How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping
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Are you like me and both love and hate back-to-school time? I crave the return of schedules, predictable days, and knowing that the kids are using their brains and learning in a way that is (mostly) fun for them. I have tried homeschooling and it just wasn’t a good fit. My kids love going to school and the social aspect too much. I hate the idea of the kids being away from me for so much of the day. I also hate budgeting for back-to-school. Doesn’t it seem like as soon as you’re done planning and spending on one thing, another pops up?
I want my kids to have what they want on top of what they need, but it gets really expensive. Normally I do most of my shopping online because I can organize my thoughts and budget better before making a purchase. Last year, the kids really wanted to go shopping so I took them all to the mall during all of the “sales” and walked away completely ashamed of how much we spent. They were not the only ones caught up in the atmosphere and fun of going shopping. It used to be one of my favorite pastimes. There’s nothing like the dopamine hit you get when you are buying something new. I know myself and my kids. It was a perfect storm situation.
This year, I thought through new and old strategies to lower the cost of school supplies and clothing. Maybe I am behind on this, but it feels like I am spending a ton less than last year and I know it isn’t that things cost less.
Shop Your House
Almost everyone has extra school and office supplies sitting around the house.
Two examples:
- During the pandemic, our kids participated in our school district’s Cyber School. The supply list was similar to in-person school and I bought all the things. We used hardly any of it and it’s been sitting in a cabinet since.
- I have also purchased kits offered by the school so that I don’t have to run around buying everything and bits of that have come home at the end of the year.
I went around the house and through all of our stashes and brought it all together into one plastic bin. Truthfully, I need a second bin, but it’s great to know that I have so much!
We have gone over the school supply lists and taken what we can from our bin. It has lightened the spending load significantly.
Sell/Swap Clothing
Kids grow out of things faster than you can keep up. I make clothes last through as many kids as I can. They can be very rough on clothes, but I still have things that make it to the end and are in great shape. I have sold clothes on
- Facebook Market Place
- Poshmark (use my link and we both get $10)
- eBay
- Thredup ( use my link and get 45% off your first purchase)
They are all great options if you are looking to make a few bucks. I am also very fortunate to have some great second-hand stores that take kids and/or teen clothing and give you cash on the spot. I can use this money towards what we need to purchase or save it.
I’m super happy that sustainability has become trendy with young people because it has now become acceptable to shop second-hand. One of my teens actually came home the other day with an item they were really excited about and I was shocked it was from Goodwill! I have also watched my teens swap clothing with friends when they get tired of them. I love it!
Obviously, there are some things that I need to buy new. I promised two of my kids new backpacks (after several years use with their old ones) and we will have to replace a few lunch bags, water bottles, and a few odds and ends to fill in. Cash back is such a great option!
I have the Rakuten app on my phone and the extension on my computer (use my code and get a 10% cash back advance). All I have to do on the app is open the app and search the store or brand I am looking at and it will let me know if there is a partnership that will give you a percentage of your purchase back in cash. The extension on my computer is my favorite because it pops up automatically when it recognizes what I am shopping for.
Another great cash-back option is Ibotta. This is like a couponing app, but you get the money back after. Browse the app based on the stores you shop and choose items that you plan to purchase. When you have your receipt, you can scan it or enter the purchases manually with bar codes to prove that you participated by purchasing the correct products.
Right now, they have a Back-to-School Essentials category that includes office/school supplies and popular food products.
Back-to-School Sales
When you have to buy new, you need to look out for sales. Almost every store/brand has a sale running right now for back-to-school time. I have found that many of the items that you find on Ibotta or Rakuten (or other coupon/cash-back companies) offer deals on items that are already on sale. I get giddy when this happens!
But don’t rely only on the sales this month. There’s Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Black Friday/Holiday sales coming soon. If there are items you can wait for (like pants, sweatshirts, coats ,and other seasonal items), spread your shopping out over the coming months.
These are a few of the money-saving tactics that I have learned and put into practice this year. I hope that this information can help you save your budget this Back-to School season!
Do you have any other tips? How are you saving money? Please share in the comments!