Lifestyle

The back-to-school dollar stretch

By Sandra Iruegas

While retailers might be laughing all the way to the bank, for some parents stretching the back-to-school dollar is a real challenge as they balance what is required with a child's demands for name brand clothing and accessories.
Wal-Mart, HEB, and other retailers are enjoying the annual surge in business thanks to back-to-school shoppers, but with school supply lists and demands for name brand clothes, this is no anticipated shopping experience with the kids.
Money is an issue for many parents during these times, and students feel the pressures of starting a new school year as well.
How to keep a budget and how to buy the children what they want: a nationwide dilemma, and it's no different for the folks in Laredo.
"We usually prepare ahead of time just about every year. This year we left a lot of back-to-school shopping until the last minute," said Gracey Hernandez, mother of two, who admitted that this is a stressful time for her and for most parents.
Having two children in elementary school and one in middle school makes this time even harder financially, explained Leticia Sifuentes as she shopped for school supplies for her kids.
"The children are excited about being out shopping. They want to pick and choose their own school supplies and clothes. With three children, we have to wait and take advantage of specials to save some money," she said.
Deedra Riley, a student at Clark Middle School, said it is difficult for students as well as parents.
"We want to wear what is in and there is that pressure," she said, adding that she understands it is difficult for her parents to meet all her wants, and that she takes advantage of sales, such as the one held at Mall del Norte on tax-free weekend.
The annual event, which was called Your Taste, Your Style, Your Night of Shopping, was sponsored by Pepsi and Fuji. The event filled the mall with shoppers who took advantage of special sales, cutting-edge teen fashions, music, and retailer coupons and giveaways.
"We created this event to give teens in our community a unique and fun experience that combines their favorite music and shopping," said A. B. Barrera, marketing manager for Mall del Norte.
Fortunately for many parents who need help with the cost of school supplies, several organizations and events come together to provide that help. Benefits are held to raise school supplies such as the Supply our Students (SOS) benefit, in which Tejano artists Robert Pulido, Oscar Peña, Los Palominos, and others hosted a concert that benefited local area students and their parents. The concert entrance fee was three packages of school supplies, which were donated to local schools. The sponsors for this event were Justice of the Peace Danny Valdez, City of Laredo Parks and Recreation Dept., International Bank of Commerce, AEP/Central Power and Light, West Wind Homes, Librado Pina, Inc., Guerra Communications' Z-93 and New Mix 98.1, the Laredo Independent School District, and the United Independent School District.
KGNS also sponsored back-to-school donations of school supplies.
Doctors Hospital, the Laredo Rotary Clubs, and the Laredo Health Coalition sponsored health fairs that offered necessities for the coming school year, health services such as immunizations, vision and health exams, and school supplies for the children.
While back-to-school shopping is unavoidable, overspending is not if shoppers take advantage of sales and free health services. Those fortunate enough to afford these extra expenses and have a little left over can help those who can't buy school supplies by contributing to events such as the SOS benefit and donating to local schools. For further information, contact UISD director of communications Susan Carlson at 717-6244, or LISD community relations specialist Veronica Cantu at 795-3296.