It’s the most exciting time of the year for bargain shoppers who have kids in school (or for anyone who likes cheap office supplies). For some people, school supply shopping is a big, fun, traditional spending spree. It was for my mom and me. But I’ve made this time of year into a big, fun, traditional savings spree. We watch the sales fliers each week, gather our quarters and our school supply list, and see how little we can spend to get the things we need. On our best year, we spent only $9 on school supplies.
To help you make the most of the back-to-school sales, we’ve compiled our best tips below.
Don’t buy everything
Schools send parents a list of items the student will need for the upcoming year. But before you go to the big box store, do a little shopping in your own house. Do you have highlighters and glue sticks in your home office? Do you already have lined paper, even if it isn’t a new package? How about that stash of pencils in the drawer from fundraisers? Is that binder still in working order, but just needs a soapy bath to remove the smudges?
If you have supplies left over from last year, reuse them. But just in case you’re thinking that your child will never agree to reusing last year’s pencil box, I’ll let you in on my biggest secret for gaining compliance: Give each child a certain amount of money to be used for school supplies, and tell her she can keep whatever is left over. You’d be surprised at how attractive last year’s backpack starts to look. Of course, everything on the list has to be present and accounted for (whether purchased, repurposed, reused or pulled out of the Dumpster — ha, I’m kidding) before the extra money is spent. This tactic also motivates your child to help you find bargains.
Follow your list
School supply lists are available now for most areas of the country. Print the list and bring it with you every time you go shopping. And follow it. It’s easy to be lured in to buying a Lalaloopsie four-wheel backpack with detachable water bottle and matching hat, but it’s a waste of money if your child’s school doesn’t allow wheeled backpacks. Establish a budget for the basics — it will keep you from spending money on that wheely backpack.
Watch the sales
You probably already know that stores often mark prices on certain items waaaay down to get you in the store. The stores lose money on these “loss leaders” but they hope that, once you’re in the store, you’ll just finish off your shopping list. Sometimes you hit the jackpot — the loss leaders at one store make up the majority of items on your list. Other times you go into a store for a 25-cent pack of pencils and that’s all you leave with. While many stores have sales before school starts, you may find deep bargains after the first day of school. Stock up on the basics, but wander those aisles after school starts to see if you can snag a bargain for next year.
Look for coupon match-ups
Loss leaders or sale items matched with a coupon are the best. They can also be a test of patience, because the brand, size, type, quantity and every last detail of the sale item and the coupon need to match. For example, washable markers might be on sale, but your coupon is for regular markers, or vice-versa. But that’s where kids can help — they have energy to burn. Show them how to do it and let them find the match-ups. (It’s educational.)
Shop strategically and often
The stores usually have different loss leaders each week, so if you wait until an item goes on sale, you can often get a much better deal. Some of this comes with practice and experience. How low will an item go? Folders can be as cheap as 5 cents each, while loose-leaf notebook paper might be 10 or 15 cents a pack.
(Note: If the teacher is requesting very specific attributes, like a vinyl two-pocket folder in yellow and green, the 5-cent folders might not work for you.) But once a sale is advertised, don’t wait too long. The best deals sometimes sell out. Some merchants put a limit on the number of items you can buy at sale price, which is helpful because then there’s enough for everyone.
Don’t fret if you paid too much
I speak from personal experience: It can be so frustrating to buy something for 50 cents only to see it on sale the next week for 5 cents. But the bottom line is that if you’re watching the sales, using coupons, being patient and moving quickly, you are going to save money, and your kids are going to have the school supplies they need. Enjoy the time spent with them, and don’t cry over a missed deal.
Please don’t take more than you need
This last one isn’t so much a tip as a request. I think it’s admirable that people will donate their extras to those in need, but these days many of us need to find all the bargains we can. If it’s possible, leave some great deals on the shelves for others. (Another cool thing to do is to put your extra coupons next to the item for someone else to find and use. That earns serious kindness points.)
For more back to school articles:
Organize your back to school life
Save on back to school clothes
Healthy school lunches kids will love
Free and low cost resources for home schooling
Back to school – time for a cell phone?
How to shop for your college student – Don’t.
Love looking for deals but a word from a frustrated teacher. If your school puts a certain brand by it. (example. Crayola Crayons) Buy what they ask for. Nothing is more frustrating when teaching colors, and the “generic” crayons you can’t tell the difference from the purple and the blue.
We have reasons for what we ask for. Now I know it’s not always possible… Do you best…. but it really makes my day when my students with what I asked for.
Absolutely! One of the things I really like about this time of the year is that you can find bargains on the name-brand items. (We prefer Crayola and real Scotch tape, even when the teacher isn’t requesting it.)
I second Polly’s comment. Also heck with your child’s school directly to make sure you have the correct supply list. What my 4th grade team asks for is very different than the generic list that the district provides the local stores.
GREAT tip, Katie. I remember when my child was beginning first grade and we very carefully purchased every. single. item. on the list. When we arrived for Meet the Teacher day, she told us that the kids didn’t need all the things on the list, and that she would send us emails letting us know what they *really* need, including a few additional items that weren’t on the list! [headdesk]