5 Tips for Saving Money During Back-to-School Shopping

Parents, teachers, and students are gearing up to return to the classroom. Students are eager to get back to their friends, staff are ready to welcome a new group of students, and parents are ready to get the kids out of the house. Back to school comes with a load of excitement, but it can also come with a lot of stress for the parents that are preparing to send their kids back into the classroom. According to the National Retail Federation, parents of students in grades K-12 are expected to spend an average of $863 on back to school: supplies, shoes, clothes and electronics. The price tag can seem daunting, but there are ways that you can cut costs and still get everything that your child needs to have a successful school year. When you are preparing to start that back-to-school shopping, there are a few things that you want to remember that will help your pockets and your peace of mind. Here are 5 tips that can help you this September:

1. Stick to the list & the budget
   Gather your school supply lists, grocery lists for lunches and after-school snacks, and whatever new clothing and shoes you are going to purchase. Create a budget for your shopping; this will prevent you from overspending. Once you know what you’re buying and how much you want to spend, you can start comparing prices at different stores. Check online and in the store ads to see who has the best prices and be strategic with where you shop and what you buy.
2. Reuse things
   Before you head out to the stores, take an inventory of what you already have at home. If last year’s supplies are still in great condition and still have some life, use them for this year as well. Washing last year’s book bag and lunchbox can potentially make it look brand new. If there are any pens and pencils from last year laying around the house that weren’t used, they would be perfect for this year. Shopping around your house and finding purpose for the things you already have at home can help save you some money when you head out to the stores to get new things.
3. Discounts and clearance are your friend
   If you have some extra time, be sure to check the clearance and discount racks. Often times, you can find great deals on clothing and shoes when you take some extra time and shop through the clearance racks. Stores are always preparing for the next season, so they move their items to the sale and clearance racks almost monthly. Check online for coupon codes that you can apply to your online and in-store purchases before you step foot into the store. Spending less doesn’t always look like buying fewer items, sometimes it’s getting bigger discounts by shopping smarter.
4. Stock Up
   Buying more doesn’t seem like a way to save money, but it actually helps you out a lot in the long run. When you do your shopping this season, think long term. Instead of buying an 8-count pack of pencils, consider buying an 24 count. At some point your child is going to lose those pencils and will ask you to buy more. If you have extras at the start of the school year, you can stretch them out throughout the year. This same method can be applied to your food and snack shopping. If you can, consider shopping in bulk. Most items are cheaper per unit when you buy them in bulk. Bulk buying usually means lower overall cost, fewer trips to the store, and less impulse spending. Stock up on snacks for those lunches and after school meals but also stock up on the items that you use the most throughout the week like meat, pasta, frozen fruits and veggies and whatever else is common in your household.
5. Buy used or refurbished
   Some of the older students have more expensive lists. Our high school and college age students may need electronics to help them with school, like tablets, iPads and laptops. Buying new electronics can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. When shopping for laptops and such, try taking a look at the refurbished items. Most times they are in perfect working condition, just like purchasing a used car as a starter option for someone young, buying a preowned laptop gets the job done too.