For parents, the start of a new school year can be very expensive. New
clothing, school fees and school supplies can pose a financial burden.
However, there are ways to reduce the costs and get more for your back
to school buck.
Make a list, check it twice
Try to go shopping without your children so that you only get the supplies
stipulated on their lists. Each school will issue a list of required supplies
that you should stick to. Start by shopping online. You can get most supplies
online and, if prices are better than in the stores, you may be able to
save some money. Ensure that shipping costs are less than your travel
costs to the store.
If shipping costs are too high, compare the prices online of stores in
your area. Mark on your list which stores to go to for the various items.
Keep the list in your car and try to stop in at stores when you are in
the area. Not making a special trip will help you to save on travel costs.
If you have friends with children, buying in bulk can be much cheaper and
you can share travelling costs i.e. you can divide the school supplies
list so each of you is only going to one or two stores.
Swap shop
Get together with neighbors and friends to swap school supplies which you
have bought in bulk or have left over from previous years. This way you
can maximize on bulk buys and you can swap out items which you don’t
need. You can also work with other families to take advantage of ‘Buy
one get one free’ offers or bulk purchase discounts.
Clothing swaps
What started as a way to reduce our impact on the environment has turned
into a very popular pastime. Parents of kids who are similar in age and
size get together and bring all the new or gently-used clothing that their
kids don’t want. These items are swapped and shared so that your
kids get a new wardrobe without you spending any money. You can also swap
accessories, bags and shoes.
Coupons
Coupons are a wonderful way to save and you can really reduce your costs
by visiting the following sites to find coupons that you can utilize:
Money-saving apps
If you want to save money on the go, there are smartphone apps that help
you to find bargains on your back to school supplies. You can also use
these apps in stores that offer price matches. Simply find items cheaper
elsewhere and show the cashier the ad on your phone so that they can match
the price. This will really save on time and travel expenses as you don’t
have to go to more than one shop.
Here are some of the apps you can use:
