Top Tips for Back-To-School Shopping on a Budget

• Shopping online can save you money on basic school supplies.
• Investing in high-quality items that your child will use for years to come can help you avoid making the same purchase each time they enter a new grade.
• Whether it’s directly through the school or by shopping at second-hand stores, there are ways to save on school uniforms.
• Empowering your child with a portion of the back-to-school budget can be a great way to teach them lessons about budgeting and value. 

Smart back-to-school shopping involves taking advantage of sales and finding deals, but it also requires flexibility. You may want to invest in certain items, like a nice backpack that lasts for years. Other items, like your middle schooler’s uniform, might be okay to buy from a thrift shop.

Here are some of the best ways to save money during the back-to-school shopping season. 

Shop Online to Layer Sales and Discounts

Yes, there are some items you’ll want to buy in-store. For example, it’s probably wise for your growing pre-teen to try on clothing before purchasing it. But other necessities, like notebooks, pencils, and rulers, can be bought online.

It’s usually better to buy online because you can use browser extensions like Honey to see if you’re getting the lowest price or determine if you’d save more by shopping with a competitor.

If you are worried that shipping costs will negate your savings, there’s a hack for that! Some stores with brick-and-mortar locations will let you buy online and pick your items up curbside to avoid shipping fees.

Buy Brands With Lifetime Warranties

Every year, you’re going to have a new back-to-school shopping list. This doesn’t mean you have to buy everything on it each year. For some items, you can invest in quality so the product outlives a single school year. 

For example, Jansport backpacks come with a lifetime warranty. If the product tears or wears out, you can contact them to get it fixed or replaced. Spend money once, and you can potentially get a backpack for your child’s entire education.

If you use this strategy, opt for more demure prints or colors to ensure you won’t have to repurchase items when your child’s taste changes. The sparkly unicorn backpack that was so popular when they were eight might not be as big of a hit when they’re in middle school.

Save on School Uniforms

Do school uniforms save you money or not? It’s a hotly debated topic. Either way, clothes cost you money as your child grows. 

If your school does have a school uniform policy, here are some ways you can cut back those costs: 

• Ask the parent-teacher organization if there’s a uniform exchange program. This can not only save you money, but it also helps cut back on waste.
• Visit your local thrift stores or consignment shops to see if they have any gently-used uniforms you can buy for less. 
• If you must buy new, shop during tax-free holidays to score some of the deepest price cuts. 

Put the Back-To-School Budget Into Your Children’s Hands

Back-to-school shopping can be overwhelming. Luckily, as your children grow, there are opportunities to alleviate some of your own stress by delegating portions of the shopping to them. This is also a great way to give your children hands-on experience handling money. 

For example, if you have a $100 clothing budget, they can shop for their own clothes. This will involve deciding whether they want to spend it all on a single, new, brand-name outfit or if they prefer a higher quantity of new outfits from either off-brands or second-hand shops. 

You can also empower them with tools like Payactiv’s SmartSpend feature, which can help them allocate their back-to-school budget in real-time. 

Final Word

Back-to-school shopping feels like an expensive mandate, but there are ways to save. Don’t feel obligated to buy every last item on your list each year.

Remember to implement smart shopping strategies, such as finding extra discounts online, shopping tax-free holidays, and turning this back-to-school shopping season into an opportunity for your children to learn the value of a dollar. 
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