Back to school shopping is a yearly endeavor that can put a nice size dent in your wallet. Especially, since many kids have not been physically in school due to the pandemic. According to the National Retail Federation, families will spend an average of $848.90 on back to school items this year. Cut down on costs by trying a few of these hacks to save yourself a buck or two.
Start perusing the items you have in your house from the last school year. Many of them can probably be used again, such as backpacks and lunchboxes, just by giving them a good wash. Go through the supplies you have at home. See if you have any notebooks, pencils, pens and/or binders that are still in good condition that can be used for the new school year.
You get what you pay for when it comes to school gear. If you invest in a good quality backpack you might not need to buy one each year. It may cost more initially but it will last longer not having to be replaced as quickly.
You don't have to do all your clothes shopping right away. The start of the school year is usually a warmer period of time. Let your kid wear those school appropriate summer clothes until the weather changes. Waiting to purchase clothes until after the start of the school year will save you money since back to school stuff will be on sale to make way for holiday items.
Stop focusing your energy on trying to buy the cheapest notebooks and start looking at the big ticket items like computers and calculators. Save big on those pricey items while they are on sale.
Spending money on plastic baggies and single use utensils for your kid's lunch pails can add up throughout the year. Instead, buy reusable containers. This will not only save you money, by not having to buy baggies all the time, but it also helps save the planet!
You don't have to buy the fancy decorated notebooks and binders. Let your kid run wild with creativity by personalizing their items. The can use stickers and markers to adorn their stuff.
Let your kid have their own say in what they need for school by letting them create a "wish list." Encourage your child to save their own money to buy those fancy embellishments for their locker or that cute pencil pouch they want. This will help teach them about saving and they might decide they don't need or want that item once they know they have to spend their own money.
Check out these, plus more back to school hacks at RealSimple.com