This is the time of year when most of us parents rejoice—school is almost back in session (or already in session depending on the school district) and the kiddies will be back in school and away from the house most of the day. It is also a time of year when we may wince when it comes to our wallets because shopping for back-to-school clothing and supplies can cost a mint. Don’t stress my friends. You can still keep your composure and save during back-to school time.
Here are 5 back to school shopping and saving tips:
Opt in to store program and store discount clubs- When you are a member of a store loyalty program or discount club (these may be free or cost a yearly fee to be a part of), you get discounts and sales that the average Joe doesn’t get. Being a member of these programs have saved me hundreds of dollars each year and is worth the small fee (which is sometimes waived if you ask), and allows me to save up to 30% on items in the store. Loyalty programs I belong to include Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, and Famous Footwear.
Give them your email address- When you shop, a lot of stores will ask you for your email address. Yes, it is primarily to send you “spam”, but it is also to send you discounts and coupons that only those on their emailing list can use. I created an email address just for these types of stores and emails, so twice a week I check it for discount coupons. Children’s Place, Old Navy, and Kohl’s are infamous for emailing wonderful coupons with huge savings. So give them your email address honey!
Close-outs and store closings– Of course I don’t like hearing when a store that I like and have done business with for years goes belly up, but it is a prime opportunity to scoop up things you need for your back-to-schoolers. Since Borders has announced that they were closing their doors, I have went four times. Each time, the prices are marked down lower and I’ve been able to get some incredible stuff without the heavy price tag. More than books, Borders has Sharpies, pens, notebooks, journals, pencils, calendars, folders, and other materials that my kids need for school. All at 75% off. THAT is a bargain.
Tax Free Weekend– Many states have a tax free weekend which usually takes place around back to school time. This is an awesome time to save money, especially on big ticket items like computers, printers, and calculators. Tax on things like that can be major, so why not shop during your state’s tax free weekend and save some duckets. For a list of states and dates, click HERE.
Shop with a Friend- You will see a lot of 2 for 1’s around back-to-school time. Sometimes it’s not advantageous for me to buy 2 items when I only need (or can afford) one for the kids. So shopping with another friend fulfills the purchase of more than one item and allows me to only pay for the item I need. Plus, shopping is even better when you do it with a friend and 2 eyes watching the discounts and savings is better than one!
I hope those 5 back-to-school savings tips help you save the most you can for your little ones. Let’s make this school year is the best on yet!
Good tips! I am looking forward to the kids getting back to school (having them at home wreaks havoc on the ability to get any work done!) but I’m trying a new method this year. I’m giving them the money to go and get their school clothes while I run off and get the very basic school supplies! That saves me money because then I don’t have to by the fancy stuff that they always want. LOL They are teenagers now so it is time they learned to be responsible for a budget!
Danielle, me and you are HERE. I kind of feel guilty wanting the kids to start back school, but my productivity has lessened since they have been on summer break. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
These are great tips! I love the idea of shopping with friends because I do it a lot with my shopping buddy! Thanks for this post!