12 Ways to Save on School Stuff

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As we gear up for back to school, check out these new and classic ways to save on school stuff.


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It’s here! You knew it was coming. As soon as the last fire work fades on the 4th of July, the megamarts start stocking the shelves with school supplies. Yes, the school sales have already begun.

For some of us we’re busy buying backpacks and lunch pails. Others of us are stocking our home libraries with curriculum for the new year. Whether your kids go away for school or start their daily lessons at the breakfast table, school supplies can cost us a pretty penny.

As we end the 12 ways to save series, I thought I’d share a list of ways to save some coin on all that school stuff. Some of these ideas apply to everyone, some just to public and private schoolers, some just to homeschoolers. Choose what fits for your situation.

1. Shop your closets and cupboards.

I’ve found that it’s all too easy to overbuy if I don’t already know what we have. For years I bought armloads of binder paper until I realized that we had enough for four years of schooling. That supply has now run out, and I’m ready to restock. But, I saved a lot of money and storage space by not buying more than we needed.

Take inventory of school supplies, clothes, and lunch packing supplies before you shop. This way you won’t overbuy, and you won’t be caught having to make do when you’re missing something.

2. Shop the sales.

There are quite a few stores that want your back to school dollars: Target, Walmart, Office Max, Staples, Amazon, to name a few. Some of good sales on some things. Check the ads before you go. If you can’t find the ads, you can browse retail sales here.

If you really want to go to all of them, go for it. But, it may be in your best interests to choose one store with the best sales on the things that you need, even if it’s not all the things you need. Sometimes that running around prompts us to spend more than we would if our choices were a little more limited.

Now is the time to buy the things that you really need. If there are things that would be “nice to have,” see if you can hold out until the clearance sales start in a few weeks.

3. Buy quality for the things that need to last.

A few weeks ago JessieLeigh shared some great tips on where to concentrate your back-to-school dollars. I hadn’t thought of it in years, but her comments reminded me that a good quality backpack can last all of high school and into college.

That junky $2 backpack whose straps will break during the second week of school isn’t saving you any money if you gotta go out and buy a replacement.

4. Buy more than you think you will need.

Crayons, pencils and notebooks are at their rock bottom lowest right now. Stock up and buy a few extras. You don’t want to pay full price later, believe me. Think ahead to the holidays, too. I bought my kids’ stocking crayons last week and stashed them away for later.

5. Don’t overbuy.

That said, don’t go overboard, either. Don’t stock up unless you know that you will use those supplies this year or next.

6. Talk with kids about the budget.

Let your kids know their budget — and stick to it. If your kids’ choices are going over the allotted amount, explain to them that they can’t have BOTH the Hello Kitty lunchbox and the Frozen folder. Let them choose, but don’t let them overspend.

The back-to-school season can stir up all kinds of gimmes and wants and keeping-up-with-the-Joneses. Have an honest conversation with your kids, at least those that are old enough to understand. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Talk about their priorities and how you can fit them in the budget.

Turn it into a learning experience: take the calculator and have them do the sums.

It also helps to make this shopping expedition in the early morning or evening hours so that you can avoid crowds and the peer pressure of running into friends who are buying ALL THE THINGS. Budgets are not bad things, so don’t let someone else spend more of your money than you want to.

7. Shop Ebates.

If you’re buying school clothes, consider making those purchases online through a money-back shopping site. If you use Ebates, you get a certain percentage back from your purchases. Deals change daily.

8. Get thrifty.

For school clothes, uniforms, and other long-term items, check your local thrift store, consignment shop, and craigslist. You’d be surprised what deals you can score.

9. Check the library.

Homeschoolers often need to buy a lot of their books and curriculum. Check the library before you buy. And don’t forget local college and university libraries that will lend to the general public.

10. Think past school hours.

Back to school sales are for more than back to school. Last year at this time, I was preparing for our Great European Vacation. The kids needed nicer, a little more formal clothes that school uniforms suited nicely. I bought small bags and organizers and hand sanitizer in abundance via the back to school section.

School supplies are also great for packing boxes to donate to Operation Christmas Child or other organizations. Check with your local foster care program to see what needs the children have. You may be able to buy school supplies for a child in need as well as your own. Believe it or not there are lots of ways to give to others and be creative with school supplies.

Back to School shopping can be a great opportunity to stock your home with the things that you and your family need. But, like Black Friday, it’s also a time to exercise caution and save every $4.20 you can.

11. Borrow from friends.

We have saved a lot of money on school books over the last decade thanks to the generosity of friends. By making your collection available, you can extend that benefit to others — and hopefully they will do the same.

12. Trade.

Be creative in funding your back to school season. Perhaps a neighbor needs a set of school uniforms that you are happy to trade in exchange for their old flute. Maybe your homeschool co-op friends are done with the math curriculum that you have your eye on and they want to try out the Latin that you’re done with. Swap!

Pro Tip: Pay Cash

I know people don’t like to do this, but I think there is a controlling effect to cash. If you think that $50 is a reasonable amount of money to spend on school supplies, then pull that $50 from the bank. That’s what you have to spend. Do not pull out the plastic. Do not overspend.

There are lots of ways to save on back to school supplies. Be creative and you may just save a few bucks.

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7 Comments

  1. I’ve also found some good deals at homeschool conference “used curriculum exchange” sales and at some kids clothing/gear consignment sales (look for books in the toy section), as well as Rainbow Resource online. (Right now, Rainbow Resource has lowered their minimum order to $50 for free shipping, instead of their usual $150.)

  2. I think having a frank conversation about priorities with your kids is a big thing.

    With my second grader, I allowed her to pick out ONE character or customized item. She chose a Barbie water bottle.

    When she asked about a lunchbox – hers is fine, just the character is peeling a bit at the side – I asked her if she could live with that if we instead used that money for the Olumpian’s gymnastics event that the scouts were having this fall. She agreed!

  3. Love the first tip – and to add to it, keep everything in the same place! The last time I organized the house (one closet at a time, lol) I found pens EVERYWHERE. Some didn’t work, some I hated and some were my favorites that I thought I had lost. I started keeping them all in the same drawer. While we still have way to many to warrant buying any for decades, just knowing where to begin looking for things makes it much easier to shop the house.

  4. If your child carries a lunchbox to school it might be a good idea to stock up on a few extras. In a few weeks stores like Target will likely have the remaining stock on clearance for pennies on the dollar.

    While I’m not an advocate of having tons of extra stuff “Just in case” this could be a money saver when/if a lunchbox gets lost. Last school year my son left his behind (on the bus, at school, on the playground, etc.) multiple times. We were lucky and got it back each time but next time we might not.

    It’s also a good lesson about keeping track of your things. As in, you didn’t keep track of your Transformer lunchbox so now you’re stuck with the plain one. 🙂

  5. Aha, we are the ones with the stashes, year after year, of paper, scribblers, and glue sticks! LOL It’s so great to know that we got them at rock-bottom prices and to know we have enough.

    We homeschool, so I make up our own list of what we need. That’s certainly a huge way to save.

    For homeschoolers, it’s also important to minimize curriculum mistakes. I’ve just reviewed the new Cathy Duffy book, 101 Top Picks, the best curriculum guide there is. http://anniekateshomeschoolreviews.com/2012/08/review-101-top-picks-for-homeschool-curriculum-by-cathy-duffy/

    I get some school supplies for myself too. I’m still delighted with last year’s purchase of a whole cannister of quality click pens, and I enjoy my colorful paperclips whenever I use them.

    It’s good to save money, but as you pointed out, it’s also important to buy quality.