Your Back-to-School Shopping Guide

Dreading your first day of school after a relaxing break that ended way sooner that you would’ve liked? Buying that new knapsack you’ve had eye on may just do the trick. The idea behind shopping before a new school year starts is that it prepares you with the gear you need to get school work done and have some fun at the same time. According to polls, Canadians tend to spend about $400 per kid depending on age group in back-to-school shopping and business know that so they provide lots of promotion to attract more and more buyers like yourself. Whether you’re a student shopping for yourself or a parent shopping for your kid, don’t hesitate using coupons and taking advantage of such sales to keep costs at bay.

urSTORE has compiled a non-exhaustive list of items below to make your shopping experience enjoyable and productive. Consider buying each item from a high quality supplier/provider so that you get the best bang for your buck.

1. A smartphone along with a cellular plan
Smartphones are one of the most capable devices today. They serve as a mini computer cum camera cum music player, among many other functionalities. Having a cellphone will also ensure you’re connected to your loved ones when you’re away from home.

Smartphones can cause distractions so make sure you balance your work and play time. You can utilize your phone as a source of learning by reading notes and watching online training courses while commuting to your school or college. To ensure you’re covered in case of theft or damage, you may want to get a warranty and a reliable protective case.

2. A tablet or a laptop
These two are not interchangeable so if you need a device for media consumption, a tablet like the iPad Air is the way to go. If you want to do school work on the go, then you must choose a laptop. The good thing is that these days laptops are thinner and lighter than ever. This is going to be one of your most expensive gadgets and will stay with you for at least a couple of years so do your homework and choose the product wisely.

3. School supplies
Depending on your grade or area of study, the supplies you’ll need will vary. Put aside a chunk of your budget for this as it will be the most important bit of your gear.

4. A water bottle
This is really important to keep you away from unhealthy drinks like pops, sodas and the likes filled with obscene amounts of sugar, caffeine and chemicals. Today’s bottles come in a variety of options. Some are advanced in that they keep the beverage cool.

5. A good knapsack
Today’s backpacks are made to fit your gadgets and will have slots for things like cellphones and chargers. If you’re going to be carrying a lot of heaving items in your bag, choosing the comfortable bag will make sense for you. For your kid you can get a backpack with wheels so he or she doesn’t have to carry a heavy load.

6. A new set of uniform for school teams and sports
If your school requires a uniform, you can purchase it from urSTORE and get it delivered right to your door. If your kid is part of a sports team but doesn’t have team wear, you can create a store and buy sports gear not just for your kid but also have his or her teammates access the online store and buy items too. The best part about this is that you get a 10% kickback for every item sold so you can put that towards team events.

7. Sunscreen, lip balm and other skin care products
If you’re commuting to school and find yourself under the sun often, you will need sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful rays. Lip balms and hand lotions are optional but they will help you keep your skin hydrated through the course of the day.