It is well known to my kids that I hoard school supplies. Anytime I see a sale, I will buy a box of crayons, markers, or a case of notebooks. I will even buy backpacks. I have a designated cabinet that I just tuck stuff away in. This past school year, I “shopped” my cabinet and was able to send all the kids back to school with everything on their lists, spending maybe $10 per kid.
We are mid-summer here, and in just a few weeks, we’ll be preparing our kids to head back to school.
Sanity= A+, Wallets= F. This time of year tends to sneak up, like the holidays. Below I am going to share a few of my tips on how to keep Back to School from breaking the bank.
Take A Look Around When Shopping
I noticed a few years ago that Walmart, to name one box store, will start putting school supply items on sale, way before school starts. This includes uniform polos, bottoms, and material supplies.
Shop With A Plan
Many schools have already posted their supply lists on their websites, so you can refer to them easily. I print out the list and keep it in my purse, so I can check off the items as the weeks go by. Yes, I’m old and I realize that you could just take a screenshot of it. But knowing what you need in advance helps take the stress out of doing it all at once.
What is almost a guarantee is that elementary classrooms will be asking for a few boxes of crayons, a box of washable markers, a pack of colored pencils, a few bottles of glue, glue sticks, marble (black & white) wide ruled notebooks, and some plastic folders.
I try to save some unused supplies from the previous year, and if the plastic folders are in good condition a quick wipe-off with a magic eraser will bring it right back to life.
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Know When To Shop
I typically make a few trips to the stores in search of discounted school supplies about twice a year; usually in mid-late June and also at the end of August. It’s during the end of August that I almost always find great backpacks on sale, which I then tuck away for next year. I’ve always loved getting a new backpack when I was in elementary school, so I get kind of excited when I find some on sale (especially when they’re priced at $10 or less for a quality backpack). For the last two years, my boys haven’t switched backpacks. I just put their bags through the gentle cycle and hung them to dry, and they were as good as new.
I avoid the designated Back To School Supply areas and instead, I often find great deals in the grocery store section with office supplies. Today, for example, I found bottles of glue, name-brand washable markers, crayons, and colored pencils on sale for $0.50 at my local neighborhood market.
» » » RECOMMENDED READ: 5 Back-to-School Traditions to Start With Your Little Scholars« « «
Bulk Up and Share
Another way to save is to buy in bulk and then split with someone. For me, I split between my kids. Dry-erase markers, tissue boxes, and sanitizing wipes are some of the items that I typically purchase in bulk from Sam’s Club, and the “good” #2 pencils (the teachers know what I’m talking about, Ticonderoga). These are things we also use at home, so buying in bulk is a great option for large families or splitting with a friend.
I thought I’d share this info because we’re all in this together and can benefit from a good deal!
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