In many states around the US, summer vacation is ending and the bells and alarms associated with school will begin. Before long, the complaints of “I’m bored” and “There’s nothing to do!” will be replaced with “I don’t want to do homework!” and “Mom, I need _________ for my school project.”
Of course, before the school house doors open for the new year of the three “R’s”, parents will find themselves, kids in tow, scurrying to pick up the plethora of items that make up the Back to School shopping list. This list can range from binders to book covers, calculators to computers and clothing of every size or style resulting in astronomical amounts of money to be spent.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help save money. So, to help you on your back to school shopping experience, here are 10 things to help you save money on your school supply shopping:
1. Don’t buy everything on the list at once, chances are that $100 calculator will not be needed the very first week of middle school.
2. Try to reuse what you already have. If your kids still have scissors, crayons, notebooks, etc. from last year, then finish those items first. You can always pick up more later.
3. Remember, you don’t have to buy your child’s entire school wardrobe in August. Just pick what, if anything, they need. Chances are, the clothes they have been wearing through the summer still fit. Waiting a few weeks will have those “must have” summer outfits on sale making it easy to save money.
4. Don’t overbuy. If the list calls for a box of 24 crayon, don’t buy a box of 96!
5. Don’t forget the Dollar Stores. These typically have school supplies in abundance and at lower prices-especially when it comes to multi packs of basic items, which are helpful in having an extra pair of scissors, erasers, notebooks, etc. for the following year.
6. Watch for loss leaders-typically found in July-where stores sell school supplies at well below cost in order to draw business for other products.
7. Go shopping without the kids! You will have less stress and be able to pay closer attention to what you purchase saving money and time
8. Buy the basic notebooks, lunch bags, backpacks, etc. then, let your kids decorate with stickers and colorful doodles.
9. Shop at a store that offers price matching, so you don't have to burn up extra gas to get the good deals at other stores.
10. Take advantage of tax-free weekends. Here is a list of the tax-free dates across America.
State
|
Items Included
|
Period
|
Alabama
|
Clothing, computers, school supplies, books
|
1st weekend in August
|
Arkansas
|
Clothing, school supplies, books
|
1st weekend in August
|
Connecticut
|
Clothing
|
3rd week in August
|
Florida
|
Clothing, school supplies, books
|
2nd week in August
|
Georgia
|
Clothing, school supplies, computers
|
1st weekend of August
|
Iowa
|
Clothing
|
1st weekend of August
|
Massachusetts
|
School supplies, computers, sports equip, Clothing
|
2nd weekend of August
|
Maryland
|
Clothing & footwear
|
August 14 – 20
|
Missouri
|
Clothing, school supplies, computers
|
1st weekend in August
|
New Mexico
|
Clothing, school supplies, computers
|
1st weekend of August
|
North Carolina
|
Clothing, school supplies, computers, Sports equip
|
1st weekend of August
|
Oklahoma
|
Clothing
|
1st weekend of August
|
South Carolina
|
Clothing, school supplies, computers
|
1st weekend of August
|
Tennessee
|
Clothing, school supplies, computers
|
1st weekend of August
|
Texas
|
Clothing, diapers, backpacks, school supplies
|
3rd weekend of August
|
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