Tips For Cutting Back To School Costs

It's time to gather up the kids and hit the shopping scene once again- back-to-school is here. With back-to-school, kids see time to hang out with friends again and piles of homework to do instead of watching TV or going to the pool. Parents, on the other hand, see something very different: their money flying out of their pockets. Parents will spend nearly $500 sending each of their children back to school this Fall.

In August of last year, families spent $7.1 billion dollars on back-to-school clothing alone. Only during the holiday shopping season was more spent on clothing. However, clothing is just the beginning. Bookstores earned $2.1 billion in revenue in August 2006 as well. It was estimated last year that each family with school- age children would spend approximately $483. $219 went for clothing, $90 for shoes, $73 for supplies and $101 on electronics and computer equipment.

School systems throughout the United States also footed the bill in 2005 with an average of $8,701 spent on each student enrolled in public elementary schools that year. New York spent the most with $14,119 and Utah the least with $5,257, but it still adds up to a lot when calculated that 75.8 million people over the age of three were enrolled in school that year.

With the cost of back-to-school seeming a bit daunting, it may be helpful to try a few tips to keep costs down. Gathering a budget for back-to-school costs can soften the blow. Simply look up figures for the average cost per child, then divide by twelve (months in a year) and multiple by the number of children. Once you have a figure, plan on saving that much each month during the year. This way, once back-to-school shopping comes around, there will be no shock to the wallet.

If taking children along for the shopping trip, make sure the kids are aware of the allotted amount to be spent. In most cases, kids will whine for the latest fashion or the coolest looking school supplies. Although it may be alright to go for a cool, new thing or two, make sure the child knows you are staying within a budget.

Before shopping, be sure to take out of the budget "must haves" that cannot be found at the store. These include such things as enrollment fees and book costs or band instruments and athletic fees. Also, think about food costs and whether or not it would be more economical for your children to buy or bring lunch. Transportation costs may also be a factor, so check out local busing or car-pooling options.

Examine last year's markers and gluesticks before purchasing brand-new sets. Also, make sure to buy only what is required on the school supply list. Buying extra items can add up; especially, with more than one child.

When shopping for clothes, don't go for brand-new items unless necessary. Look for shops offering gently-used items; especially, for children who will be growing rapidly in the coming year. When buying the clothing, try to stick with cash, so as not to overspend on the allotted amount. It can be tempting with kids trying to convince you otherwise, but by having only the set amount in cash there will be no choice but to stick to the budget.

One of the best ways to save money on back-to-school clothing is to shop off-season to save up to seventy-five percent.

If multiple children in a family are going back to school, consider buying school supplies in bulk. Warehouse clubs offer larger amounts of supplies at much lower prices. As much as fifteen percent can be saved by bulk buying; cutting a few back-to-school dollars.

Charlotte Buelow is a contributing business writer for Goliath. Goliath is one of the Internet's largest collections of business research, news and information. Learn more about Goliath at http://goliath.ecnext.com.

Aching For An Acupuncture Career - Find The Best Accredited Acupuncture Schools

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for at least 2,000 years or so and some say it is more possibly like 3,000 years or so. You may be thinking about a career in acupuncture. When just starting out, one needs to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture and what it's like to work in the field of acupuncture.

It's important to get a complete picture of all the treatments offered by the acupuncture school to acquire the skills needed to be well-rounded and well-versed for your patients. Smaller classes tend to encourage greater discussion between students and teachers, and can foster improved learning. Acupuncture school education and training requirements can total from between 2500 to 4000 credit hours.

For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs see the: List of Accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America. Keep in mind that depending on the school, students may be required to study herbal medicine or may be offered herbal courses as electives. Acupuncture schools that offer courses in traditional Chinese medicine often include other aspects of traditional medicine, like anatomy, body therapy, massage therapy, and sciences.

Choose an acupuncture school that offers consultation services for its graduates; these schools allow graduates to consult with their instructors regarding care of their patients. Choose an acupuncture school that offers an extensive library of materials focused on traditional Chinese medicine. You want to opt for a school whose program emphasizes courses in traditional Chinese medicine; acupuncture is just one part of traditional Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture scholarships may be available; check this out as soon as you make the decision to enroll in a program - don't wait. Talk to the financial aid counselors at the acupuncture school or college you are considering and see if they have any suggestions for scholarships, grants or loans. Before you commit to learning about any alternative medical technique, be aware that many of them have not been scientifically evaluated; do your homework.

Economic burden may be lessened with financial aid in the form of federal student loans. If you have a naturopathic school in your area, give them a call; they will undoubtedly know the licensing requirements. If you visit an acupuncture practitioner to learn more before you commit to acupuncture as a career, make sure to choose a practitioner who is licensed by a recognized national acupuncture organization.

Before you commit to any acupuncture school or to any acupuncture training you can purchase "Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture" by Andrew Ellis, Nigel Wiseman, and Ken Bosson. 484pp, illustrated, Harcourt, 1991, paperback; this text book is used in many acupuncture schools and acupuncture programs and will give you an idea if you want to pursue acupuncture as a career. You may not need a license to practice acupuncture in your state; get the facts first on which states require licensing. Consider contacting local organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships available.

Acupuncturists can expect to make about $45,000 per year starting out and can usually double that amount after a few years experience. Make sure to learn all you can about your state's licensing requirements for acupuncturists before you do anything else. Our advanced medicine has proven the effectiveness of many treatments that have been practiced in other countries for many centuries; as a result, more and more insurance companies are covering alternative treatments like acupuncture.

For more information on choosing the best acupuncture schools and finding the best acupuncture school financing go to http://www.AcupunctureSchoolsTips.com a nurse's website specializing in acupuncture schools tips, help, facts, free resources, including information on acupuncture schools list