MANILA, Philippines ? With the school year 2009-2010 starting on June 1, no doubt many parents and their children are doing their shopping.
Tom Watson, in a special article for the Seattle Times, reminds parents and students that cost should not be the only major consideration when buying school supplies and clothes.
We should also think of what is good for our seriously troubled planet. This school year, let?s think lean and green.
Watson, project manager for King County?s Recycling and Environmental Services in Seattle, Washington, United States, suggests buying only what is required by the school or specific teachers.
Just because a school or a teacher suggests certain brands does not mean you should limit your choices. If you are not sure they will be acceptable, ask the teacher if substitutions are all right, Watson says.
Watson says buy in bulk those things you feel the kids will use a lot, like bond and writing paper. ?Keep all your extra school supplies on one shelf where everyone in your family can easily find them. Buy recycled-content paper when possible,? he suggests.
You can save money in the long run by spending a little extra for more durable items.
Keep in mind that kids, particularly the younger ones, put their shoes through a lot of ?torture.? Add to that the prospect of having to wade through flooded streets during the rainy season, then the little extra you have to pay for sturdier shoes makes sense.
Watson says plastic covers on many notebooks, weekly planners and folders may not be recyclable but they will help you save money by offering protection from rain and dirt so the kids do not have to throw away things before they are fully utilized.
Visit the ?ukay-ukay?
Unless your children have to wear uniforms, get clothes that are durable and comfortable. Check out the nearest ?ukay-ukay? or flea market outlet. You can find many items that are only slightly used and of good material. ?Rejuvenate? the items with ribbons, laces, beads and other things kids love.
While you want your kids to eat healthy, you also want to make sure that they will eat the food you prepare for them either during family meals or as ?baon.? Watson says bring your child when you do your marketing and let him or her pick out the stuff he or she will eat.
Buying large sizes of grocery and snack items, instead of individual-serving sizes, will save you money only if they are fully consumed and are not allowed to go stale.
Instead of giving kids single-use bottles, Watson says get them reusable water or beverage containers.
As for college students who stay in dormitories, Watson suggests checking with roommates to see who is bringing what to prevent duplication and unnecessary purchases. Instead of buying new textbooks, they should check out used textbooks or see if there are places that offer them for rent.
Better prices
Speaking of books, Alexandra Ramos Padilla says those looking for good buys may want to check out the prices at the National Book Store and Powerbooks chains.
Padilla says the difference in price between National and Powerbooks can range from P50 to P700 per book among bestsellers, for instance. Jodi Picoult?s ?Handle with Care? that costs P1,258 in other bookstores sells for only P539, or a difference of P719. John Grisham?s ?The Associate? sells for P1,199 in other stores and only P995 in NBS and Powerbooks, for a saving of P204.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail lbolido@inquirer.com.ph.
