Tips for Back-to-School Shopping

Glue sticks don’t grow on trees, and neither does money. So, as you gear up to shell out on pens, pencils, backpacks, and the like for your little ones this fall season, keep the following tips in mind. They’ll help you navigate the aisles both online and off and equip your students with the very best for the very least.

Plan Ahead

You know what they say about the early bird, right? The adage applies to back-to-school shopping, too, resulting in stocked backpacks, prepared kiddos, and stress-free parents. 

• Create a budget. And don’t budge. You’ll thank yourself later.
• Make a list. Or use the supplied list from your kid’s teachers.
• Buy in bulk. Stock up on essentials. Bonus: Next year’s haul is done.
• Shop in stints. Stretch out the bonanza, so you’re not forced into rushed decisions.

Enlist Help

They don’t say, “It takes a village,” for nothing. So, enlist every villager on this pilgrimage. You’d be surprised at the bevy of brilliant tips and money-saving hacks people are just sitting on. 

• Get social. Follow mom-fluencers and major brands on social media for mammoth deals.
• Consult your kids. Distinguish between their needs and their wants, and set expectations.
• Widen your orbit. Ask friends, fellow parents, and neighbors where they shop. 
• Shop alone. Sticking to that needs-only list might mean venturing out solo.

Shop Around

You don’t have to buy everything in one place. School supplies pop up in hobby shops, dollar stores, and supermarkets. Check online for deals from office supply stores, too. Here are a few suggestions.

• Walmart for all the basics and essentials.
• Target for backpacks, water bottles, and more.
• Old Navy for quality threads at thrifty prices.
• Crew Kids for the cutest picture-day fits.
• Amazon for literally everything else.

Reuse & Recycle 

Some of last year’s supplies will work just fine. If they’re in good condition, consider reusing items such as pencil boxes, rulers, protractors, calculators, spiral notebooks, erasers, and markers. 

• Take inventory. See what you already have, so you don’t double-buy.
• Consider secondhand. Consult siblings for items they’re willing to hand over.
• Reuse items. Do they still have love for that raggedy backpack? Just go with it.

Maximize Savings 

The Sales Tax Holiday is typically in early August, with the state exempting most clothing and school supplies costing less than $100 from taxation, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. Other ways to save?

• Shop sales. Retailers are known to drop prices around the Sales Tax Holiday.
• Shop online. Never leave home and never shop without promo codes.
• Go generic. Forgoing name brands can save a bundle.
• Utilize rewards. Check your credit cards for available rewards.

Minimize the back-to-school stress for your students, and yourself, with these organizational hacks.