How to Save Money on Back to School Supplies

Back to school shopping season is here and with it? The high costs of filling those school supply lists that every class sends home. Those items can really take a bite out of your budget if you aren’t careful.

Luckily, it isn’t too difficult to learn how to save on back to school supplies, because at this point you might be rushing to get them and can make a few simple errors that will end up costing you.

You just need to follow a few simple tips for school shopping tips, and this task that is well-known for being stressful – really isn’t.

Check your own stock

You can most definitely use the calculators, ear buds, rulers, and pencil boxes from last year! In fact, you can probably cross off most of your needed items on what you have already on hand, so before you shop – do your shopping at home. Check your office and where you keep your excess items, and save a ton!

Shop early

No, I don’t mean to shop early in the day (although that’s a great choice if you want to avoid crowds), but shop early in the season. Some of the best back to school sales that you’ll find will happen in July or very early August. By waiting, you may end up being forced to pay retail and no one wants that.

Use coupons

Coupons have their place on your journey to save money in this case. Start watching the printable coupon sites and newspaper inserts to snag coupons that you can use to save on ink pens, paper and more. Pair them with the back to school sales and you’ll save quite a bit. Sometimes you’ll even be able to pick up free items!

Shop the office supply store deals

If you really want to save on back to school supplies, shop the office supply stores. Each year, both stores put out sale items at massive discounts. Some people assume you avoid these types of specialized stores and go for the box department ones, yet more often than not I’ve saved more going right to the experts.

Shop without your kids

Like any other time, shopping without your kids will actually save you money. Truth is, if you take them with you, they will want the most expensive lunch box, the most expensive notebooks or pens and so on. Printing characters on school supplies was one of the greatest marketing ideas a company has ever had, and by leaving your kids at home you’ll save yourself both time and sanity.

Shop online

Finally, the last back to school savings tip that I have for you is to shop online. We can easily forget that sites like Amazon and Walmart whom also puts sales on their online inventory. If you watch carefully, you can often grab great prices on school supplies all throughout the year. Be sure to keep an eye out for these sales and you’ll help yourself save even more in the long run, and get items right to your door.

See? Saving on school supplies doesn’t have to be hard.

You’ll just need to be diligent about your shopping and keep these tips in mind. If you do, you’ll save more money than you ever have on this upcoming years supplies. I also have great tips on How to Save on Back to School Clothes!

Have any other tips on ways to save on back-to-school supplies?

Also check out my post on Summer Prep for Back to School, Back to School Easy Hairstyles for Girls, and Back to School Lunch Ideas!