10 Ways to Save on Back-to-School Supplies

With the rising cost of gas, groceries, and just about everything else, people today are pinching their pennies like they never have before!  Here’s a list of 10 Ways to Save on Back-to-School Supplies.

-#1  Set a budget! This may sound like a waste of time but it is oh so important to staying on track financially throughout the year and in this instance for school shopping.

-#2 Plan ahead. Make a list of what you need before you leave home.  Don’t forget to check and see what items you can reuse from last year.  You may also want to bring bottled water and a small snack if you plan on being there a while.

-#3  Quality counts. Decide on which items you can buy cheap and which items it’s worth spending more on.  Crayons and clothes are probably worth the extra money because they will last longer.  Pencils and hair-bows will probably be the same regardless of the price.

-#4 Get your child involved. You don’t have to cave into every item that they want and you find repulsive but it’s a good idea to let them choose some.  Not only will it make the shopping experience more pleasant but they will be more likely to wear it, feel good in it, and take care of it.

-#5 Shop early for school supplies! With coupon usage on the rise you can find several manufacturers coupons for basic school supplies.  Pair them with Walmart’s earliest mark downs for the best deal.  Don’t forget office supply stores!  They have some great back-to-school bargains around the middle of summer. {We post a round up of the best deals weekly}

-#6 Buy clothing items that go with {almost} anything! I learned this trick from my great grandmother who grew up not having much.  Instead of buying a complete coordinating outfit that will  go with nothing else, opt for versatile articles that work well with each other.  This exponentially multiplies the number of potential outfits available.

-#7 Shop for off-season, clearance items.  When it is 99 degrees outside it is hard to go shopping for long-sleeve shirts and coats.   However, this is the optimum time to pick up clearance deals on these winter items as stores are practically giving them away.

-#8 Shop off-price retailers. Shopping at stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Gabriel Bro., and Rugged Wearhouse will help you get quality {and designer} clothing at affordable prices.  Discount stores may offer similar prices but the quality is different.  For instance, at a discount retailer a $20 backpack was meant to sale at that price.  At off-price retailers, a $20 backpack was made by designers to sell at $40+.

-#9 Shop online. Especially if you know your child’s size in a brand, shopping online can save you big.  Don’t forget to search our Coupon Code Database for a coupon before you check out!  Shop through Ebates to get cash back in the form of a check!

-#10 Follow Embracing Frugality! You can follow Embracing Frugality on Facebook, Twitter, or sign up for daily deal updates!

I hope these tips will help keep some extra money in your pocket this school year.  Do you have any back-to-school savings tips to share?  I would love to hear them!

If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

• 8 Ways to Save Money on Kids’ Clothes
• The Best Time to Buy Everything
• 9 Ways to Save Money on Laundry Costs