 TITLE: How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping CONTENT: 1\\. Make a Budget\n-----------------\nFirst things first: Map out your budget for back-to-school shopping. If you know what you spent last year, see how much money went to different categories of school supplies, such as basics (notebooks, pens, etc.), art supplies and clothing. If you don't know what you spent, list out all the items you think you'll need and estimate how much you think you may spend. (Alternatively, your school may provide online lists of required supplies.) You can do a quick online search to find a range of costs for supplies to get a preliminary idea.\nThen determine how much you have to spend. Whether pulling from savings (though not your emergency fund) or carving out a chunk of your monthly income, determine how much you can comfortably afford to put toward school supplies. If you've already been setting aside money specifically for school shopping, all the better: Note that amount. END