Back to school expenses can really take a hit to the budget. The costs of sending your child back to school regardless of the age adds up quickly from school supplies to clothing to registration fees and so much more.
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Some back to school costs, such as registration fees, are set fees that you have no control over, but school supplies are one item that you can find savings for your budget.
We all know you can save using coupons and shop the sales, but sometimes we need more savings or maybe couponing is not your thing.
With a little creativity, planning, and organization you can save on school supplies.
Save on School Supplies
1. Reuse Items from Previous Year
There are many items that never make it home like Kleenex, paints, and copy paper and therefore cannot be reused. However, there are a few items that survive the year and do make it back home. Examples of school supplies that can be reused from year to year are pencil boxes, rulers, and scissors. Types of scissors change based on grade level from blunt to pointed, but you might be able to get a couple of years out of pair of scissors. These items not hugely expensive, but every little bit counts.
2. Use Unused Items from Previous Year
Most school supplies are used from year to year, especially their favorite colors of crayons. Usually there is an item or two that was not used at all, such as a few pencils, an eraser, or glue sticks. Store these items for the next school year.
3. Pass Items Down
Save school supplies for the next siblings or ask a friend to save theirs. Examples of items that could be passed down are nap mats and scissors. Again not huge savings, but they add up.
4. Shop Your Stockpile
Do you shop sales and use coupons to stock up on frequently used items? Do you buy items in bulk from a warehouse super store like Sam’s Club? Kleenex, copy paper, and baggies are great items to grab from your stockpile.
5. Buy Good Quality Products
Buying good quality products does not save your money up front, but will in the long run. I don’t recommend this for every item, but for those items that could be reused from year to year. Purchase good quality backpacks for your kids and use the same one from year to year. Headphones are another item to spend a little more on up front, so you don’t have to replace them each year.
Use this school supply list to get organized before you head out to shop for any remaining items.
Great tips Kim. We are very lucky that in the area we live in, full school supplies are provided by the schools. We only have to purchase those items that we need at home. I like your tips to buy the better products for some items so they last longer. I bought a cheap backpack last year and had to replace it 2 months in.
That’s awewsome Ali! Education funding has been cut a couple time over the last few years in our state leading to schools requiring parents to purchase more supplies like copy paper.