assignments for math and rough drafts in english. If you have to tear it out of that spiral notebook I told you not to buy, the edges are messy and teachers don't like them. I recommend college ruled because there are more lines and smaller writing requires your handwriting to be neater.
11. Get mechanical pencils, not #2 (unless you want to). They are usually cheaper and you can throw them away if they were a cent for a 5 pack. Scantrons actually work with mechanical pencils (unlike your teachers claim) and the only reason to buy them is for the ACT/SAT.
12. Find or purchase a small pencil BAG. They are more durable to wear and tear, not loud when you open and shut them, and usually hold more than a pencil box or one of those hard plastic slide-open ones. Get a small one so that u can easily find it in and grab it from your backpack before class starts. The essentials for a pencil bag include:
2 pencils
3 pens
3 highlighters
Eraser
Post-it notes
Sharpie (for some odd reason, you always end up needing one)
13. Don't go overboard on buying tons of colors of highlighters and pens.
Highlighters: you only need three at the most, in three different colors. One to use, one to lend out, and one just in case of a run out or a break.
Pens: you need three maximum in different colors unless you're one of those really enthusiastic girls who has to use a thousand different colors to color code your notes.
You need a black one for when that one teacher requests you write in ink, a red one to correct papers in class and peer edit, and a blue one just in case one of those becomes unusable or to lend out.
14. Invest in a nice texas instrument graphing calculator. Make sure you wait until your math teacher tells you which one to get, but buy the cheapest one you can find. My school has the option to rent one per year for $20, but buying one to use is actually cheaper if you use it from 6th grade on through college. They run usually from $100 to $150.
15. Buy tons of 3 x 5 index cards. You will need them for many different classes. Spanish and English vocabulary, math terms, history dates and events, science terms and vocabulary, the possibilities are endless. But please only pay 25 cents or less for them.
16. If you already have them, you might need to use post-it notes. If you don't have any, any size, don't worry about buying them unless you see the need for them or are required to. I use them for numerous reasons and always end up buying more. Some things you can use them for are:
marking sections off in spiral notebooks or tabs in a binder
adding a quick note such as a due date or test question a teacher gives you to your planner
labeling folders until you memorize each classes color/design
marking your class notes by different sections or important ideas
marking english reading novels for quotes and figures of speech
writing homework assignments on or putting due dates on worksheets
17. Always have an eraser with you. Always. You will love me for making you buy an eraser.
18. Bring a book or magazine to school and keep it in your backpack in case you have extra free time in class and have finished your homework. This way you are less likely to have your phone out and get in trouble.
19. You need to have a refillable/reusable plastic water bottle. You will get thirsty. You will run out of hall passes to go to the water fountain. You will need water.
20. In high school, you rarely need to bring your textbooks to class. Leave them in your locker during the day and only take them out if the teacher tells you to bring them the next day or to bring them home for assignments. Otherwise, you don't need to carry around that extra weight.
And there you have it! My top 20 tips for middle and high school students school supplies! I hope you found this helpful and let me know if you liked or successfully used this advice. Thanks for reading and check out my other posts :)
