How to Save on Back to School Shopping

Posted on September 3rd, 2009 by RJ

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Do you know that the average family in the U.S. spends half a thousand dollars on school supplies each year? You don’t need to break the piggy bank just to provide your kids with school essentials. Here are some ways on how you can save on your back-to-school shopping:

Make a list and survey your home first.

Create a list of your kids’ school supplies then take an inventory at home before going shopping. For sure, there are pencils, pens, notebooks, rulers and other stuff that can still be used. Check the closet for old uniforms and see if your younger kids can benefit from some hand-me-downs from their older siblings.
Once you have determined and finalized your school supply shopping list, set a budget for each child. Talk to your children about the importance of budgeting so that they will understand the value of spending and saving.

Plan your shopping.

school shopping Don’t cram and shop just before school starts. School supplies are available all year round so if you think you can shop ahead of all the parents out there, then do so. Moving around will be easier and you will have more time in selecting your purchases.
Also, leave the kids at home when shopping for school supplies. Past studies have shown that parents tend to spend 30% more when they shop with kids since the little ones tend to be attracted with so many unnecessary stuff lying around in shelves and stalls like candies, chocolates and even toys.

Share stuff with fellow parents.

Talk to your co-parents at school or your neighbors about the possibility of buying in bulk and splitting the costs. To save even more money, organize a simple garage sale, where you can trade old school materials and clothes. You may even ask your friends for old outfits that your kid can use. You can then pay it forward by offering your old stuff to the younger kids of your friends.

Buy at the dollar store.

You can purchase many cheap but useful back-to-school supplies at dollar stores like pens, pencils, rulers many other materials. If your kids find them ‘boring’ to their fancier and branded counterparts, then jazz them up a little by letting your kids design their own school materials with stickers, glitters and other colorful designs.

Shop on tax-free holidays.

Check if your state has already planned tax-free holidays near the start of the school year. If there are many tax-free holidays lined up, shop on those days and take as much as 10% off your back-to-school expenses.

Take advantage of the Internet.

For parents with older kids, you can go online to check if there are used books for sale. These previously owned books are usually cheap but can still be used just the same. Check online also for downloadable copies of books instead of buying a hard copy. (Learn how to shop online safely)

The important thing to do is to plan ahead rather than throw away hard-earned money by buying your kids’ school stuff on the spot. Good luck and enjoy your shopping! If you enjoy reading this artcle, you’ll surely be interested in learning the Top Ten Home TV shopping products.