In about a month, the kids will be back in school but now is a good time to stock up on school supplies and cool outfits for class. Most retailers will have sales between now and August and you can save hundreds of dollars on supplies. Here is your back-to-school 2024 shopping guide.
Grab Your Child’s School Supply List
To keep yourself from buying items you don’t need, read your child’s school supply list. You don’t need to purchase every single item on the list before the school year starts. Buy as many supplies as you can afford for each child and gradually buy more after school starts. Focus on the most important items on the list that your children need such as binders, folders, pencils, ink pens, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, and loose-leaf paper. You want to buy the most important items early because by the time August arrives, there may not be a lot in stock depending on the store.
Reuse What You Already Have At Home
If you have extra folders, notebooks, and pencils from last school year, use these first before buying new ones. It saves you money and time. Every grade uses the same kind of supplies so there’s nothing wrong with reusing old supplies to cut back on spending.
Shop During Sales Tax Holidays
Currently, 20 states have sales tax holidays, and if you live in a state that offers this during this month or August, take advantage of tax-free school shopping.
Buy in Bulk During Major Sales
Most retailers offer deep discounts on school supplies, and if you have a large family, this is a good time to buy them in bulk so that you’ll have enough on hand when the school year starts. You can always use the extras for the next school year.
Compare Prices
Some retailers have cheaper prices than others, so visit more than one website to determine which one offers the best deals. By doing this, you’re saving money on supplies. Websites such as Consumer Reports and Google Shopping offer comparisons of different retailers to make it more efficient for you.
Don’t Buy All Supplies Cheap
There are certain school supplies you shouldn’t buy cheap. It’s okay to splurge for quality on certain items. Don’t buy cheap bookbags because if they’re of poor quality, it won’t be good for your child’s back. Cheap school shoes aren’t good because your child needs shoes that fit well and are comfortable. Since most students complete assignments on the computer, you should purchase a reliable and well-performing laptop.
Include Supplies for Special Projects
Your child will have school projects throughout the school year, so stock up on items he’ll use for them such as posterboards, glue, tape, markers, crayons, construction paper, safety goggles, and lab notebooks. When you buy them early, you won’t need to get them when it’s time to complete a project.
School Clothes Don’t Have To Be Expensive
Numerous discount clothing retailers have sales and they look just as cute as the clothing at pricier stores. Build a school capsule wardrobe for your kids that allows them to mix and match different types of clothes. Some items for a school capsule wardrobe are jeans, T-shirts, shorts, dresses and skirts, sneakers, dress shoes, and dress pants for special school events.
Meal Prep School Lunches
Save time and money on school lunches by preparing them days ahead of time. This keeps you from going to the store frequently to buy groceries. Write a list of your kids’ favorite lunches and shop for the items you need to make them. Then prepare the lunches days ahead of time and freeze them for use at a later time.
Don’t Forget About Dollar Stores and Drugstores
Many dollar stores and drugstores have discounts on school supplies; sales generally start in July. Special aisles in these stores are dedicated to school items, so this is a neat way to save money.
Some Schools Offer Uniform Giveaways
Another aspect of back-to-school shopping is uniforms. Some schools have uniform giveaways if you’re struggling financially and need assistance with uniforms. Contact your school to inquire if this is available for its students. Other schools may have discounts on their school uniforms.
Budget for Field Trips
Schools often have field trips, and you can set up a savings account specifically for field trips. Start saving for your child’s field trips throughout the summer so that when the school year starts, you’ll have the funds needed to pay for the field trips.
Back-to-school shopping can be daunting, but this back-to-school 2024 shopping guide can assist you with tips that will save you time and money.
