6 Tips To Save On Back-To-School Shopping

Take Inventory Of What You Have

Start by looking in your child’s closet, packing away anything that doesn’t fit or isn’t appropriate for school (like items with big holes). That’s a great way to see how much your child actually has to wear that fits, and you’ll know what items you need to buy for back to school.

This goes for school supplies too.

Check and see if you bought too many pencils or crayons or notebooks last year. You can cross off part of your list by shopping in your own closet.

And do this for school gear too. Maybe your kids’ bookbag can last another year. Or their lunchbox. Or water bottle (most likely, definitely the water bottle).

If you don’t have to rebuy some items, that’s money saved.

Shop The Clearance Section

If you’re shopping in store, look for the clearance racks. Stores usually put the current season on clearance to make room for the next season. So it’s the perfect time to find a good deal on items that your child can wear now.

Also, when you’re looking at items, add some cute items along with some practical ones. Tank tops that can be worn alone at the warm beginning and end of the school year, and then layered during the cooler months, will help you stretch your budget since your child can wear them all year.

Use in Store Coupons

JCPenney has sent $10 coupons via home mailers a few times recently (I’ve posted them on social media, so hopefully you were following us and made sure to check your mail).

I used mine last weekend. And, although I used it for an early Christmas gift, not on back to school, there was so many back-to-school items I could have picked: backpacks, lunchboxes, clothing, sneakers, and more.

So, if you get any coupons in the mail or in your email, don’t throw them away. That’s free money. Even if you just use it to buy a pack of socks, you’re still stretching your budget.

Shop As Late As Possible

Stores put out school supplies almost as soon as the summer ends. And no one needs them then. People need them in late August, when stores need the room for Halloween candy. So stores will heavily discount school supplies to get rid of them.

Just this week, I’ve seen Crayola crayons for $.50 a box and folders for a nickel (yup, five cents a folder).

I know a lot of us, especially couponers, are planners and like to shop early. It’s a personality trait. However, if you can hold out as long as possible, you’ll get the best deal.

Use Cash Back Apps

If you’re going to shop online, don’t forget about cash back apps.

My favorite one is TopCashBack because it usually has the highest percentage back. I use it any time I’m shopping online, even if it’s just ordering through Best Buy when I have free bonus rewards. I also always use it when I’m booking hotels because it’s a huge percentage back.

If you’re shopping for back-to-school stuff online, especially for items like sneakers, use some sort of cash back app. You earn a percentage of your total back. And that savings adds up (especially if your kids have expensive taste).

Don’t forget about Fetch too. That’s my favorite easy app. You just take pictures of any and all your receipts and you get points for them. You can then cash out those points for gift cards. So, whatever you buy, just scan the receipts. The points add up quickly.

Wait For Free Back-To-School Events

Every year, TCC (The Cellular Connection), a Verizon Authorized Retailer, hosts a School Rocks backpack giveaway (we post about this annually on our social media pages, by the way). You show up (with your kids, of course) and get a free backpack along with free school supplies. You don’t even have to be a TCC or Verizon customer. It’s just something nice the brand does for the community.

Our local community does a lot of similar back-to-school events too. They specify that these are for all school aged children, not just kids in low-income households. So, they’re for everyone. And everyone should attend.

Some of them are well advertised and well attended and some aren’t because people think they don’t qualify, so the supplies end up getting donated to schools in the area, which is really nice too.

But, honestly, just go. Just show up. The businesses hosting these events want people there. And if it’ll help stretch your budget, why wouldn’t you show up?