It is that time again! Back-to-school shopping is officially here. If it fills you with dread, you are not alone. Back-to-school shopping can add up really quickly. It can be overwhelming and expensive.
The good news is that there are some tricks to help you save some money as you plan for your kids' back-to-school shopping. Target also has some fun ways to make the process quick and easy for parents. These were great to have last year and they are still available this year.
Check out these other ideas for keeping your back-to-school shopping expenses under control as your kids gear up for another year of learning.
Set a Budget
Once you know what you need, and the going prices of things, you can figure out your budget for school supplies. By writing out a budget and price for each item, you will be better able to stay on track and avoid those impulse buys that can get us all in trouble. Don't forget to take into account all of your expenses. You may be able to save in certain areas to help make up for extra school supply costs.
Make an Inventory
The first thing you need to do is check your kids' back to school supply lists against what you already have on hand from previous years. Gather all of your kids' school supplies and see what you don't need to buy this year. There may be some items that you can check off your list before you even go shopping.
Plan Ahead
When it comes to saving money on school supplies, planning ahead is key. You want to make sure to give yourself enough time so you are not scrambling the weekend before school starts. When you panic shop, you may miss out on deals or buy things you do not need. Instead, start thinking about back-to-school shopping well in advance.
Price Compare
After you figure out what items you need, do some research. You want to know what the going rate is, especially on your big-ticket items. When you have an idea of how much an item should cost, you will be able to spot when something is actually on sale. Check the sale ads for things you need, and make sure the discounted price is actually a low price before you buy anything.
Sign Up for Store Emails
It can be hard to willingly sign up for more emails, but here's the thing: you can save money. Sign up for store emails to make sure you do not miss out on any back-to-school deals. Many times, these stores will also send out coupons along with their weekly sales ads. It can be overwhelming to go through these, so be sure to set aside some time each week to go through them.
Check Out Dollar Stores
There are some things that you do not want to buy at the dollar store, such as batteries, but there are plenty of school supplies that you can get here for less. Basic supplies like notebooks, pencils, art supplies, backpacks, pens, sanitizer, and erasers, are great things to buy at a dollar store at discounted prices. Not everything needs to be fancy.
Check Out Used & Refurbished Items
There are also plenty of things that you can buy used or refurbished. If there are certain books or textbooks that you need for your child, you can check out used ones. Electronics tend to be the most expensive items on your child's back-to-school list, but you might not have to pay full price. Check out refurbished electronics, which usually work just as well as new ones for a fraction of the price.
Leave the Kids at Home
You know how your kids always want you to buy extra things when you take them to the store? Well, back-to-school shopping is no exception. You will probably be making multiple trips to be sure you're getting the best price. Do not take your kids every time. There are certain times where you can go on your own to be sure you do not give into their begging.
If They Don't Need It Now, Wait
For some sales, you want to go early, but if you wait on bigger ticket items, the sales may be even better. There are some stores that may throw out last-minute promotions right before school starts. You may not like waiting until the last minute to get your back-to-school shopping done, but it may be worth it to see what stores come up with to get you in last minute.
Buy Large Ticket Items on Tax-Free Weekends
The timing of when you buy your school supplies is essential in saving money. There are many states that offer tax-free holidays. Find out if your state does and when it is. That will be the weekend to buy your big-ticket items and save yourself a bunch of money. This discount could be 10% off, which is huge when it comes to high-priced items.
Hold Off on Buying Clothes
Before you buy your kid a new wardrobe for going back to school, there are a few things you should consider first. You should have them take an inventory of what they have. While they may want new clothes, it does not mean that they need all new clothes. Figure out what still fits. Then, wait until September because that is the month when clothing sales usually hit.
Avoid Brand-Name Clothing
Make sure that you go for quality on certain things, but brand names are not needed. Just because something has a brand name, does not make it better. Especially with clothing, kids outgrow it so fast. You can save a lot of money by avoiding brand names. There is no real difference and you are just paying more because of who made the clothing.
Take Advantage of Price Matching
Do some research and find the stores that price match. Places like Target and Walmart will usually do this. Make sure to compare prices for both retail and online stores to find the best prices. If you find better prices online, you can often talk to customer service in the retail store to get the price matched.
Spend More Only When Quality Matters
There are some instances where you will want to spring for the higher-priced item. Electronics may be one area to take a look at this. If you buy low-quality electronics just to get a lower price, you may end up spending more money in the long run. Cheaper electronics often need to be replaced sooner. Some things are worth the extra upfront expense.
Cut Coupons
Coupons are not yet outdated. You may find them in ads, on social media, websites or through emails. Make sure to keep an eye out for coupons to save you money on back-to-school supplies. There are also online resources, like RetailMeNot and Coupon.com that you will want to check out. These websites let you search for offers from different brands and stores that you are interested in. Clip all those coupons!
Follow Stores on Social Media
Be sure to follow your favorite stores on their social media accounts. Facebook and Twitter are helpful for this sort of thing. Many stores will announce sales and give out coupon links or discount codes through their social media accounts as a way to reward their loyal followers and customers. Make sure to monitor their pages so you don't miss any.
Organize a Supply Swap
There are many other parents out there that may have leftover back-to-school supplies that they don't need. Get together with the other moms in your area to see what supplies you can trade. Someone may have a backpack that their kid will no longer use or extra notebooks. See what you can trade for to save you from having to buy more new stuff.
Don't Forget About Price Adjustments
There are so many sales going on as we get closer to fall and true back-to-school time. It can be hard keeping track of everything. You could also buy something and then see it go on sale next week. Many stores will offer price adjustments, but vary on the number of days they will allow. Check with the store and be sure to save all your receipts in case you can get a price adjustment.
Manage Expectations
When you are school shopping for your children, they may want certain things that they don't really need. Be sure to be upfront with them so they understand what you will be buying. Make sure to add some fun things, but don't be afraid to say no to your child so you can stay on budget.
Have Kids Work for Extras
Getting kids to do chores can be hard work, but there is a way to help them do them more willingly. Take those supplies that you are reluctant to buy, or have your kid pick out something fun that they really want, and have them work for those "extra" items. You can add chores or encourage them to help neighbors. Not only will this make them appreciate the items more, they will also learn about budgeting and may reevaluate the things they thought they needed.
