7 Tips for Back To School Shopping

Financial forecasters are estimating that parents will spend a cool $31 billion this year on back to school shopping. As inflation continues to squeeze household budgets, here are a few tried-and-true finance tips to get your family back to school for less money.

1. Clean Your House

 Yup—the first step to saving money on back to school shopping is a big cleanout. Doing a top-to-bottom housecleaning will reveal all the supplies you already have, from clothing to backpacks to pencils to notebooks. Take special care to see what’s hiding in the attic or garage. This is also a great project to get kids involved. Discovering the supplies you already have at home can feel like a treasure hunt; and one that impacts your budget for the better.

2. Make a List

Don’t start shopping until you’ve determined exactly what school supplies are needed. Write them down and don’t leave the house without your list! If your child’s school hasn’t yet provided a list of necessary supplies, check in with other parents online about what to expect for the upcoming grade.

3. Shop Early

Some families hold off on back to school shopping until retailers start offering seasonal promotions. However, you can often find better prices during the off-season. Shopping during the summer also means fewer impulse buys because there’s no rush, and the opportunity to take advantage of low-priced items at garage sales.

4. Get a Supply Box

Check in at your kids’ school to find out if they offer back to school supply boxes. These pre-packaged supply packs include everything a student will need for the year, such as pencils, notebooks, note cards and so on. A supply box can save shopping time, plus your money will be supporting the school.

5. Team Up

Buying school supplies in bulk can offer big discounts. If you’ve got a network of other parents, consider teaming up to buy everyone’s back to school supplies together. You might assign one parent to do all the shopping, or spread around the responsibility. Either way, be sure to chat in detail about what will be purchased and how much everyone is prepared to spend.

6. Stick to Basics

Back to school shopping can be a lot of fun. It’s a chance to refresh you child’s daily supplies, in anticipation of an exciting year ahead. But the back to school refresh doesn’t need to involve tons of new stuff. This year, look for alternate ways to build that excitement—like re-decorating folders from last year, re-organizing a home desk, or embroidering designs onto an old backpack.

7. Don’t Buy: Rent

If sports supplies or outdoor equipment are on your family’s back to school list, considering renting items instead of buying them; particularly if your child is trying out a new activity for the first time. Look for information online about equipment rentals in your local area, or check with neighbors to see if anyone has cleats, skis or helmets you might be able to borrow.