As summer comes to an end and the excitement of a new school year begins, most parents dread the price tag associated with back-to-school shopping. And we don’t blame them! The amount of necessary supplies has climbed to new heights, right along with the cost. Here are a few ways to help lessen the financial burden: Buy Discount Gift Cards. These can provide a savings of 1% to upwards of 20% at a wide variety of stores, meaning you’ll never pay full price for supplies again. Add this discount on top of any sales you find and you’re ahead of the game. Just be sure to purchase gift cards from a reliable site, read the fine print for whether they can be used online, in-store or both, and pay attention to any expiration dates. Shop Dollar Stores. When it comes to things like scissors, calculators, lunch containers, construction paper, poster board and notebooks their $1 price tag provides a hefty savings. Some dollar stores even have online shopping to help expedite the process. Wait to Buy. For supplies not needed on day one, wait a week or two after school starts to buy them. It can save you 50-70% since retailers need to move those items off the shelf quickly. Even better? Get the supply list for next year and purchase it all on sale so you’re ahead of the game. Buy Used for Sports. Along with the cost of school supplies comes fall sports gear as a double whammy to your wallet. While there are used school items like backpacks and clothes that can be good money-savers, buying used sporting equipment at stores like Play It Again Sports and through websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace is where the savings really add up. Especially over a few years with multiple kids. If you have any back-to-school savings tips, we’d love to hear them! We hope the start of the school year gets off to an amazing start for you and the kiddos!
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4 Ideas for Back-to-School Savings
