While summer may be in full swing, the back to school bell is just around the corner.
And for many, the dread of the price tag that comes with replacing old tech, busted backpacks and loading up those pencil cases can bring added stress.
One of the best ways to save money on those back to school supplies is to start planning early. School supplies can add up, but if you plan your purchases in advance, you can take advantage of all of the great savings this summer.
Here are eight ways you can hack into some savings on back to school essentials.
8 Ways to Save on Your Back to School Budget
1. Set a realistic back to school budget.
One of the best ways to save on school supplies is to make a budget.
Your budget will act as a shopping list as well. Having a list will help you purchase exactly what you need without buying extra. This will help you stick to your budget and make smart purchasing decisions.
When setting your back to school budget, find out what items are a necessity and which items are wants.
If you have room in your current budget, set aside money each month to go towards your back-to-school spending. If not, try to cut back other areas in your budget to help you save money. Your back-to-school budget should fit in with your current budget.
By planning how much you anticipate spending on back to school supplies, you can make sure you have enough money for all of your purchases. This will allow you to avoid going into debt.
2. Take advantage of tax-free weekends.
18 states in the US have some type of summer Tax-free day or weekend. Tax-free weekends are exactly what they sound like – when states don’t charge additional sales taxes on certain items.
Each state has slight differences, but most of the states that participate waive state sales taxes on:
- school supplies
- books
- clothing
- computers
If you live in a state (or close to a state) that participates in a tax-free weekend, you could save hundreds on back to school items. Depending on what store you shop at, you can also stack tax-free weekends with additional sales.
Tax-free weekends also apply to online shopping if you ship to a state that’s participating in a tax-free weekend.
For example, you can purchase a Macbook Air with an educational discount (for students or teachers) and not pay taxes on that computer.
The educational discounts for an Apple product are usually $100-150 off the retail price. Depending on the computer you buy, you can save an additional $50-$100 on taxes by purchasing a laptop on a tax-free weekend.
Stacking sales, cash-back offers, and tax-free weekends will give you the best bang for your buck. Stacking offers on tax-free weekends can be used on other back to school items like clothes and books. This will help stretch every dollar.
3. Use coupons and retail apps.
One of the best ways to save on back to school supplies is to use coupons, shop sales, and use cash back apps.
If you create your budget and shopping list, you’ll know exactly what you need to buy and can be on the lookout for sales for those things.
By planning, you can be prepared to buy something when it’s on sale without being tempted to buy more. Sales tend to trick us into buying more than we intended, so having a list of what you need can help you from spending additional money.
Some apps will reward you with additional savings or cash back. Each app is different, but they essentially are the same, where you link a credit card or scan a receipt to claim the cash-back bonus or discount. Apps to check out for back to school savings are:
- Ibotta
- Dosh
- Fetch
- Rakuten
Take advantage of all of the ways you can save money on the purchases you already want to make. Everything you save will help you stick to your budget and not overspend.
4. Reuse and recycle.
While back to school shopping can be exciting and get you in the mood for a new school year, you may not have to buy something new every Fall. What do you have from last year that can be repurposed?
- Backpacks
- Binders
- Calculators
- Pens
- Computers
- Clothes
Only some items need to be new for the school year. Go through the school things that you have to see what can be reused.
If you buy back-to-school essentials for a high school student, they may only need new clothes if they have grown a little over the summer. Or, if your computer is a few years old but still works, it can be used for another school year.
Other school items can be bought second-hand or refurbished. Checking out your local Goodwill or second hand store could give you some options for clothes or shoes that are new to you for the school year while still being eco-friendly and more affordable.
Refurbished tech items are also a great way to be sustainable and save money. Check out Back Market, who has refurbished items for sale and can save you hundreds of dollars on a new laptop or tablet.
5. Split bulk deals with friends.
Some school supplies may be cheaper per item if you purchase them in bigger quantities – or, you may not need the whole box and can split the cost with another student.
This could apply to:
- pens, pencils, markers, crayons
- notebooks
- art supplies
It may wind up costing you less money to split some purchases with friends rather than to buy smaller quantities for your child alone.
6. Look for student-specific discounts.
Students may receive discounts or other perks from a variety of merchants on everything from apparel to electronics to vitamins.
For example, students are given access to Amazon Prime Student, which offers Prime perks from the online retailer at a discounted rate compared to a conventional Prime membership, such as free two-day shipping.
Student discounts are also available at Apple, J.Crew, Nike, and select Goodwill outlets. Student shopping websites like myunidays.com also offer discounts on a variety of goods and services.
7. Make purchases in the off-season.
Many deals on school supplies can be scored in July and August, but it might pay off to wait until after school has started to purchase some things.
Just like the sales we see after Halloween and Christmas, if you can hold off on buying new until after the big event starts, you could save a bundle.
For example, if your student needs a new laptop, you might find better deals — and more availability — once school is in session. There are better deals on back to school purchases from September and beyond because retailers want to move that inventory out to make room for more fast-moving items.
A tip: Retailers start shifting their displays to winter wear in September and October. This is a good time for you to buy fall clothing, since it will likely be on sale.
Also, with a few weeks of warm temperatures left in many parts of the country when school resumes, it is a perfect opportunity to purchase end-of-season summer clothing for your kids.
8. Consider other school costs.
When creating your back-to-school budget, the school supply lists that instructors offer are a fantastic place to start.
However, don’t forget to budget for the many other costs that might pop up throughout the year.
Parents sometimes forget about costs for:
- extracurricular activities
- travel for out-of-town sports
- field trips
- fundraisers
- book fairs
- teacher presents
You can plan and save more effectively if you keep track of all of your school expenses throughout the year rather than just the ones for clothes, books, and technology.
Financial Literacy for Kids: 7 Critical Basics to Share With Your Children
Save a Bundle on Back to School Shopping!
It’s definitely possible to shave a significant amount from your back to school budget through methods like:
- comparison shopping
- student discounts
- cashback rewards
- the timing of your purchases
It is also important to note that school costs go beyond textbooks, bags, clothes, etc. Other items such as field trips, club memberships, etc. equally add to your expenses.
So, it’s important to have the full picture in sight when making plans for back-to-school expenses!
Just make sure that you’re not prompted to buy on impulse. A spot of research on the best deals available could save you a lot of money in the long term!
Updated from Jul 24, 2023
