Originally Published 8/7/19
Updated 7/30/21
I can’t believe it’s already time for the kids to go back to school. If you stayed at home all summer with your kids, you might be ready. But, add the new role as a home teacher, and it may have seemed like a lot longer to you. Either way, it’s time to save money on school clothing and supplies.
Even if you’re not sending your kids back to school because of COVID-19, it may still be that time to get your wallets out and go shopping for supplies.
School shopping can be expensive, so trying to save money on school clothing and supplies is important to all of us.
How much have your kids grown over the summer? Mine have gone through continuous growth spurts. Continuous growth spurts=new clothes.
But, whether you need new clothes, uniforms, or classroom supplies it’s not cheap. So here are some ways to help you save money on school clothing and supplies.
Re-purpose Last Year School Supplies
Call me cheap, thrifty, or resourceful (that’s my favorite word for it). But I’m not throwing old notebooks into the recycling bin anymore. I’m also not saving them for the “one day” when my kids will use them either.
This is because, when I looked at previous year’s notebooks I saw that only a small fraction of the pages had been written on. Granted my kids are still in elementary school. This may be different for middle and high school students. But, compared to reusing it, it’s wasteful to recycle or throw old notebooks out.
So now I take a little time and go through last year’s notebooks. I no longer keep the old ones I’d been saving for that “one day” that my kids may write in them.
I carefully remove the used pages and save the sheets with cute drawings. Of course, it will be different for everyone, but I’m usually left with notebooks with two-thirds of the pages left.
Dollar Store?
Shopping for school supplies at a store where everything costs a dollar may sound like a reasonable tactic to save money, but this isn’t always true. More often than not you can find better deals at other stores such as Staples. Instead of paying $1.00 for each item, there are often school supplies on sale for 2 for $1.00 and item, or 4 for $1.00.
Remember that old adage, “never judge a book by its cover?” In this case, it’s never judge a store by its name when it comes to saving money on school supplies.
Save Money on School Clothing And Supplies On Tax Free Days
If you’re lucky enough to live in a state with a tax-free holiday, it’s a great time to save on clothing, school supplies, and other items. Most tax-free holidays last for about 2 days.
Look HERE to see if your state offers the holiday, when it is, and what exactly is tax-free. Some states also offer higher-end tax-free (up to a certain amount) items such as computers.
Buy In Bulk
Save money by getting together with friends who also need school supplies. Then, collectively buy school supplies in bulk from stores like Costco, BJ’s, or Sam’s Club and share. Or buy for your own family if it’s economical.
Other stores like Walmart and Target also offer good deals on larger quantities of school supplies.
Wait!
Let’s face it, the supply lists for some schools ask for way more than they actually need. The reasoning behind this is that every parent isn’t going to provide supplies. Or they’re not going to buy everything on the list.
Wait a few days after school starts and then ask your child’s teacher(s) what they actually need. Maybe they already have enough glue sticks, pencils, hand sanitizer (that might change from year to year), but they need more of the higher dollar items.
You may end up buying the higher dollar items. Just make sure the total cost is less than or equal to the cost of buying everything on the list.
Buy Less
Don’t buy everything on the list. Instead, buy less by using the waiting option above, or do both.
I know a lot of parents don’t buy everything on the list. One of the reasons is that they don’t think it’s their responsibility to provide school supplies for other kids. If this is you, I get it, and no judgment. But maybe think twice and think of it as an investment in your community.
Save Money on School Clothing Supplies By Shopping at Consignment Stores
Buying school clothing at consignment stores is a great option for saving money and being environmentally conscious.
These clothes are “lightly used,” so you need to look closely at them before purchasing them.
On the flip side, you can bring your “lightly used” clothing and get cash or credit to buy new clothes.
This is a win, win, win option. You’re saving money on what you’re buying. You’re providing savings to the family who’s buying the clothes. You’re also reducing your waste “footprint” by saving natural resources that would otherwise be used in making new clothing.
There’s An App for that
There are many free apps out there that help you save money on everything. So don’t forget about them when shopping for school clothing and supplies.
Here are just a few that can be used on Apple and Android devices
Retail Me Not is a fantastic app that will show you the best back-to-school deals. It provides online codes and coupons that you can print or use on your phone.
Ibotta App can save you money in three different ways.
- Send a receipt after purchase and the money will be deposited into your Ibotto account
- Link a loyalty card
- Make mobile In-App purchases
Swagbucks is another great app where you earn points by shopping online. The points can then be redeemed for gift cards from popular retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.
Retail Store Apps can also help you find the best prices on school supplies such as Target Cartwheel, Staples, and Walmart.
Shop Online
Not only can online shopping save you money, but it also saves you time and some of your sanity.
You’re able to compare prices when shopping online without having to go to multiple stores. I don’t know about you, but I regard my time as one of my most valuable assets.
Check out Swagbucks and get gift cards while shopping online.
School supplies such as notebooks and pens are easier than clothes to purchase online because you don’t have to try them on.
It’s been my experience that you can always find the best deals online. If you’re worried about getting the right clothing size, then go to a retail store, try different clothes and determine the right size. Then look for the best deals online. If you choose this route, you don’t have to wait in the long checkout lines, and you’re able to know exactly what you’re buying.
Save Money On School Clothing and Supplies
Using these techniques can save you a little to a lot of money.
Starting a new school year is stressful enough. So why not reduce the stress by saving money and time by shopping from the comfort of your own home?
Share your tips in the comments below, and Happy School Year!
