Today we continue our look at back to school preparations by looking at back to school shopping. If you watch the commercials, you' d think you have to empty your bank account to be ready for the classroom.

To aid in your preparation, many states have tax free holidays during the back to school period. If your state has one and you need to make purchases, be sure to take advantage of this discount. If you are buying things you don't need, though, you aren't saving money.

Think outside the big box stores. Office supply stores and craft stores often have good back to school deals.

Check with your school before buying classroom supplies. Teachers are often very specific about what students should have. Many have set up websites with information about supplies.

If the supplies are consumable (crayons, pens, notebooks, etc.), consider buying extras now, while things are on sale. When the supplies you purchased in the fall run out midyear, you'll have replacements available and you won't have to pay the higher price.

Take the time to set up a place in your house to keep backpacks and other things that go back and forth to school. Have two folders for each child: one for papers to be signed and one for papers to be kept. The latter folder could be replaced by a computer file into which you scan papers.

Take a look through school clothes and see what needs to be updated or replaced. Consider putting outfits on hangers or in bags to make the morning routine easier.

Finally, prepare a school lunch menu, listing the components of a healthy lunch: proteins, grains, veggies, fruits, drinks. (Note that chips and candy are not on that list.)  Consider keeping several from each list in stock and allowing kids to pack their own lunches — as long as they choose one item from each list. After all, do you really care if your child picks hummus and whole wheat crackers instead of turkey breast on a whole wheat roll?  Or pepper strips instead of carrot sticks?  I didn't think so!