If new school clothes were the only expense of kids heading back to school perhaps this time of year wouldn’t put such a financial strain on parents. Instead, most school districts request that students bring in a long list of school supplies, and the cost of these supplies can add up quickly. Even families who choose to home school likely will need to stock up on a few supplies. The good news is that there are several tips for saving big.
1. Plan ahead. A sure way to spend more than necessary on school supplies is to wait until the last minute. Retailers start back to school supply sales in the middle of July. By the time school starts, many of the best deals will be long gone and the selection will be limited. It’s especially important to start shopping ahead of time if your child has a specific request that you’d like to grant; that Hannah Montanta backpack your daughter wants might be gone if you wait until the last minute to buy it.
2. Keep in mind that back to school savings are not just for school supplies. Adults needing office supplies should stock up now, too. July and August are usually the best time of year to find inexpensive paper for the printer, Kleenex and hand sanitizer.
3. Stock up on enough supplies for the entire school year while prices are rock bottom. If your budget allows, buy enough school and craft supplies to last the entire school year and summer.
4. Focus on the most expensive items on your back to school list. For younger kids, the most expensive item needed might be a backpack while for older kids this item might be a scientific calculator. By focusing on getting the best deals on the most expensive item, you will maximize your savings.
5. Use coupons. Some back to school items like tissues or hand sanitizer often have coupons that can be used in conjunction with a sale to get the best deal. Learn more about how to use coupons and where to find them with our getting started guide.
6. Calculate the final price in order to determine if the item is really a good deal. For example, crayons might be on sale at one store for $0.25 but on sale at a second store for buy one at $1.99, get two free. At first glance the second store may appear to have the better deal, but you would end up paying $1.99 for three boxes of crayons there instead of $0.75 at the first store.
7. Finally, become familiar with the incentive programs available at many retailers. Some stores offer rebates. At stores like Staples, you’ll pay for your purchases at the register, but you’ll get money back by mail when you submit your rebate for certain items. Staples and other stores like Walgreens also offer store coupons. To find these coupons, check your favorite money saving blogs or search for them yourself in the weekly circular or online. A third incentive program retailers like CVS and Target offer is in the form of store credit. You’ll pay for your purchase in full at the register, but these stores often offer money off your next visit in the form of Extra Care Bucks at CVS and gift cards at Target. To maximize your savings, combine as many incentives as possible on one purchase. For example, you might be able to use a store coupon in conjunction with a manufacturer’s coupon, a rebate and/or store credit to cut your final cost significantly. Learn more about how to shop at your local drug store here.
Even using all these savings strategies, there are some families who cannot afford to send their children to school with the necessary supplies. If there is enough room in your budget, please consider picking up a few extras to donate to a school district or school supply distribution program in your area. Giving away a few school supplies is an easy and inexpensive way to put a smile on a child’s face and relieve some of the financial strain on that child’s family.
Help! This is the first year I have had a kid in public school here in the US. How do I find out what the kids are supposed to have for the school year before school starts?
You can call the school and ask or you can check with your local stores (like Walmart). Most stores will have a stand that has a list for all the different schools in the area.
Good Luck!
Thanks! I never thought about asking at Walmart.
Planning is definitely one of the most important steps when you set off to buy school supplies. I, too have found lists of school supplies in my local stores.