It’s almost time for the kids to go back to school, and I know some days, it feels like it can’t come soon enough. But, back to school also means back to school shopping—which could easily translate to eating Top Ramen for a couple of weeks to recover financially.
Here’s a couple of tips to keep some money in your pocket and still put supplies into your kids’ backpacks:
- Take inventory. Chances are, you can piece quite a few requirements together from last years’ supply. I mean, do they really need a new ruler, scissors, and water colors {that they used once} every year.
- Host a back-to-school clothing swap party. If your kids have grown out of last year’s school clothes, but they still have life in them, swapping with neighbors and friends in the same boat can save tons of cash.
- Buy only what you need. I know, there is something about starting a new school year fresh, but new shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. don’t really need to be purchased until it’s time to replace them. Kids grow out of and wear out things fast enough anyway, so you might as well get all the use you can out of their gear before you buy new.
- Make a list and stick to it. I know how tempting fancy folders and bedazzled notebooks can be in the excitement of back to school, but they all use the same, so they really are just a money suck. A black composition notebook will do the same job as the one with peace signs, and it will cost you less.
- Shop the sales. Nothing says {unless you are strapped for time} you have to buy all of the supplies at once or at the same store. Watch for each stores weekly sales and shop only those items. Then, toward the end of summer, you can purchase any remaining items still on the list.
- Make sure to check for online coupons. Places like Old Navy and the Children’s Place typically offer some sort of printable coupon—make sure to check before you head out to outfit your sweet little cherubs.
- Leave the kids at home. Seriously, shopping with the kids it like agreeing to pay 30% more. They are convincing. They are persistent. They’ve got you in a crowded store with a loaded cart. Don’t even give them the chance to sucker you into items they don’t really need.
- Start early. Starting your shopping early gives you a chance to spread the cost out. It also gives you the luxury of shopping sales only. Waiting leaves you at the mercy of the store’s prices that particular week.
- Buy quality. This may cost you more upfront, but in the long run, it will save you replacement costs. If it is time to buy backpacks, opt for the ones with the lifetime warranty. The cheaper counterparts tend to fall apart quickly, leaving you paying the same price in the end, without the warranty.
- Try consignment shops for clothes. Lots of shops, like Plato’s Closet, carry trendy name-brand clothing at a fraction of the price.
How do you save money on the back-to-school purchasing frenzy?
~Mavis
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Donna Jantzer says
Mavis, that is a smart list right there! We do those things! I do take my kids, though, because I want them to learn how much it all costs, and how to make choices. I give them an allotted budget for clothes, the money actually in their hands, along with my good advice, and they get to make choices (I have veto power at the register for modesty and safety, of course). It has worked well for me. My now grown kids seem to be pretty good with money. If an expensive pair of jeans they want is that important, then they learn to do without other things.
Carolyn says
I agree with 90% of your list…my storage drawer is full of those things that we had but brought new for another school year–waste of money but will be donated to the elementary school when I get to cleaning out that drawer so at least those extra rulers and scissors will find a good home. The only thing I disagree on is taking the kids along, in my day (don’t ask how long ago :O ) that day of back-to-school shopping really got me excited to start another school year. I still smile when I think about putting everything together-binder, paper, divider tabs, pencil case–while sitting on the LR floor. Wish I could do it all again,
Carri says
I have a little cheat! I only but or piece together what they need for the first week or so. Then I hit the huge school supply clearances and set them up for the whole year for less than 25%. If it’s a really good clearance, like 10 cents for fiskars, I will stock them up for later years or for the preschool.
Diana T. says
Target has awesome coupons on their website. They also have great deals on back to school and seem to be one of the first stores to put things on clearance after school starts.
Echo says
One and three are super important at my house. K got almost everything on her list from our stockpile from last year. She does need more index cards. J will probably have the same deal, but we may need to buy more notebooks. My time consuming secret for saving money is to take the notebooks that were half used and pull out all the good paper to add to the stack of loose leaf. This way not only do we have a ton of loose leaf, we don’t have piles of notebooks that it would be a waste to through away, but can’t really be used.
Veronica says
When I was a kid, back to school shopping was fun. We would go to Walmart and I would look at all the fun crayons and things in their bins, so full of packs. It was a wonder land! I knew that mom would let me have most anything from the sales bins. We neverhad much money, but a new package of anything is special to the last-born-hand-me-down child. Also Mom taught us to clerence shop. You could get 3 shirts for the price of one regular priced one. We mostly got ours at salvation army though.
Laura says
Mavis-Please do me and anyone who works in a school a favor. By December your child’s glue sticks have either dried out or been lost, pencils are gone, pens gone and various other supplies are out. I pick up pencils in the halls of our middle school and recycle them on my desk because when your child runs out of supplies THEY COME TO ME. I send notes home to please restock school supplies but often the note is ignored.
So when you go shopping, please keep in mind the average student goes through, I am not kidding, a least a dozen pencils a week. Check their binders to see if they are intact by mid year (I keep duct tape at my desk for repairs.) I spend a great deal of my money during summer school supply sales so the kiddos won’t miss a beat when they are short on whatever they need.
ChrisM says
I stock up on TONS of school supplies for my kids in August when Meijer (local store like Walmart, only better) has folders for .15 and spiral notebooks for .20. I stuff a drawer in the basement. Your kids will need to replenish school supplies throughout the year and in Feb. notebooks aren’t .20 any more! Over the years we have learned what supplies will be needed so we stock up on those (like 1″ binders) when they are 1.00 vs. later in the year when they are 5.00. What we don’t use gets saved until next year.
I would suggest buying either Lands End or LL Bean backpacks in a plain color (not little kid pattern). They will last for years and years. I think ours are going on 10 years now. I have my kids (Now college and high schoolers) clean them out, we shake out all the crumbs, etc. and then I wash them on the gentle cycle (front loader) and hang them to dry. They still look good.