We still have four weeks to go before school starts- but I’ve been seeing my friends on social media sharing their “First Day of School” pictures already! We’re spending the month of August squeezing in a little extra family time, celebrating my soon-to-be-second-grader’s birthday, and of course, preparing for back-to-school.
Between our end-of-summer vacation, Shane’s birthday, and school starting, my wallet is starting to feel victimized. Luckily, back to school doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive- that is, if you’re careful. Here’s how we’re saving on all things back-to-school:
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School Supplies
Shop on tax-free days. Most states have tax-free days, and those savings can add up. Calculate about how much you think you’ll spend, and then add in the taxes. Is saving $20 worth fighting the crowds? What about $50? This is also a good day to buy big-ticket items, like backpacks, specialty calculators, tablets, and other more costly items. Even if you don’t have a lot of expensive things to buy, if you have a few kids going back to school those small, inexpensive supplies can add up quickly. Do some calculations and decide for yourself if it’s worth heading out on the tax-free days. {Find your state’s tax-free days here.}
Keep an eye out for coupons. Many times, stores will share coupons in mailers, ads, or even on social media. Check their Facebook, Twitter, and Yelp pages to see if they have any coupons or deals posted. Stack coupons with sales to save the most money!
Compare prices from store to store while hitting the sales. Yes, you might have to drive a bit more {or price match at Wal-Mart}, but it’s going to save you quite a bit because school supply costs can vary widely. Check the dollar stores, too- they’re actually not always cheaper with some of the smaller items, but they’re worth price checking.
Sometimes it pays to spend more on big ticket items. If your kids will use their backpack for more than one year, it’s worth spending $50 on one that will last 2-3 times longer than the $25 backpacks will. Shane is still in the character backpack years, so I know he’ll outgrow his sooner rather than later- so we usually buy the $20 backpacks and hope they last all year long {so far, so good- just barely}. {Tip: Amazon has a huge selection of backpacks and some of them are discounted right now!}
What can you slash from the list? Of course, if it’s a school supply list given to you from the school, you’ll need to buy everything on the list. But you might be able to skimp on some things like community classroom supplies {classroom tissues, hand sanitizer, printer paper} if you write the teacher a note letting her know you’re happy to help her restock mid-year since you weren’t able to help out as much at the beginning of the year.
Clothing and Shoes
Go through all their clothes from last year- before you shop. If any still fit, keep them! This will help prevent you from overbuying and purchasing clothing your child already has. If the clothes don’t fit, set the nice ones aside and take them to a consignment shop. Get a few bucks for the clothes {or double the amount in store credit} to start your clothing budget off on the right foot. Don’t be afraid to take a look around at the consignment shop before you go- often, you can find name-brand goods at a fraction of the price. Prefer buying brand new?
Speaking of feet, watch sales for shoes right before school starts. Their feet grow so fast anyway, you don’t want to buy them too early {unless you buy a size up}, so wait until the last minute for shoes if you can. You’ll usually get the best deals this way! You’ll often see Buy One, Get One Half Off sales around this time of year, and shoe stores often send back-to-school coupons in the mail. If your kids aren’t too rough on shoes, you can even hit up the cheaper shoe stores, but remember with shoes, you get what you pay for. Sometimes it’s worth splurging a little to ensure your child’s shoes last until winter break or beyond.
Don’t forget the outlet malls! You can score great deals on name brand clothing and shoes at most outlet malls. It might take a longer drive to get there, but it’s worth it, especially because you’ll be able to get more with less while your kids still wear their favorite brands.
Buy clothes that can be worn with more than one outfit. For example, if your daughter wears leggings, buying a pair of black leggings along with a black top and a white top would make two outfits. This works for skirts, leggings, and even jeans. Mix and match for maximum savings! {You can get a lot of great basics for boys & girls at Gymboree– and they usually have huge sales in August!}
Saving money on back to school shopping mostly comes down to creating a plan of attack, and following through! This goes for everything from writing out your budget, to figuring out which stores you’ll shop at and when. The biggest tip of all I can give you for saving money while back to school shopping is to create a budget and stick with it. I know that can be difficult, especially if your kiddos want the latest and greatest, but you’ll be happier if you do stick with that budget and follow these tips!
