- Inventory and Budget
- Reviewing list and Stretch Buying
- Shopping on Sales Tax Holiday
- Going for the Doorbuster Sales
- Buying in Bulk
A good way of saving on kids’ supplies is by first looking at the items that you have.
In most offices, people usually hoard a lot of pens, folders, and notepads. Go through your supplies and see whether there is anything you have that they might need. You should also look at the things your kids already have.
Look at the back-to-school list then see what you need to buy and what you have or you can repurpose.
The next step is to have a budget. Ask yourself how much you can afford to spend on school supplies this month. If you have been saving for a few months for the back-to-school supplies, then you might be in a better position to buy the items on the list. If this isn’t the case, then look at what you can buy this month and what can be purchased later.
If the list states three rolls of toilet paper, there is no way your kid is going to go through all of three in their first month of school. You can get one box then wait before sending the other rolls. You can talk to the teacher because they can suggest good ideas. Most teachers will be happy to help you determine what your kids need now and what can wait. There are some schools offering donated supplies for families having financial issues. It is tough to ask for help, but if you are having a hard time with this, then know there is help out there. If you feel guilty, you can check with the school and see if you can pay it forward later when you are in a better financial situation. You can also look into bad credit loans without guarantor to help you through an expensive period.
Once you have the budget in place and have a list of things you must buy, it is now time to start shopping.
There are many states offering sales tax holidays. During the tax holiday, you are not going to pay any sales tax on school supplies and clothing (this can include all purchases). Not all states have this, make sure you research and find out whether your state has it. It might also be a good idea to check whether the nearby state has it.
If the state has it, then shop during this day because you can expect to save 5-7% on purchases. Try combining your shopping with coupons, special offers, etc.
In the first week of August, Staples usually have$.01 reams of paper. This is a good time to stock up on all the paper you are going to need for the entire year because it happens just once a year. You are going to spend next to nothing on printing.
There are many retailers out there offering doorbuster deals on items that you might need for your kid like crayons and notebooks. If you come across such deals, make sure you stock up and buy what you are going to need for one year.
Another trick is buying summer clothing at this time of the year. Fall clothes/back-to-school clothes are on sale, but the summer ones are going to cost even less. Find items like khakis and polo shirts – the items are a good transition from summer to fall. Most schools start in August, and the weather might be too warm and not suitable for fall clothes yet.
A good way to save on certain items is to buy in bulk. Buy bulk packages of granola bars, snacks, trail mix, and many other items. Your kid’s lunch is going to cost you less when you get these items in bulk. There are warehouse stores like Sam’s Club and Costco that offer shoes, clothes, and items that your kid might need.
You should also stock up on lunch sacks and Ziploc bags. Buy foods like cookies and chips in big quantities then repackage them in smaller bags. Look for paper, pens, and drinks in office supplies so you can buy them in bulk.
Warehouse stores have great offers on many back-to-school supply lists like paper towels, Clorox wipes, and tissues. It is important to do comparison shopping to make sure you get the best deals. Adi and Walmart might have the best deals.