Back to School Savings
Back-to-school season can be an expensive time of year, especially when buying school supplies. However, many ways exist to save money on school supplies without sacrificing quality. Most importantly, being cost-conscient of school year purchases is an example to your children, teaching them how to carefully look for back-to-school savings.
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older,
they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:6
Don’t forget these tips to help you:
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Shop at discount stores.
Discount stores like Walmart, Target, and Dollar Tree often have great deals on school supplies. Typically, you can find everything from pencils and notebooks to backpacks and lunch boxes at these stores.
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Shop in bulk.
Look for bulk packages of items like pencils, pens, and paper, which are often cheaper than buying individual items. Consider having a back-to-school- bulk party with other parents to take advantage of large purchases.
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Use coupons and promo codes.
Look for coupons and promo codes for school supplies online and in-store. Many retailers offer discounts on school supplies during the back-to-school season, so take advantage of these deals to save money. Be sure to check the expiration dates due to the fact they may have short purchase periods.
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Shop during tax-free weekends.
Many states offer tax-free weekends during the back-to-school season. This means you can buy school supplies without paying sales tax, as well as saving you a significant amount of money. Mark your calendar!
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Check out thrift stores and garage sales.
Additionally, thrift stores and garage sales can be great places to find gently used school supplies at a fraction of the cost of new items. Look for things like backpacks, lunch boxes, and binders.
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Use hand-me-downs.
If you have multiple children, consider using hand-me-downs for school supplies. In general, backpacks, lunch boxes, and binders can often be used for multiple years. Consider the trade-offs for using a hand-me-down to avoid some complaints, such as a special notebook or pen that is extra nice but much less expensive than the hand-me-down.
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Don’t forget the clearance sales.
Many times, retailers offer clearance sales on school supplies after the back-to-school season is over. Without a doubt, this is a great time to stock up on items for the next school year at a discounted price.
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Shop online.
Furthermore, look for deals on websites like Amazon and Walmart, and take advantage of free shipping offers to save even more.
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Make some of your supplies.
Consider making your school supplies, like pencil cases and notebooks, to save money. Many online tutorials can show you how to make these items using materials you already have at home. Kids can do these as a summer project, and they will take special pride in showing off their talents when the school year arrives.
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Use digital resources.
Many schools now have online textbooks and homework assignments. By all means, check your school’s resources to save money on traditional school supplies like textbooks and paper.
In conclusion, many ways exist to save money on school supplies without sacrificing quality. Make the back-to-school season a little less stressful by managing your finances as best as possible while looking for back-to-school savings.
Follow Melissa Kirk, The Grace Warrior, for more great advice!
