Any parent can tell you that back to school shopping can get expensive. Between new shoes, new clothes, and back to school supplies, it can add up and cost a lot of money. When you have more than one child in school, the cost of back to school supplies can break your budget. Use these tips to save money on back to school supplies.
Tips to spend less on back to school supplies
Whether you only have one child in school or several, back to school shopping can really add up. The average family will spend over $100 per child on back to school supplies. Use these tips to spend less on back to school supplies.
Check Your Stash First
Most parents have school supplies laying around the house. Some are left over from last year and some have been bought and laid around. Before buying the same things again this year, see what you have that can be reused. This can save money on school supplies.
Decide Need vs Want
You child might need a 2 inch binder. You child may want a 2 inch binder covered in glitter or with the special design on the front. The specialty binders are going to cost more. Decide what type of supplies you have to buy. If you want to spend less on school supplies, go with the basic school supplies instead of the specialty ones.
Watch the Sale Papers
If you are willing to go to a few different store, the sales papers can be your best friend. Stores will deeply discount a few items to get parents in the door. The other items are your list might be slightly higher price than other stores. Shop the sales from one store to another and you can save a lot.
Don’t Assume the Dollar Store is the Best Place to Shop
You might think that the dollar store is the best place to shop for school supplies because everything is a dollar. While there are some things to buy at the dollar store, big chain stores like Walmart often sell items for less than a dollar during back to school sales. For example, single subject notebooks are sometimes on sale for 25 cents during back to school sales, while the notebooks are still on sale for one dollar at the dollar store.
A good plan of attack is to go to the dollar store first. See what they have to offer. Then go to other stores. If you find the items on your list for cheaper than a dollar, grab it. If it is more expensive, hold off on buying it and go back to the dollar store to get it.
Use Budget Sites
Sites like Groupon help parents save money. Deals can be seen in one place. Use the site to see all of the back to school deals in one place. Sometimes, the stores have gift cards on sale through sites like Groupon. This will automatically save money. Other sites, like Ebates, let you upload the receipt from the stores you shop at. You can earn money back from what you already need to buy,
Don’t get sticker shock from buying school supplies this year. Use these tips to save money on back to school supplies.
