5 (New!) Ways to Save on Back to School Shopping

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I almost can’t believe I am writing a back to school article right now, because that means that summer is almost over. How did that happen?! Until Cher finds a way to turn back time, here we are— nearing the end of summer, and the beginning of the school year.

US News cites a recent survey from Deloitte that found that 36% of Americans said they are concerned about making upcoming back-to-school related payments, and 57% of shoppers are worried about the increasing prices of back-to-school supplies.

For a mix of reasons, families do have reason to anticipate spending more on school supplies. First, we all got used to remote school during the lockdown, where fewer school supplies were required. You don’t need a backpack or a lunchbox if you’re taking classes from home, right? The second reason, of course, is inflation; many companies are raising their prices on school supplies to keep pace with inflation.

That same article from US News states that the average American family expects to spend $864 in 2022 on school supplies— which is $168 more than before the pandemic. This year’s cumulative back-to-school spending is expected to match last year’s record high of $37 billion. And total back-to- spending for college students is expected to reach $74 billion, up $3 billion from 2021. Whew. However, I am confident we can absolutely spend less than $864 on school supplies this year.

Here are five ways to make that happen.

1. Don’t shop solo. School supplies are often cheaper in bulk, but you might ask yourself: what do I need 10 notebooks for? To split with ten friends, of course! And if you lead the charge on buying bulk for your group, then you get the added bonus of helping your friends find the best deals.

2. Plan it right. This year, 19 states offer discounted and tax-free back to school shopping holidays. Yes— these are days where you will not have to pay sales tax on purchases of school supplies. In some cases, that’s like a 6% discount! You will not want to miss this. Do a quick Google Search to see if your state is participating, and then mark your calendar.

3. Be loyal. Many big companies like Target, Walmart and Macy’s are trying to set themselves apart from competitors during the back-to-school season, so they’ll entice shoppers with a loyalty discount. Do some digging online, and if you need to opt-in to emails in order to get a 10% discount— just do it. You can always unsubscribe. But if the store is offering a loyalty credit card, do your homework first. You need to know the APR and your credit score before signing up for an additional credit card. If the APR is super high, or your credit score is super low, you should walk away.

4. Buy gift cards at a discount. If you haven’t heard of this, there are several websites where folks sell unused gift cards for cash, at a slight loss. So, for example, you might be able to pay $90 cash for a $100 Target gift card. That’s free money— and we love that!

5. Get your school’s insider tips. If a big company like the aforementioned Targets and Walmarts of the world is going to give anyone a discount, it’s going to be a school. A short conversation with an office administrator at your, or your kid’s, school could yield insider intel; maybe the school gets a discount with a local supply store, maybe the school has extra supplies they’re giving out on a first-come-first-serve basis, maybe the teachers keep a list of the cheapest stores around. When it comes to back to school supplies, schools themselves are excellent resources— so use them!

xo,

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💬 I showed you mine, now you show me yours. Tell me about your back to school shopping tips in the comments below!