16 Tips to Save Money on Back to School Supplies & Shopping List
Back-to-school time has become its own shopping season, second only to Christmas in terms of family expenditures. In 2017, the Huntington Bank Backpack Index, an annual index chart that tracks the average cost of back-to-school supplies, found that it now costs an average of $1,000 to send a child back to school.
That’s as much as an average mortgage payment, and each year, costs continue to outpace inflation. Multiply this amount by two or three (or five) children, and it’s easy to see why many parents start sweating in mid-July when the barrage of back-to-school fliers and ads start appearing.
Whether your kids start kindergarten this fall or head off to college, you can buy them everything they need without breaking your bank account. Let’s look at 16 strategies to help you become a savvy back to-school-shopper this year.
According to a survey conducted by the nonprofit organization Junior Achievement USA, 60% of parents say it’s challenging to afford back-to-school supplies. And it’s no wonder; the Huntington Bank Backpack Index shows that even parents of elementary school students are footing a higher bill each year. The costs break down as follows:
These numbers are based on a list of classroom supplies and fees (which include extracurricular fees for activities such as sports and band) from eight states, with the cost of these supplies based on moderately priced options from big-box retailers. Why are these costs on the rise?
Today, parents are being asked to contribute more of the supplies that schools used to be responsible for providing. For example, many districts ask parents to contribute scissors, paper, crayons, glue, facial tissue, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes. Due to budget cuts, schools simply don’t have the money for these basic supplies.
For example, take a look at these back-to-school lists for first- through fifth-grade students in Illinois. Many of these supplies used to be contributed by the school itself. This puts parents on a tight budget in a difficult situation because if they don’t contribute these supplies, the teacher typically has to pay for them. TIME magazine reports that most teachers spend $500 of their own money on classroom supplies each year, and many spend more than $1,000.
Remember when you could just sign up for softball or baseball, and all you had to buy was your own jersey with your name on it? Those days are long gone.
The cost of extracurricular activities is another reason going back to school is so expensive, and you can point the finger for this at — you guessed it — budget cuts. Citing research from Utah State University, TIME magazine states that parents now spend an average of $2,292 on their childrens’ sports, and some sports are shockingly expensive.
For example, here are the average yearly costs for some of the most popular middle school and high school sports:
Of course, these numbers represent the average costs for fees and equipment per child per year. If your child’s team has to travel for tournaments or playoffs, you’ll have to pay for those expenses too. These often include airfare, hotel, meals, and fees and dues for tournament participation.
The Washington Post reports that participation in school sports has declined almost 8% over the last decade, and one of the biggest reasons is the astronomical cost. Many middle- and lower-class families can’t afford to have multiple children playing sports, and as a result, the participation in school sports is becoming a class issue separating the “haves” and the “have-nots.” The Washington Post also reports that kids from families earning less than $25,000 participate in sports at half the rate of kids from families earning $100,000 or more.
If you’re stressed out about this upcoming drain on your bank account, take a deep breath. There are plenty of ways to not spend $1,000 per child this back-to-school season. If you start early and plan ahead, you can put your kids on a bus for a fraction of this amount.
Keep in mind that back-to-school sales start a bit earlier each year. Staples now puts out its back-to-school section in late June, with many items already on sale to entice parents to buy. You can save by purchasing one or two items at a time throughout the summer. Spreading your purchases out this way can also avoid a huge hit to your monthly budget.
Believe it or not, you might already have plenty of school supplies lying around your house. Closets, desk drawers, and basement bins could hold hidden treasures that can save you money.
Start by rounding up all of the office and school supplies you already own. Put them in a central location, such as a plastic bin or the dining room table, so you can make a list of what you have. Keep this list in your purse or car so you don’t forget it when you shop for school supplies. You can also take a picture of your current supplies to refresh your memory when you’re out shopping.
Next, go through your kids’ closets and start sorting. Clothing that kids have outgrown, as well as worn clothing, should be donated or tossed. Once you complete this “supply sweep,” you’ll have a clearer picture of what you actually need to buy. Ideally, the sweep will prevent you from buying something you already have on hand.
Coordinate with your friends and neighbors and host a “supply swap” before you head out shopping.
For instance, you might have reams of loose-leaf paper that you bought on sale, but you’ll never use it all. Meanwhile, your friend might have several packs of pencils she’d be willing to trade for some of that paper. Talk to friends and family who have school-aged children and see if they have extra supplies they’d be interested in trading.
Garage sales can be a treasure trove of deals for back-to-school supplies. You can find backpacks, gently used shoes, clothing, and even school supplies there for a song.
Start hitting up garage sales for everything you need. It takes time, but you can score some incredible bargains by doing this, and it’s a great way to save money on back-to-school clothes. You can also ask friends and family members to keep an eye out for you when they shop at garage sales.
There are awesome bargains to be found at thrift stores too. Clothing is very affordable there, and many stores run sales specifically for parents shopping for back-to-school items. Start early, however; the selection will be picked over by the first day of school.
Your best bet is to start your kids’ clothing shopping in mid- to late July when there are plenty of clothes to choose from. Of course, if you do this, the “newness” will have worn off by the first day of school, so put these clothes away until school starts so they’ll feel brand-new to your kids.
Consignment shops are great places to find used clothing because everything they offer has already been vetted, so unlike at the thrift store, you won’t have to paw through blouses from 1975 to find designer clothing on a shoestring budget.
If your area has several consignment shops, find out if they’ll be having a sale in late summer. Many consignment shops organize a seasonal sale, especially during the back-to-school shopping season. Several shops might even organize a mega-sale in one location, pooling all their resources together. You can find consignment shops in your area at Kids Consignment Sales.
You can get some incredible bargains on school supplies at the dollar store, where you’ll find basic supplies like notebooks and pencils, as well as classroom supplies like Kleenex and sanitizer, all at bargain prices. Start shopping in the summer months, because you never know what items stores will order or how long those items will stay in stock.
Many states have sales tax holidays when shoppers can buy items without paying sales tax. On these days, you can pick up clothing, computers, and school supplies tax-free.
Find the date (or dates) of your state’s sales tax holiday and determine item eligibility online. Most states have a sales tax holiday during the first week of August, although some have tax holidays in July or toward the end of August.
Many companies send their loyal followers coupon links and advance notice of sales. If you plan to bargain-hunt this year, monitor your favorite stores’ Twitter and Facebook feeds to find deals.
You can follow these stores on Twitter, for example:
Most parents will have to buy some sort of electronics for their kids for school. A great way to save on these is to keep an eye on Amazon’s ever-changing prices. The website camelcamelcamel tracks the price range history for every product sold on Amazon, including historic highs and lows. You can sign up for price change alerts for specific products so you know every time their prices change.
There are also plenty of apps to help you save money by comparing prices across different retailers. One is ShopSavvy, which is available for iOS and Android devices. To use ShopSavvy, simply scan the bar code of the product you’re interested in and the app will tell you if a lower price is available at another store or website. For the app to work, you’ll also need to download a bar code scanner, which you can get for both iOS and Android devices.
Last, don’t forget to look to your grocery store or neighborhood drugstore for bargains on school supplies. Check local circulars starting in mid-summer; you might be surprised to find that some items are actually cheaper when they’re on sale at these stores than at big box stores. Additionally, many stores have reward or loyalty programs that enable you to earn points or “store dollars” when you purchase these items here.
When you’re back-to-school shopping, it’s easy to get paranoid about the cost of glue at Target compared to Walmart. We’ve all been there. There might even be a support group in your area.
But while it’s important to watch prices on small items, you only have so much time and energy. You’re better off using this limited time and energy to save money on bigger-ticket items such as computers, tablets, and other electronics. Saving $300 on your high schooler’s new laptop means more to your budget than saving $5 on your middle schooler’s lunch box or 25 cents on a bottle of glitter glue.
Focus on saving money on your biggest expenses first, and let the glue take care of itself.
What do you do if you’ve set spending limits for specialty or high-end items, and your kids still clamor for expensive back-to-school gear? Make them go to work.
Assign them chores or send them out into the neighborhood to earn the money needed for these items. My parents did this to me, and I lived through the experience. It also made me examine, in a very real way, how badly I wanted to buy some “must-have” items. Most of the time, when I had to spend my own money on something — money I had to use my own hours to earn — I discovered that I didn’t really want it as badly as I thought I did.
School uniforms used to be the hallmark of attending an elite private school. These days, many charter schools require students to wear uniforms, and The New Yorker reports that one-fifth of all public schools now require a uniform. And these uniforms can be costly, with prices ranging from $150 to $250 or more for a mix-and-match wardrobe. However, there are plenty of ways to save money on school uniforms.
One strategy is to see if your school has a uniform exchange. During the year, some schools ask parents to donate any uniform items their children have outgrown. They then offer these items to parents on a tight budget, often for free or for a small donation.
Another way to save is to check local thrift stores. For example, if your child’s uniform includes basic navy or khaki pants, you can usually find these in droves at a thrift store or consignment shop.
Last, check retailers like GAP and Old Navy. Both companies sell school uniforms and often run sales during mid- to late summer. You might also find better deals if you shop in the early summer when most parents aren’t yet thinking about buying uniforms for the upcoming school season.
Every child wants new clothes when they head back to school. And while retailers do put clothing on sale for back to school, Consumer Reports states that this isn’t the best time to buy a new wardrobe for your kids. Prices typically go down in September after the big clothes-buying rush is over.
A better strategy is to buy one new outfit for your kids to wear on the first day and then do most of your shopping when prices drop further in September or October.
So, you have a daughter who wants to play softball and soccer, another daughter who wants to join the school band, and a son who wants to play hockey and baseball. You’re looking at a potential investment of $10,000 or more in fees, instruments, and equipment for this year alone. But don’t start hyperventilating just yet. There are plenty of ways to save money on extracurricular activities for your kids.
First, think about limiting your children to one after-school activity apiece. By limiting their choices, you give them the opportunity to focus on what they’re most interested in. This also forces them to make a choice, and when they take ownership of this choice, they’ll likely feel more dedicated to what they’re doing and really put their heart into it. Sticking to one activity will also help you avoid having an overscheduled child and give them more time for academics, family time, and friends.
If you’re looking to save money on sports equipment, one strategy is to buy used. You can find used gear on SidelineSwap and can also sell your own equipment on the site once your child has outgrown what they’re currently using. Locally, you can usually find some great bargains at Play It Again Sports.
If you’re looking to save money on music lessons or band participation, your best bet is to buy or rent a used instrument. You can search on Music Go Round for used instruments listed on the site, as well as instruments listed locally in your area. Craigslist and eBay are also great places to look for used instruments.
Online cash back shopping venue Ebates acts like a shopping gateway. The website allows you to shop online at over 2,500 major stores and brands like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Gap, Barnes & Noble, Dell, Kohl’s, DSW, and Macy’s, all while giving you cash back on your purchases.
How much you earn typically varies from 1% to 6% of your total purchase price. However, many retailers offer short-term rebates of 10% or more, as well as special sales just for Ebates shoppers. Many users of the site receive $300 or more throughout the year using Ebates, which they then use to buy back-to-school supplies.
Going back-to-school shopping with your kids can be a fun bonding experience. It can also add hundreds of dollars to your shopping bill if you cave to their requests for designer jeans and lavishly decorated backpacks.
To save money, tell your kids before you leave the house that you’re sticking to the school list and won’t consider any extras while you’re out. Of course, I have two kids of my own, so I know that saying no isn’t always easy.
A better idea might be to go school shopping on your own. Consider buying your kids just what they might need on their very first day and, while they’re in school, hit the stores to knock out the rest of the list by yourself. Not only will this be more relaxing; you’ll likely save more money too.
If you have a child heading to college, you’re likely experiencing a whole new level of back-to-school sticker shock. In addition to the increasing cost of college tuition, parents spend an average of $888 on school supplies for college students, according to TIME. These costs break down as follows:
Of course, this breakdown doesn’t include the cost of textbooks, some of which can run $200 or more apiece. Learn.org reports that the average cost for a college-bound student, including textbooks, is more than $1,200; this number doesn’t include the cost of a laptop, which is a necessity for most students.
The good news is that there are many ways to save money on back-to-school shopping for your college student.
Textbooks
The most important tip to save money on college textbooks is to buy your textbooks secondhand and avoid the campus bookstore like the plague. You can save up to 90% off the cost of textbooks when you shop through Amazon Student or Chegg, which allow you to buy or rent textbooks.
Keep in mind that while the cost of renting a textbook might be lower up front, it might not always be the best deal because when you’re done with the book, you can’t resell it; you have to send it back to the rental agency. Used textbooks might cost more, but you can recoup some of this money at the end of the school year by selling your used textbooks for cash. So do the math first to determine which is the better option for you financially.
Another strategy to save money on college textbooks is to buy older editions of the books on your list. Before you go this route, however, talk to your professor and ask if it will be a problem to use an older edition. Some professors might have a specific reason for using the current edition, while others might say there’s no reason not to use an older version.
Dorm Room Supplies
When it comes to buying dorm room supplies, it pays to do some homework first. You don’t want to buy a coffee maker for your son’s dorm room only to find out the school bans individual coffee makers.
Once you find out where your child will be living, head to the school’s residency page and look up their particular house or dorm. Find out the dimensions of each dorm room, what the school supplies as a courtesy, and what items are banned. For example, some dorms don’t allow microwaves, electric kettles, or toasters. You can also check Bed Bath & Beyond’s college locator page, which has an extensive list of what each school’s dorm supplies and what they don’t.
Shop for dorm room essentials like rugs, sheets, and light cooking equipment at garage sales and thrift stores, where they’ll cost a fraction of what they cost new. Reach out to friends and family members and ask if they have any items they could pass on to your student; chances are they’ll be glad to help.
If you have their contact information, you can also save money by reaching out to your child’s future roommate. Talk to them before move-in day and determine who’s going to bring what so that you don’t all end up buying the same furniture and supplies. For instance, your daughter could bring a microwave and rugs, while her roommate brings a mini fridge and coffee maker.
Check your child’s college or university website to see if they have a rental program; many schools now do. In such programs, you can rent items like microwaves or mini fridges at a fraction of the cost of buying them new, and you won’t have to move them out at the end of the year.
Last, start checking Craigslist for the city where your child will be attending school. Students who graduate from school in April or May will often sell — or even give away — items such as couches, futons, and TVs because they don’t want to ship or move these items back home. If your child’s school isn’t too far from your home, you can pick up some great bargains from graduating students if you’re willing to store these items over the summer. It can also pay to drive around campus neighborhoods at the end of the semester; many students will simply leave items out on the curb for anyone to pick up.
Many parents don’t want to think about shopping for the coming school year, especially in the midst of high summer. However, back-to-school shopping can creep up on you and your family quickly, so it pays to be prepared. The best way to save money is to start planning ahead of time so you can take advantage of every deal and coupon that comes your way.
Do you have any savvy back-to-school shopping tricks you use to save money each year?
Updated: July 17, 2018
Categories: Careers, College & Education, Family & Home, Kids, Lifestyle, Money Management, Shopping, Spending and Saving
Heather Levin is a writer with over 15 years experience covering personal finance, natural health, parenting, and green living. She lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband and two young sons, where they’re often wandering on frequent picnics to find feathers and wildflowers.
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