Wondering how to shop for school supplies without breaking the bank or losing your mind? It is possible and I've got some tips for you!
Plans for back to school usually include lots of shopping and the more kids you have, the more school supplies you'll most likely need to buy!
As a mom of 5, I know firsthand how crazy back to school shopping can be. I also know that it gets crazier, more stressful, and more expensive if you wait til the last minute. {And believe me…I know this from first-hand experience.}
Here are some tips to help you shop for school supplies without breaking the bank or losing your mind!
1. Make a Master List
If you have more than one kiddo in school, combine their lists together to save time and money.
Tally up the total number of pencils you'll need for the year. Do the same for notebooks, folders, rulers, hand sanitizer, and everything else on the list.
It's so much easier to to go up and down the aisles and get all you need at one time rather than going back and forth filling each individual child's list.
When you get home, you can divide up the items to give to each child using their own list.
I let my kids divide them up and they get to take turns picking the items they want. This saves me from having to listen to whining that someone got all the “good color notebooks”.”
Making a master list will not only save you time, but it will also save you money since there are often deals on packs of folders, paper, pencils, and other supplies.
2. Take inventory
Do you have a cabinet or closet in your home where you keep school and office supplies? Go through and take inventory of what you have and compare it to your master list.
Using what you already have can save you a ton of money! I have a tendency to stock up on school supplies when I see them on clearance and then totally forget that I stocked up on them. Taking inventory will not only save you money, but it may keep you from having closets full of duplicate items.
Also, make sure you check your kids backpacks and lunch boxes. My kids usually get a few years out of backpacks and lunchboxes.
3. Stick to the basics
Anyone who knows me well knows that I tend to be a little extra. I like sparkles, and glitter, and I LOVE me some personalized stuff.
While I think fancy school supplies are awesome, they tend to cost way more than basic pens and pencils. And also, I have found that the quality isn't always as good.
{Don't worry, I'll be sharing some fun tutorials soon to help you personalize your school supplies without breaking the bank.}
Also, I've noticed that more and more schools are asking for kids to only send plain colored notebooks and folders.
You will want to double check your school's list of supplies as some schools want only plain colored notebooks, folders, pens, and pencils. If your school is ok with fun supplies, it's a lot cheaper to buy the plain supplies and dress them up yourself!
4. Shop early…and don't do it all at once
If you start shopping early, you can get supplies little by little instead of spending hours at the store pulling your hair out while trying to wrangle kids and checking off a mile-long list.
If you watch the weekly sales at all the stores in your community, you can purchase supplies for pennies on the dollar. Purchase only the supplies that are on sale each week and by the time school starts, you'll most likely have everything you need!
Be sure to check with your school for a list of school supplies needed. Most of these lists can be found online.
5. Buy in bulk
If you have lots of kids, you may be able save a bundle by buying in bulk. You can often purchase a pack of 100 pencils for the same price as 3 packs of 10. You will always need pencils, so you may as well get a good deal on them.
If you don't have lots of kids, consider going in with a friend or relative to buy supplies. If you have a membership to a store like Costco or Sam's Club, you can use it to save on school supplies, clothes, and other items throughout the year.
Membership is usually pretty reasonable and sometimes you can even find special deals. Watch your savings throughout the year and you'll see the value really adds up fast.
6. Check out your local dollar stores
Our family LOVEs the dollar store and we visit weekly. But I need to make it clear that while there are lots of great deals to be had at the dollar store, things aren't always a bargain.
Single subject notebooks can often be purchased at Walmart during back to school time for only $.25 each and those same notebooks are $1.25 at the dollar store.
The reverse of that is that there is no reason to spend $3 on a multi-subject notebook when the very same item is available for $1.25 at the dollar store.
Dollar stores are also a great source for stickers and other fun embellishments to dress up boring school supplies. You can also find fun items like locker decorations at the dollar store for a fraction of the price you'd pay at traditional retailers.
7. Shop online
The tips that I've shared above are great for helping you save money and save your sanity, but I also know that your kids may be starting school next week and you haven't even thought about back to school shopping yet. {Been there, done that.}
Thankfully, there's Amazon Prime for moments like these. {If you don't have a membership, you can sign up here for a free 30-day trial.} I have been super happy with the quality of back to school supplies that I've ordered from Amazon.
It only takes one look at the weary faces of parents standing in line at the checkout, arms loaded with school supplies on the day before school starts, to realize there has got to be a better way. Well, there is.
Get your list together, take stock of what you have, watch the sales, start early, and buy in bulk. And if all else fails, Amazon has your back. 😉
For tips on saving money on back to school clothing shopping, check out 8 Ways to Save on Back to School Clothes.
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