How to Save Money on School Supplies
It’s coming. The end of summer vacation. Soon school supply lists will start rolling in for the new school year. But do you really need to buy a 20-count glue stick pack to cover your child’s entire class? The short answer is no. You don’t have to break the bank when it comes to back-to-school shopping. It’s easy to save money on school supplies with a little planning and a few tips.
How To Save on School Supplies?
Community Options
The majority of people have had a rough time financially the last few years. Whether you have one school-aged child or multiple, the new school year can mean added stress for families of all sizes. The popular trend has been to send out school supply lists that require parents to purchase large quantities for the entire class. While the idea isn’t a bad one, it can put unnecessary strain on your wallet, especially for larger families.
Towards the end of the summer, you’ll usually start seeing churches and some businesses start to advertise school supply drives. Normally, this includes a backpack that’s pre-filled with the basics like pencils, paper, crayons, and glue. When it comes down to it, that’s really all your child needs to start the year.
Dress To Impress
Every child wants that special outfit to wear on the first day of school that will wow their friends. A lot of parents think they have to buy brand new clothing and shoes every year in order for their child to put their best foot forward. That’s an outdated way of thinking and there are ways to get nice things without emptying your pockets.
Check around where you live. Chances are there’s at least one consignment store or Goodwill. Most of the time, these clothes can be purchased at more than reasonable prices. More often than not, you can find plenty of nice options for clothes and shoes in excellent condition—many still have the original tags on them and have never been worn! We definitely recommend that you spring for new undergarments though.
Shop The Sales
You can usually find sales and coupons right around back-to-school time. Some states have an annual tax-free weekend, which can help ease the burden of school supply shopping. Many businesses offer buy one, get one half-off sales or percentage off sales on certain days so be sure to check out your local sales ads to find the deals.
If you’re shopping online, be sure to search for coupon codes to get discounts on your total purchase or free shipping. Some brick and mortar stores also offer coupons with additional discounts as an incentive to shop in their store. This can be especially helpful if you have more than one child to shop for. As summer winds down, keep an eye on the mail for coupons as well.
Make a list and stick to the list when shopping. This helps avoid any unnecessary impulse purchases once you get inside the store.
There’s no shame in taking advantage of the help that is out there. Community programs are set up for the purpose of helping and coupons are made to be used! Remember, your only obligation is to provide your child with the basics. This can easily be done at a reasonable cost, leaving you some money to invest when it’s all said and done.
To learn more about investing, closing the racial wealth gap, and growing generational wealth for Black and brown families, please visit Financial Joy School and become a part of our financial family.
