It’s that time of year again! Back to school season is here. If you are looking at your child’s school supply list with wide eyes, I’ve got a few ways to make it a little less painful. Here are my ten tips for saving money during the back-to-school season.
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How to save money on back-to-school shopping
1. Shop year-round
Watch the stores for sales during the rest of the year so that when you need something, you already have it. For items that can wait, often the end of season sales in September will be cheaper than the back-to-school deals in August. Stock up on what you need right away, but wait on items like locker decor, backpacks, and extra supplies.
2. Cherry-pick the best deals
While you don’t want to waste the money you’re saving on supplies by spending it on gas to visit every store, it pays to shop around. Take your shopping list and compare prices at the biggest retailers – Walmart, Target, Office Depot, Staples, etc. If crayons are 25 cents at Walmart this week, but free at Staples, it might be worth the extra stop!
3. Shop resale
School clothes and uniforms can be expensive and kids outgrow them fast; get them secondhand and you’ll save a lot of money without sacrificing on quality.
4. Always check for coupons
Before you head out shopping, do a quick online search to see if the store you’re heading to has a coupon available, whether its a percentage off your entire purchase or a dollar off amount, every bit counts.
Often you can stack manufacturer’s coupons with store coupons but check with your store to be sure.
5. Make a list
This may seem common sense, but if you don’t remember exactly what you need, you may end up with the wrong size or wrong item altogether. Use my ultimate back to school checklist to keep it all in one place.
Sit down at the beginning of the season and make a master list. It will come in handy with tip number 6.
6. Keep that list with you
If you stick the supply list in your wallet or purse, you can always pull it out to check when you find a deal when you aren’t actively looking, such as while you’re grocery shopping.
7. Spread the word
If you need something odd, like specialized folders or unusual colored paper, make sure all your friends and family know. You never know who might come across it.
One year we needed folders with brads in specific colors. I couldn’t seem to find every color we needed, so I asked a few friends to grab them if they found them while shopping too.
8. Shop now for next year
This is similar to shopping year-round, but if you find something on sale now that you know your child will need later or grow into, buy one to put away. This is especially handy for buy-one-get-one sales. Just make sure them extra items you’re buying are definitely going to be used.
9. Set a back-to-school budget
This is just as important as with every other spending group. Some things may be non-negotiable, like notebook paper, but if you’re near your spending limit, you may decide to wait and buy extra items next month.
Supplies, clothes, and other items (like electronics) can add up to hundreds of dollars. Since I know back-to-school shopping comes at the same time each year, I try to build it into our budget and avoid making other big purchases at the same time.
10. Save back-to-school shopping for later
This may sound counter-intuitive, but if you don’t have a list from your child’s teacher, wait until Meet the Teacher Night or the first day of school. There will still be good deals running for a few more weeks, so don’t spend too much ahead of time if you’ll likely have to return
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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