Tips to Save on Back-to-School Shopping
Did you know the average parent will spend about $700.00 per child on back-to-school shopping this season? That is a large chunk of money, which might throw your budget for a loop. But do not worry; we can help with these tips to save on back-to-school shopping.
Go mad for coupons.
Use coupon sites like RetailMeNot.com, CouponCabin.com, and Coupons.com for percentage-off or money-off coupons to help you save big.
Shop the dollar store
Before hitting the big-box stores and their big-box prices, scour your local dollar store for school supplies that will only cost a buck.
Get backpacks at Hollar.com, eBags.com, or 6PM.com.
If your child needs a character backpack, check out Hollar.com for a great selection at really-low prices. Does your little one have a high-end taste? Try eBags.com or 6PM.com for brand-name bags at a fraction of their regular price.
Shop tax-free
Many states offer tax-free holidays on clothing, footwear, and school supplies during the back-to-school shopping season to ease the financial burden of cash-strapped parents. Take advantage of shopping on these days.
Shop on Sunday and Monday
Weekly sales on school supplies go live at the beginning of the week — and shoppers will grab the hottest items up first. Shop early in the week to score the best deals.
Utilize in-store price matching
Staples, Kohl’s, JCPenney, and many stores offer in-store price matching or will even beat a competitor’s lower price. Make sure to ask about price matching before you pay!
Use discounted gift cards.
Don’t start shopping until you check out Raise.com or GiftCardGranny.com for discounted gift cards to your favorite stores.
Coordinate with friends
If you’ve got many friends who are also slogging through an endless list of school supplies, see if you can work together. Divide and conquer by letting each friend shop at a different store and picking up enough supplies for the entire group. You can also swap supplies you already have at home.
Follow stores on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow your favorite stores on Facebook and Twitter for notices about sale events, plus coupon links to help you save more.
Compare prices
Use an app or a website like ShopSavvy, Price.com, or PriceGrabber to help compare prices on big-ticket items with a quick barcode scan.
Time your shopping
For the best budget mileage, learn the markdown cycle of your favorite stores. For example, Target discounts children’s clothing every Monday, and TJ Maxx posts new markdowns on Wednesdays.
These are great tips for getting your kids ready to return to school. And, remember, many of the supplies that the teachers need are not sent out until the first week of school. Do not feel like you have to get everything right now. Take your time, follow these steps, and get what you need to prepare the kids to return to school. Like this post? Check out our other posts on our MoneySmart Tips blog.
