Buzz
1. Reuse and Repurpose
Unless your kids have totally destroyed their school supplies, there’s likely plenty that can be reused from last year. Their backpack and lunchbox might just need a good cleaning, and many binders, pens, and pencils can be put back into circulation. I've even reused unused pages from spiral notebooks as loose-leaf paper in the next school year. (Think of the trees!)
2. Invest in Durable Gear
Sometimes, the saying 'you get what you pay for' really rings true. I've been a loyal fan of L.L. Bean backpacks ever since mine survived high school, college, and grad school. My daughters are now on their second ones—we started with small packs when they entered elementary school, and upgraded to full-sized ones when they hit middle school. They might cost more upfront, but they're worth it when you don't need to replace them every few years.
(Quick savings tip: If your child loves characters, you can always buy inexpensive stickers, patches, or keychains to personalize a plain backpack—and switch them out as their preferences evolve.)
3. Shop Online for School Clothes
Not only can you avoid those impulse buys, but with a bit of searching, you can score huge savings with coupon codes and cashback websites like Rakuten, which offer cash back on purchases from a variety of stores (including back-to-school favorites such as Old Navy, Children's Place, and Target).
4. Keep Your Back-to-School Shopping Minimal Right Now
Your kids probably won't be reaching for that cozy sweatshirt just yet—chances are you still have at least a month of warm weather where they'll be wearing their favorite shorts and t-shirts. Delaying those back-to-school clothes purchases for a few weeks gives them a chance to see what’s trending, so you avoid buying items that end up collecting dust in the closet. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a growth spurt turning those brand-new jeans into capris while they're still rocking their summer outfits. (Bonus: Those back-to-school clothes will likely be on sale as stores clear space for holiday merchandise!)
5. Prioritize Big-Purchase Items
Running around to five different stores to save 50 cents on notebooks or crayons is not the best use of your time. Instead, focus on saving money on higher-priced items (like lunch boxes, calculators, computers, and clothing) to maximize your savings.
6. Match Your Shopping List with Store Sales Flyers
Keep a calculator handy and calculate what you still need in terms of supplies based on the store sales flyers. Try to limit your supply shopping to no more than two stores to save time and avoid running all over town.
7. Skip the Single-Use Items
Plastic sandwich bags may seem cheap at first, but they need to be replaced constantly. (And let's not forget the environmental impact!) Invest in reusable lunch containers for sandwiches and snacks to both reduce waste and save money in the long run.
You can apply this to notebooks as well. Get your teen a Rocketbook notebook, which allows them to take notes, upload them to Google Drive or another storage service using the app, and then erase the pages with a damp cloth for reuse. (Bonus: Never worry about misplaced notes again!)
8. Go for Simple and Customize
Fancy school supplies can be more expensive. I prefer to buy plain white binders or basic folders and let my kids personalize them with collages. (It also helps them easily identify their supplies in a pile of identical ones.)
9. Save on Extracurricular Equipment
Glue sticks are often discounted this time of year, but unfortunately, the same can’t be said for lacrosse sticks. (And let’s be honest, those extracurricular expenses can quickly add up!)
10. Let Your Kids Manage Their Own Wish Lists
I always take care of the essentials, but when my child wanted a $15 locker disco ball, I wasn’t ready to pay for that little extra. Teach your kids the value of money by either giving them a small budget for fun items or school supply upgrades, or letting them use their allowance, birthday money, or savings. (Funny how quickly my child lost interest in the disco ball once their own money was involved.)
