As summer comes to an end, one of the thoughts in the back of your mind is shopping for school supplies. From clothes to notebooks, shoes to stationery, everything your children will need for the start of school makes it to your shopping list.
Back-to-school shopping can be both exciting and challenging as everyone scrambles for time and resources during the last few days of the vacation to get their children ready for school. Amidst all the shopping chaos and madness, you also aspire to save money on purchases as school supplies will burn a deep hole in your pocket. You might end up spending about $1000 minimum for all the supplies your child needs for the first day of school and throughout the semester.
Here are a few points to consider before shopping for back-to-school supplies in 2018.
Prepare in advance
It is imperative to have a list of everything to ensure that you don’t end up purchasing unnecessary supplies for the semester. This list will also ensure that you don’t miss anything that is required by the curriculum. Always stick to the list to save time, money, and effort while scouring through a maze of aisles and endless shelves stocked with back-to-school deals and trends.
Be a smart shopper
Compare prices, don’t just buy the first product that catches your eye. Make the most of coupons and rewards programs that allow you to save money and earn points on your purchase. Stores will have different pricing and purchase policies regarding coupons and discount prices. So, make sure that you go through their terms and conditions in advance.
Shop online
Shopping for school supplies online is a smart move as you not only save time and money but also avoid the crowds and the long queues at the checkout counter. These e-commerce websites also allow you to use coupon codes and earn cash back on purchases. Popular school and office supplies websites like Best Buy, JC Penny, Kmart, Office Depot, Kohl’s, and Macy’s feature trending back-to-school shopping supplies.
Keep the receipts
Never throw away the receipts as it is impossible to exchange or claim a rebate on any of your purchases. Just use the purchase receipt to exchange the product or return it for a full refund. Remember that all stores and websites have different exchange and refund policies.
Note that a branded purchase does not necessarily guarantee quality. You must always inspect the product and check its utility before buying it, irrespective of the brand or price tag.
They say it is never too late to pursue your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to career and education. Unfortunately, not all can afford to quit their jobs and go back to school. This can make it difficult to pursue higher studies or certain courses that can enhance skills. Fortunately, there are several free online learning platforms that allow anyone and everyone to be able to have access to good quality learning resources.
Here are some of the best websites for free online education that you can sign up for.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the most popular platforms for taking free online courses. It features classes, both free as well as paid, on a variety of different topics. This platform is currently being used by over 35 million learners that have access to 150 university partners, 2,700 courses, 250 specializations, and four degrees. These courses are curated in partnership with leading universities and organizations from around the world, such as Stanford and Harvard.
edX
edX is a platform that was founded by Harvard and MIT that brings together top-ranked universities. This platform was founded to help eliminate the primary barriers that prevent people from pursuing education, i.e., cost, location, and access. Along with free courses, edX also offers certain specialized courses for a specific fee. The platform can be accessed by interested educators and technologists through Open edX if they wish to assist in developing new educational tools.
Udemy
Udemy is another online learning platform that is quite similar to Coursera in terms of the format of the courses. The unique aspect of this platform is that it allows users to build their own custom courses by compiling individual lessons so that these can be taught online. There are over 100,000 courses in 50 languages on this platform that are taught by 42,000 instructors from around the world.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed is a platform made by TED to help share ideas and knowledge from teachers to students. This award-winning platform has a global network of more than 250,000 teachers that teach several free courses on a variety of categories and themes. The lessons are taught using animated videos and interactive content so as to make them more interesting for the students.
If you are planning to pursue an accounting degree, you should consider doing it online. There are more than 580 institutions in the country that offer master’s degrees in accounting, and many of them offer their courses online. Therefore, you can pursue this course without shifting to a different state, and you can also continue with your current job. Here are the top picks of online master’s degrees in accounting that you can consider if you are interested in this field.
Auburn University
The online master’s degree in accounting at Auburn University is open for you if you hold a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business, and if you meet all the prerequisites for the business and accounting department. Students who enroll in this program receive study materials, instructions, and assignments that are similar to the on-campus course. The schedule is extremely flexible and can accommodate working professionals as well. Full-time students of this course can complete it within one year. They get to select electives like real estate finance and information risk analysis, among others. This course also prepares students for the Uniform CPA Exam. This whole program is available online, including the exam. However, students have to complete a three-day on-campus residency during their final semester.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers an online Master of Accounting (MAC) degree through its Kenan-Flagler Business School. This school accepts students from all undergraduate backgrounds. However, students who have business or accounting backgrounds may get course waivers. Students who enroll in this course can choose a concentration in Tax or Audit. If you take up the full-time course, you can finish it in less than 15 months. You can start this course either in June or December. This way, even if you miss the application deadline for one semester, you do not have to wait for an entire year to enroll in the course. The MAC degree is entirely online, except for a one-week leadership immersion on campus, which is mandatory and takes place at the beginning of the course.
University of Connecticut
An online master’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut is one of the best online courses in the country. This university offers a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program. Full-time students can complete it in two semesters. Working professionals who enroll in this degree take two courses per semester. The University of Connecticut also offers you electives like Forensic Accounting, Disclosure for Not-for-Profit Entities, and Fraud Examination among others.