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Ten tips for back-to-school shopping on a budget
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McMain High School, courtesy NoLA Rising
The National Retail Foundation says that the average family with kids in grades K through 12 will spend $548.72 on school merchandise this year, including clothing, shoes, school supplies, and electronics.
There are some strategies that parents can use to keep their school supply expenses within their budget. Here are some suggestions:
1. Watch the sales carefully. Discount and office supply stores often sell school supplies at a loss to get you in the door. Last year, it wasn’t unusual to find rulers for one cent, for instance.
2. Reuse school supplies from last year whenever possible. Just because it’s a new school year doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a new backpack, lunch box, ruler, or scissors if last year’s is in good shape. The same thing applies to shoes and school uniforms – don’t assume you have to start the new year with all new apparel.
3. Check prices online. From school uniforms to shoes to calculators and more, you can find school supplies of all kinds online, frequently shipped free and sometimes without sales tax.
4. Investigate sources of gently-used school uniforms. Goodwill Stores often have donated uniforms in good shape. Consider uniforms handed down from older siblings or from neighbors. Check out garage sales.
5. Give your teenager a budget and let him decide how to best spend it. He may be willing to wear shoes from Payless or Kmart in return for being able to buy two pairs of trendy jeans. Discourage fad clothing that may be costly to replace when it’s no longer in style.
6. Shop at dollar stores. You may find some items substantially cheaper at a dollar store. Most dollar stores have a good selection of pens, pencils, markers, and folders.
7. Keep a copy of your child’s supply list with you. Mark off what you’ve already bought so you don’t buy duplicates, and you’ll have a record of what you still need to buy if you come across a sale.
8. Don’t procrastinate too long. The selection of school supplies at the discount stores will be picked over before school starts, and you may end up having to pay more elsewhere.
9. Consider off-brands. Unless your school specifies the brand of glue or crayons your child requires, you may find store brands or lesser-known brands to be substantially cheaper than what you usually buy.
10. Sign up online for newsletters for your favorite retailers. They often send subscriber-only coupons you can use online or in store for additional savings or private sales events.
Back-to-school can be an expensive time, but with a little planning, you’ll be able to get everything you need within your family’s budget.
Have suggestions of your own? Please leave a comment!
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