Don’t Break the bank on Back to School

Summer is winding down, and kids are preparing to start a new school year. This signifies an exciting new beginning for kids. But for parents, it can mean a bank-breaking spending spree for school supplies and new fall clothing. Families with children in elementary school through high school plan to spend an average of $696.70 this year on back-to-school shopping (National Retail Federation). That’s a lot of money, especially for parents of multiple children. How can you buy the items your kids need without wrecking your wallet on back-to-school shopping? Here are some ways to save.

Take inventory

It doesn’t make sense to purchase items you already have around the house. “We reuse items like notebooks, binders and pencil boxes,” says Carrie Miller, Olathe mom of three. “I also save all the pencils from class parties, birthday parties and other giveaways to use the following year.” Before you start back-to-school shopping, take inventory of what new or gently used office and school supplies you already have. Go through the kids’ closets and remove items that are too small and make a list of what needs to be replaced. Can any items be passed down to younger siblings? Consider shopping at second-hand stores or consignment sales for gently used items to save on clothes, shoes and coats. Backpacks and lunch boxes that are in good condition can be reused. Once you know what you need, make a list of what needs to be purchased and stick to it.

Do your research

It’s hard to know whether you’re getting a good deal on back-to-school supplies and clothing if you don’t know how much they cost to begin with. Once you know the average cost of an item, you can more easily track down a good deal. It can be easy to get caught up on saving on small items like glue and pencils, but the wiser focus is on big ticket items, which can mean more money saved. Saving $50 to $100 on a tablet is worth the effort of driving across town to shop, compared to saving 10 cents on glue. “Shop around!” says Emily Rodriguez. “Last year, I added all the items needed to my online cart at Walmart, Amazon and Target. I was surprised Target came out well under the other two. I was glad to save the money.” 

Take advantage of discounts

For retailers, back-to-school season is the biggest money maker, second only to the Christmas shopping season. To bring in customers, they are willing to offer discounts, free shipping for online orders, price matching, in-store coupons and other deals to get you to shop their stores. Take some time to shop around and find the best deals, sign up for email coupons and deals and, most importantly, don’t forget to use the coupons when you make your purchase. Many states, including Missouri, offer a tax-free weekend in late summer. This is a great time for families to take advantage of a discount on clothing, shoes and other items needed for school.

Buy later

When you are looking at the long list of supplies that schools hand out, determine what your kids need right away and what can be purchased later. You’ll be able to get school supplies at clearance prices if you simply wait until September. This is also a great time to stock up on commonly needed items for the following school year. “Purchase items in advance when possible,” says Olathe mom Fia Swartwood. “Clearance sales after school starts are a great time to stock up on paper, spiral notebooks, folders and writing utensils.” Many families feel the need to buy their children a new fall wardrobe when school resumes, but it’s perfectly reasonable to delay purchasing new clothing as temperatures are still too warm for fall and winter clothing when kids start school. This gives parents a chance to buy items over time or as needed instead of purchasing everything at once. “I shop clearance items after every season and guess on sizing for the following year,” says Katlyn Purkapile, Edgerton mom of three.

Leave the kids home

As a mom of six, my biggest money saving tip for back-to-school shopping is to simply leave the kids home. I arrive at the store with a list of school supplies needed. If my daughter were with me, she would ask for the sparkliest unicorn notebook, which costs twice as much as the plain pink one I would pick. It’s faster and more efficient if I shop for the supplies alone. When picking out clothes, backpacks and lunchboxes, it’s reasonable to bring kids along so they can select something to fit their tastes. Prior to shopping, give your kids a set budget and let them pick something they like that fits within it.

In order to save money, you may have to put in some extra effort in research, take the time to get organized, drive to more than one store and forgo a few items to stay within a budget. In the long run, the cost savings will be worth it, especially for families shopping for multiple children.

Sarah Lyons is a part-time freelance writer and full-time mom of six. She lives in Olathe with her family.

Sources:

NRF.com/media-center/press-releases/record-spending-expected-school-and-college-supplies