Can you believe it’s already time to start thinking about back to school shopping tips? Back to school shopping season is right around the corner, and it will be here before you know it! There are so many things to think about for back to school shopping, and most importantly, most people are wondering how to stick to a budget. If you find yourself wanting to adhere to a specific budget, these back to school shopping tips will teach you how to do exactly that!
4 Simple Back To School Shopping Tips To Save Money
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1. Compare prices before shopping.
I think comparing prices between the stores before you shop is one of the most important back to school shopping tips! Before you even begin shopping, pick up some catalogs or search online to check prices and sales. Most places are pretty on top of things when it comes to advertising back to school shopping sales, so it’ll put you one step ahead if you make sure to check the sales out before shopping around. This way, you can know if you need to buy certain items from one store, and others from another store. Use this tip for both school supplies and school clothes!
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2. Consider second-hand stores.
There are some second-hand and thrift stores take great care of their clothing and have some great back to school shopping sales as well as great quality clothes! Savers is pretty well known for their quality, and if you can find something like Plato’s Closet, you’ll find that there are great deals and the clothes are fabulous! Scope out your local resale shops for great deals. Depending on the quality level of your store, you may have to pick through a bit more, but many of these shops have excellent deals. Often you can find name brands, and I’ve even found items new with tags!
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3. Look for textbooks online
If you need specific textbooks not provided by the school, try looking online! There are tons of resources for textbooks online like Amazon, Half.com (an eBay company for books), eBay, and Chegg. Typically you can find much better deals and save up to hundreds of dollars on books this way. It allows you to buy used books, and even rent them and send them back when you’re done with free shipping! This is one of the priciest parts of back to school shopping, so if you can save here, you’ll do well.
4. Buy for the entire school year!
Purchasing as much as you think you’ll need for the whole year is so important, especially when you are buying school supplies. You’ll notice that school supplies go on sale during back to school shopping peak times, and that’s typically it for the year. Usually, a student goes through quite a bit of supplies during the year, so it makes sense to stock up now! Buy a couple of packs of pencils and pens, lots of paper, and folders and binders to last all year to maximize your savings for back to school shopping.
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By following these back to school shopping tips, you’ll be sure to have a pleasant back to school shopping experience. Be sure to check out our Back to School Clothing Essentials to find more tips as well as free printable checklists! When you’re all done and the kids head back to school, this too can be you!
What kind of things do you look for during back to school shopping? Do you have any great back to school shopping tips to share?
These are all great tips and am sure those with kiddies to send back to school could use such lovely tips.
I don’t have school supplies to buy, but I do take advantage of the cheap pens and composition books to have on hand. Or other office things to use around the house.
Number 2 and 3 works wonders. I can save great amount by just following those two tips!
Great tips! I am not looking forward to this year – I’ll have 4 heading off to school RIGHT after we move so any savings I can find I will for sure be taking advantage of. Price checking is one I need to start doing! Thrift stores is a great option too I never think of!
I find that the best way to save on school clothes is not to buy them. Instead, I look for sales all year and just buy whatever suits us at the time. Right now, I have clothing packed away for next summer.
These are great tips for back to school shopping. It is a good idea to check out thrift stores because you can find brand name brand new things sometimes at a cheaper price. You can save a lot by comparing prices between stores also. Thanks for sharing.
I think you can save a lot of money of you buy via thrift stores. Buying in bulk can also give you volume discounts.
What great tips you have highlighted today! I think by shopping throughout the year, one can save heaps of time and money!
I wish they had online text book services when I was in school! I think they are so helpful!! I also loved your point about buying for the whole year. In the long run I think that would be a great money saver:).
We love thrift-type stores and consignment shops especially with our youngest. Since she outgrows things (and stains things) it just makes more sense than retail.
This is the first year that I haven’t had to buy school supplies for my kids since they’ve both graduated. Price comparison before shopping is a great idea to get the best deals.
Great tips for back to school shopping! I can’t believe it is that time already, we got started shopping already this year.
I always went for two or more supply runs throughout the school year. I’d probably save more by buying everything I needed at one time.
these are great tips! I am always looking for the best deals out there, and these tips help a lot! Thanks for sharing!
We will be shopping for the kids school supply next week. Thanks for these tips. We do buy supplies in bulk.
I don’t have any school children at home anymore, but I do help out with the supplies etc. for my daughter & while I’m there it’s also a good time to stock up at home for envelopes, tablets, pens & pencils. I always do & it saves money.
These are great tips for back to school shopping. Shopping for my daughter’s college textbooks on Amazon saved me so much money.
Buying for the entire year is so important. We will have two in school this year so we’ve stocked up on current sizes and 1 size bigger just in case. Every school (public and private) requires uniforms around here so it’s so hard to find anything outside of the peak Back-To-School shopping time.
Great tips! Although I’m not good with comparing prices sometimes. I like convenience so to avoid having to drive around anywhere, i will just get what’s in front of me.
Oh yeah its time to think about back to school shopping already. And these are some wonderful tips from you to save some money out of it. We look for Online textbooks & yes comparing the price at various stores really helps a lot.
This is a huge help for us, preparing for a shopping during Back to school is necessary.
These are some really great tips! I can’t believe it’s that time of year again! My daughter starts real school this fall!
These are awesome tips. I like to buy in bulk as well because it helps me save money.
I always use back to school season to replenish my school supply box that I keep full of various supplies. So that when my kids need school supplies mid year, I don’t have to run to the store. I send them to shop from my box.
It looks like I’ll be hitting the thrift store for clothes for my older son. He has had a major growth spurt and nothing hardly fits the boy.
I am with you in buying in bulk because we can get wholesale prices if we do so. Get enough supplies of crayons, pencils, pens, notebooks, etc to last a year. Thanks for the tips!
Buying textbooks online saved us SO much money!!! That’s an excellent tip and should be repeated every year.
I have gotten some pretty cute clothing from thrift stores. I always shop sales and since kids doing horrible things to their clothes, I buy the cheap stuff like at Walmart. Until my little ones to can treat their clothes better, then I’ll probably look at more name brand or department store style clothes.
Every mom could use these excellent savings tips. Thank you for sharing them.
Thrift stores is a good idea!
I’m a huge fan of thrift stores and have shopped in them for many years! I actually pride myself on finding great deals and great products!
I always try to stock up for the school year when they have BTS sales, as well. It definitely adds up.
Great tips!