How To Save Money on School Supplies

The cost of sending the kids back to school can easily put you behind financially, especially if you aren’t able to set money aside ahead of time. Don’t let that school supply list intimidate you. Here’s a list of tips that will help you save money on school supplies this year.

How much should I spend on back to school supplies?

Whatever you can afford and feel is appropriate for your family. It really all depends on your budget, size of your family, the age of your children, type of school they attend, and so on. It’s not hard to spend several hundred dollars on school supplies, especially if you have multiple children in school.

1. Budget. How can you save money on school supplies even if you have more than one child in school? Set a budget and stick to it. Easier said than done, I know. But really, figure out how much you’re able to spend BEFORE you start shopping. There are organizations and resources to help you if your budget isn’t enough. Set a budget, start with the basics, and go from there.

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2. Plan. Once you have set a budget, make a plan. Gather all the lists of recommended supplies and decide which items are absolutely necessary for the first week of school. It is totally possible to send the kids back to school before you’ve purchased the entire list. They likely won’t need every single thing in the first week. So take a deep breath, you still have time. Plus, you can find some of the best deals after the rush of back to school is over and the things that didn’t sell are deeply discounted.

How can I get cheap school supplies?

3. Shop your house. Shop around your house for things that may be leftover from previous school years. I know it’s super fun to have a new backpack or lunch box every year, but if it doesn’t fit the budget, it doesn’t fit. Check off those things you already have before you start shopping for new stuff. It’s like shelf cooking except for school supplies.

Related: What is shelf cooking? How can it help you?

4. Do your homework. Start looking around at prices before you shop. This will give you a better idea of whether or not you’re getting a good deal. An excellent place to start is with Passionate Penny Pincher. They stay on top of back to school deals over there. They even prepare a cheat sheet that you can print out and refer to when shopping so you know you’re getting the best deal.

5. Sign up for emails. While you’re “window” shopping around, sign up for store email lists and follow stores on social media. That way, you’ll be able to keep a close watch on their sales ads and have deals sent straight to your inbox.

*Of course, we all want our kids to be grateful for what they have and all that. But, let’s face it, kids want the fancy stuff their friends have just like you and I sometimes do. This is one of those situations where ‘what they don’t know won’t hurt them.’ If they don’t know about the cool stuff at the store, they won’t know what they’re missing. But, if the boring basics are really an issue, use it as a teaching moment and help your children turn their basics into their own unique, fun supplies.

What is the best time to buy school supplies?

7. Shop early. I recommend getting started as soon as you’re able. The best deals will be available weeks before school starts. Plus, the really discounted items will likely go fast. That’s why it’s important to have a plan and get started early.

Or, on the contrary, shop late. Some of the best back to school deals I have ever gotten came from shopping the clearance aisle after the back to school rush. I usually buy the basics for next year after the back to school rush of the current year. Pens, pencils, notebooks, erasers, etc. Those things will be on school supply lists for years to come, so it’s ok to buy those months in advance. Plus, you never know when the classroom might need extra supplies or you kid runs out of erasers by second semester. It’s worth it to have a little bit of a stockpile on hand.

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How can I save money on back to school supplies?

8. Use money saving apps and websites. Friends, I can’t stress this enough. If you want to get the absolute most bang for your buck you must utilize the online resources available to you. Tools that will help you track prices over time, earn cash back on your purchases, check prices to ensure you’re getting a good deal, and so much more.

Related: How To Use The Best Cash Back Apps To Save Extra Money Every Month!

There are tons of tools out there to help you save on everyday purchases. But these same tools can be used to save even more throughout the back to school shopping season. *Yes, I said season. Back to school shopping has kinda become like a miniature holiday shopping season, huh?

10. Find used items. Go to garage sales. Check with friends to see about doing a school supply swap. Check out local thrift stores or even Facebook marketplace, too. Purchasing used or refurbished items instead of new, especially when purchasing the more expensive items on the list, will save you a ton of money on school supplies.

11. Shop around. This is a bit of a given. It is almost always worth it to shop around and make sure you’re getting the best deal. I mentioned Passionate Penny Pincher earlier, definitely include their free cheat sheet in your shopping around, it will save you a ton of time.

Also, consider shopping at a store that offers price matching. If you’re stretched for time, or don’t want to drive all over town, it might be worth it to stay at the store that will price match the deals of other stores in your area.

12. Go to the clearance aisles and dollar stores. This is where doing your research will come in handy. Just because it’s on sale or it’s at the dollar store does not mean it’s the best deal. Be sure to do your homework when shopping clearance items or the dollar store.

13. Check the quality. Remember frugality is all about how to make your money work best for you. Your money isn’t serving you if you have to buy replacement supplies every couple months. It would likely be better to buy a little better quality up front and not have to replace it. Be sure to label those items, however, that way they’re more likely to be returned if they’re misplaced.

Bonus tips:

• Tax-free holidays
  • Some states have designated shopping days where you can buy items without paying sales tax. Be sure to see if your state is one of them and what is included. This would be great for those more expensive items and the extra stuff like shoes or clothing.
• Student discounts
  • Several technology and clothing companies offer discounts for students with a valid ID.
• School lunches.
  • The number of ways to save money on food is endless, really. But many stores offer discounts on typical school lunch items during the back to school season.

Related: How To Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons

What do you need for back to school shopping?

Passionate Penny Pincher’s free cheat sheet and at least a few money saving apps or websites will help you save money back to school shopping. But a budget and a plan are where the real magic happens. It pays to be prepared rather than try to cram it all in at the last minute.

What’s one of your favorite back to school shopping tricks you use to save money on school supplies?

Until next time,
Stay courageous!