Back to School Shopping can be a headache. It seems as if you’re just settling in for the summer and your school sends out an announcement about the dreaded back to school shopping list. Parent’s, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
If you’re just getting started with your back to school budget, I want you to make a commitment to start working on NEXT year’s budget today because let me tell you, it’s a big relief to already have your back to school expenses saved.
So yes, in addition to making sure your kiddo has everything they need for the upcoming school year, I encourage you to create a plan to make sure you won’t be stressing over back to school shopping when next August rolls around.
Deal?
Cool.
My daughter will be a rising third grader this year. I remember all too well during my childhood, the stress that came from back to school shopping. Not only did I need school supplies – I needed clothes, shoes, and coats for the cooler weather. It wasn’t uncommon for debt to be incurred just to send me back to school.
With that said, I knew I didn’t want to repeat those same missteps so a year before my daughter started kindergarten, I started saving. Yes, one whole year. This has been a godsend over the last few years!
I’m a firm believer in using automatic savings plans to come up with all different kinds of expenses. Regardless of whether its taxes, car maintenance or new book bags for the school year, I like to be prepared.
Doing so has kept me from going into debt and it also ensures that my child has everything she needs for school. So today I thought I would share some of my best money-saving tips for back to school shopping to cut down on costs.
Prepare Ahead of Time For Back to School Shopping
Like I mentioned, if you don’t have a fund set aside for back to school expenses, use this year as your launch. Whatever you spend this year on back to school costs, divide that amount up by twelve and save that amount each month.
Next year when August rolls around, you’ll have a head start on the upcoming expense. A good place to keep your funds stashed is Capital One 360. I’ve used their online banking services for the last 8 years and I absolutely love them.
They allow you to create separate savings buckets under one account, so not only can you save for back to school shopping, you can save for other goals throughout the year as well.
If you’re having trouble working savings into your budget, try increasing your income with small side-hustles. This article provides over 80 different ways to make extra money.
Shop Early
Do not wait until late July or early August to shop for school clothes. Yes, there are plenty of sales during this time of year on these items, but they are probably not the best deals.
Right before Spring (usually late January/February), you will see a lot of fall/Winter clothes go on clearance. Likewise, Spring/Summer clothes usually go on clearance near the end of the summer months (August or Sept).
Basically, throughout the year, it’s a good time to stock up on any clearance clothes in a bigger size. However, if you’re not up for it, I love hitting up Children’s Place right before the back to school frenzy begins. You also should check out ThredUp (you’ll get a $10 referral code to jumpstart your back to school shopping) and your local kid’s consignment shops.
I love getting basic pieces from consignment or ThredUp when I can get them cheaper than what I would pay for at retail prices. For me, I usually shop second-hand for winter coats and light jackets.
The same goes for school supplies. I absolutely try to avoid shopping for school products in August. Yes, they are cheap, but the crowds drive me insane. And on top of that, the merchandise sells out quickly during August.
Catch the mid-July sales because the stores are fully stocked and the aisles are empty. Save your larger purchases like computers for tax-free weekend and check online before purchasing in-store.
Check out this list of affordable, budget-friendly back-to-school finds online.
Buy Double What You Need
Most schools provide school supply list with a number of things your child need for the school year. I always double up.
It never fails. Your kids will need supplies for homework or the teacher will send home a note saying they are low on something and ask to send additional supplies during the school year.
By the time the need arises, the sales are long gone. To keep your costs down to a minimum, always double up on your supplies while back to school shopping and keep a stash at home.
Also, when you’re shopping in the stores for back to school shopping, always check the Ibotta app. They have several back-to-school cash back offers and bonuses during back to school season. Plus, if you’re new to Ibotta, use this link and receive a $10 welcome bonus.
Wrapping Thangs Up
I’m all for keeping the whole back to school shopping thing simple. I finish shopping early, I create a budget, and I save year-round. This allows me to keep my sanity. I can focus on more important things rather than stressing out over the cost of sending my kids to school.
If you struggle financially every time the new school year comes around, it’s time to develop some new habits and create a plan that will set you up for financial success. So again, if you’re not prepared this school year, start now and next August back to school shopping will be a breeze.