Back-To-School Basics

Shopping Tips

Here are a few ideas to help reduce the cost of back-to-school shopping!

Buy items throughout the summer.

Try to get a copy of your child's school supply list at the end of each school year for the next fall if possible so that you can buy items a little at a time over the summer to spread out the cost. Some schools send a list home in the last report card each spring.

Use what you already have.

Look to see what items you already have that can be used. Leftover supplies may have been sent home at the end of last school year. Check to see if any items can be used again. For instance, my daughter brought home two nearly full bottles of school glue one year. So instead of buying a brand new bottle of glue, she used the bottle with the most glue in it for the next school year. We also saved money by gathering up pencils from around the house (we had tons of brand new and barely used ones), reusing school boxes, and reusing their book bags and lunch boxes since they were still in good condition.

Shop the sales.

Search out the best price for items you must buy. Look through various store ads and compare prices. Find out if your school’s parent/teacher association offers a school supply pack that has all the items for your child’s grade so you can purchase everything at once while helping the school at the same time.

Buy "gently used" kids clothes.

Kids outgrow their clothes so fast that it can feel like a waste of money to buy everything brand new.  Save money on school clothes by shopping in children’s consignment shops. There are usually many designer brand name items that are brand new or barely worn condition. We have done this every year my children have been in school and always find great bargains. We also shop garage sales over the summer. Of course, styles change quickly and your kid may want some things that cannot be found at garage sales or consignment shops. You can still save money if you buy most of their clothes this way and then let them get a few new items to keep up with the last styles. 

 Get together with other families to swap supplies and clothing.

Kids can have fun and learn about saving money in today's tight economy by swapping gently used outgrown clothing and extra school supplies with friends. Have you ever discovered you have way too many pencils but not enough notebook paper? See if someone would be willing to swap their excess paper for your extra pencils! Got kids who grew over the summer and need a size larger and your friend's child has recently outgrown that very size? Barter for their used clothing! Everyone saves money and kids learn the value of a dollar and the skills of bartering and negotiating. And if there are leftover items that no one wants to take back home, agree to donate them so even more families can benefit from the swap meet.


Copyright 2004-2009 Tamara Walker, R.N. All Rights Reserved. May only be used with author's permission.