5 Ways To Save Money On Back-To-School Supplies

It’s that time of year that parents dread, especially those with more than one school-bound children. The average family will spend about $600 on back-to-school supplies and other items needed to send their children back. Doesn’t that sound a little high? That’s a significant hit for families living from paycheck to paycheck. Now throw in the faltering economy and high unemployment, and you have a bad situation! I have always been an advocate of making a bad situation into a good one, and one way to make this time better is by finding ways to save money on yur back-to-school supplies.

1. Don’t follow the list strictly. So many parents blindly follow the school supplies list without questioning whether they will really use those supplies. I remember in grade school having stuff that my mom bought me that I might have used once or twice, and it wasn’t even in the beginning of the year. Do some critical thinking, ask your child if they actually use the item in school, and make an executive decision.
2. Do not over-buy. Schools have most likely over-estimated the supplies they need, so don’t fall into the trap of buying too much supplies.
3. Recycle old supplies. It’s too late to say, “remember to keep your kid’s old supplies from the previous year”, but keep it in mind for next year. Things like hole punchers, staplers, and hardcover binders are easy to save and use for next year.
4. Buy in bulk. Only do this if you have two or more kids in school. Use wholesale centers like Costco and Sam’s to find binders, folders, pens, and crayons in bulk.
5. Don’t bring your kids with you, if possible. Even with school supplies, their eyes get big, and they act like they need everything and the best of everything. Kids are very brand conscious, but they rarely care what brand they are using after a couple of weeks of school.

Play a game with yourself and see how much money you can save this back-to-school season. I know it’s possible, and you know it’s possible, but it takes some extra work to save money. Saving money is a lifestyle, and when you continually repeat the process of saving money, it starts to become second nature.

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