6 Money Saving Back to School Shopping Tips

Back to school can be fun for the whole family- but it is often expensive too. Between new shoes, clothes, backpacks, lunch boxes and supplies- it can all add up quickly, but with a little planning and thought, shopping for back to school doesn’t have to completely break the bank. I’ve gathered up 6 of my best back to school shopping tips to save you, not only time, but money too, so your back to school shopping experience can be as easy and painless as possible!

1. Start at home

See what you have in surplus at home before you head to the stores to save yourself some cash, you might be surprised at what you have that your child’s teacher can use. If you need more ideas on what teachers always ask for, check our this list here.

2. Avoid the “trendy” gear

Your kids may love a certain lunch box or pencil case they find in July with their current favorite character, but once school starts and they see what their friends are using, they may change their tune. I like to buy colors and patters that will last more than just a few months. One thing I advocate splurging on is a good back back. With how much they get used and abused, cheaper ones may not even last the year. If you get high quality ones, you can often get multiple years out of them.

3. Check the summer sales racks

Even if you start school in September, chances are it’s still warm, so don’t be afraid to check the summer clearance for some cheap back to school clothes. Yes, if you’ll probably want to avoid buying all shorts and tank tops, but think broader. Some summer dresses can be worn with leggings and a sweater into the fall, and some t-shirts can be worn layered with a long sleeved tee and suddenly you can make a cheap mark down last well into fall and maybe even winter.

4. Stick to the supply list

Teachers are careful about listing what they need and usually change it year to year depending on what they had a surplus of from the previous year so buying those kid scissors that aren’t on the list may not even be used, so save your money instead and purchase only what’s asked for. Don’t worry though, chances are they’ll need more during the year so if you feel the need to buy more, just save it.

5. Shop around and price match

Many stores, like Walmart, will price match ads so if you see crayons on sale at another retailer and you are at Walmart, bring the ads with you and get the better deal where you are. Also, don’t forget to check the grocery stores, they often have killer deals too.

6. Save trips and shop #likeaboss

When shopping for back to school, try hitting up stores where you can all the things you need in one place. Besides for clothes and supplies, you know you are going to need to stock up on house hold items like toilet paper and paper towels too, so you may as well get them together! This is why Walmart is a great choice for shopping for BTS. Walmart has everything you need in one stop, from TP, to crayons, to baggies for sandwiches. I love how I can get in and out, like a boss, and check off my whole shopping list in one place.

Between Walmart’s already super low prices and price matching options, stocking up the things we’d need at home as well as school, is as easy as A-B-C. I always try and look for the items that have the extra Box Tops too, since every one you clip is 10 cents for your school, and they do add up fast!

Right now popular brands Scott, Kleenex and Viva are all offering Double Box Tops on specially marked packages! Every one you clip can go to your child’s school to be exchanged for products they can use in the classrooms.

So head on over to Walmart and check out what products they have that are carrying these special double box tops so you can make your list and shop and do #BTSlikeaboss!

What are your tricks for saving money on your back to school shopping lists?