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Back to school shopping can cost families a lot of money and stress. Using these helpful money saving tips you can stick to a budget and make back to school less stressful.
Back to school shopping can cost a lot of money. In 2023, the average cost in the US for one child’s back to school supplies was $597. And that cost has been going up every year.
This can put a big strain on the family budget. Especially when you add in the cost of sports and after school activities. It’s no wonder many families feel stressed during back to school.
There are some things you can do to cut the costs and reduce the stress this year. Here’s how.
How to Save Money on Back to School Shopping
Depending on how many kids you have, their ages, and other factors within your family, some of these tips may now work for you. However, there are likely several ideas you can try this year to help you save money.
Look at What School Supplies You Already Have
You may already have some school supplies from last year that have been forgotten. Take a good look around the house and see what is available to use again.
You may also have some random supplies around the house that were purchased for other reasons like crafts. And if you have multiple children some things may be able to be passed down.
Create a Back to School Budget
A month or so before back to school is here, take a look at your expenses to see what room you have in your budget for school supplies. Consider also starting to save a little extra each week to use on back to school shopping.
All you need to do is write a list of the items you will still need after checking around the house, decide how much you can and want to spend on that item(s), and add up all of those totals for your overall budget.
You can use the In Harmony with Money free back to school budget sheet to help you plan and keep track of your back to school budget. Just fill out the form below and you will get the free printable sent to your inbox.
You can also involve your children in the process and see which items matter the most to them. Maybe they like to have fun notebooks but don’t really care what lunch box they have. You can spend a bit more on the notebooks and save on the lunchbox or use something you already have.
Shop Thrift Stores for Back to School
If your budget is very tight, consider checking thrift stores for back to school supplies. Many need this resource so be sure to only buy what you need but you may be able to find things you otherwise couldn’t afford this way.
Also be sure to check Facebook Marketplace and other sites for good deals. People sometimes end up with extras they didn’t need or have gently used items that fit your needs.
Use a Cash Back Credit Card
If you are able to use credit cards responsibly and pay them off each month, using one with good rewards can help you put some of the money spent on back to school back into your budget.
If you don’t currently have one look for one that has good rewards for the stores or types of items you need to buy. Also, look for one with a sign-up bonus. Often if you spend enough in a set amount of time you can get a pretty high reward or you may get a higher percentage of rewards for a set amount o time.
Shop Sales Tax Holidays
Many states allow sales taxes to be waived or reduced on items for back to school. These times usually happen close to back to school so keep an eye out for the date(s).
Keep in mind they are busy shopping days so have a plan and go early. And if you don’t want to deal with the crowds too much focus on higher cost items like clothing and electronics.
Create a School Supply Swap Group
Talk to friends and family with kids going back to school and see about swapping items that aren’t needed and also consider buying items in bulk to spilt with each other.
This can also be useful on a sales tax holiday because you can each take on a different store to save time and stress.
Shop the Sales After Back to School
If you have some items you don’t need right away wait until school is back and shop the sales on the remaining items.
If you have room in your budget and space in your home you could also plan ahead and buy somethings you know you will need the next year. Just be sure you know where the items are so you don’t forget about them next year.
Know When to Spend More
There are many items where buying store-brands and cheaper products won’t make a difference. But especially for items that will get daily use and you want to last you may want to try to spend a little extra.
If you buy a cheap backpack that breaks mid-year and you have to buy a second one you likely will spend more than just buying the higher quality backpack to start with.
Have a Strategy for Clothes Shopping
Unless you find a good deal and know the item will fit, don’t try to buy for future seasons. You can end up buying a size that doesn’t work and you can often find deals throughout the year.
For older kids letting them go back to school for a little bit before doing much school shopping can help them start to form their style identity so they can get the clothes they will actually wear.
Limit Extracurricular Activities
Extracurriculars can get very expensive. Consider what you can budget for this and talk with your kids about which activities are most important to them.
This will also prevent your family from becoming over scheduled and unable to keep up with everything else you need to do.
Save Money All Year with Reusable Lunch Containers
If your kids will be taking their lunch to school you can end up paying a lot over the year on sandwich bags and other disposable lunch supplies.
If you have the room in your budget, buy some reusable lunch containers to use instead. Packing waste-free lunches is not only great for the environment it’s better for our budgets.
When There Isn’t a Budget
Times are hard for many families right now and you may have read these tips and looked at your expenses and still just can’t find the money for all the supplies you will need. It’s okay to need help and to ask for you.
Thankfully most communities have organizations that can help. Your school may be able to direct you to helpful resources. You can also check your public library, local places of worship, and community centers for back to school supply drives.
Be sure to also check local buy nothing groups and Facebook pages. People often give away free supplies around back to school season.
More Helpful Budgeting Resources
Saving money throughout the year will help you avoid stress when expenses like back to school come around. These are some budgeting resources you will find here on In Harmony with Money.
- The Art of Financial Management: Budget vs. Spending Plan
- How to Prioritize Needs vs Wants in Your Budget
- Ways to Reduce Your Family Budget
- 4 Questions to Get Your Family on Board with Budgeting
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