Saving on School Supplies

The back-to-school lists seem to be growing every year.  In addition to regular school supplies, many schools are now requiring school uniforms.  Coming up with the money for all of this may seem like a daunting task, but there are some ways that I like to save on back-to-school supplies.

1. Take Inventory:

It’s silly to spend money on items you don’t need.  See what supplies you already have on hand.  See what “old” items can still be used and supplement with new items.  Don’t automatically buy new clothes and shoes if the old ones are perfectly fine.

2. Make a List:

Make a list of exactly what you need and stick to that list.  It’s way too easy to get caught up in the rush of back-to-school shopping.  Before you know it, you end up with all of this “stuff” that you really don’t need.  That is a huge waste of money.

3. Watch the Sales:

Starting mid-summer, stores will start holding their back-to-school sales.  Office supply stores, such as Staples, will have excellent sales.  You can pick up pencils, paper, glue for a penny or even free after rebate.  Teachers and homeschoolers can often purchase a high number of items to help defray the classroom costs.

Most ads are available online, so you don’t even need to receive the newspaper to compare prices.

4. Spread Out the Spending:

While spreading out the spending doesn’t decrease the cost of supplies, it does help to make the costs a bit easier to manage.  By buying a little bit each pay period, you don’t have a huge outlay of cash all at once.

5. Set Aside Money:

We all know that the school supply expense is coming, but we don’t all prepare for it.  Set aside a little money each pay period throughout the year will help ease the school supply burden.

6. Use Coupons:

During the back-to-school sales, many companies start offering coupons for their products. Sometimes the coupons are in the newspaper and other times they are available for printing online.  Pair up these coupons with sales for maximum savings.

In addition, some store will offer percent off or dollars off a certain size purchase.  If you shop at a store regularly, make sure you are signed up to receive their special offers.

7. Join Rewards Programs:

Many stores offer rewards or preferred customer programs.  By signing up for these programs (make sure they are free), you can get special offers, coupons, cash back, and freebies.

8. Use Rebates:

The key to using rebates is to make sure you read what is required on you.  You need to make sure that you have purchased the correct quantity during the correct dates.  Then, you need to make sure you actually submit the rebated with the required information during the specified time period.

I like companies and stores that offer online submission.  I submit the rebates as soon as I get home from the store to avoid forgetting about it.  If you don’t actually follow the rules and submit the rebate, you can end up spending more than you would normally.

9. Shop Thrift Stores

Thrift Stores are a great place for back-to-school shopping.  You can get name brand clothing for less.  If you know the sale days, you can get even better deals.  When your kids get a bit older, it’s best to allow them to pick out their own clothes (unless you know exactly what they want) and have them try the clothes on prior to purchase.  If the clothes won’t be worn, then you’ve wasted money.

Carefully check all clothing prior to check-out to make sure that there are no tears, stains, missing buttons, broken zippers….  If you do find something wrong, but you feel you can overcome the problem, see if they will offer a discount on the defective item.  It doesn’t hurt to ask.

10. Shop Clearance Racks

After the back-to-school sales end, stores will start to clearance out the remaining merchandise.  This is a great time to stock up on supplies and clothing.  Don’t forget that your child may need supplies for the second half of the year.  In addition, they may grow out of their clothes/uniforms, so you may want to purchase clothing/uniforms in the next size up.

Whether you’re homeschooling or sending your child back to school, school supplies do not have to be a huge expense.  If your family has hit on some hard times and you can’t afford school supplies, make sure you reach out to your church and/or check out what services are being offered by your community.  If things are a little better for you this year, consider donating some supplies to a family in need or participating in the back-to-school supply drives.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.