It’s Back to School Time! Is Your Wallet Ready?

Back to school time is quickly approaching, and you may be dreading the hit to your wallet back-to-school shopping can cause. Paying for supplies like a new backpack and pencils, the back-to-school photo package, or fees for extracurricular activities can create an extra expense. But, creating a budget ahead of back-to-school time can help alleviate your stress. Here are a few ways to save money this back to school season:

Make a list of exact supplies

Remember, a need is different from want and you can avoid some of the expensive school supplies. Set expectations with your student ahead of time or consider going supply shopping by yourself.

Take inventory of last year’s supplies

If you have supplies left from previous school years, evaluate if you can reuse. Also, check in with new teachers to get a breakdown of any specific supplies. Review the supply lists and unused supplies, and you’ll have a great place to start.

Utilize available student discounts

If you need to buy an expensive item like a laptop or tablet this year, investigate any discounts available through a retailer or the manufacturer. Often, you can find deals for at least 15% or more! For smaller everyday items, check out UNiVERSE. UniVERSE’s variety of discounts is impressive and can be taken advantage of to save you money.

Pro tip: By shopping online and selecting in-store pick up, you may be able to score even more significant savings.

Consider cutting it close

Many major retailers will mark down the price of supplies at the end of the back-to-school season. If your student doesn’t need something on the very first day of school, think about delaying your school supply shopping trip. Mid-September is a great time to reap the benefits of back-to-school markdowns.

Consider buying used

Buying your supplies secondhand is a great way to save money, especially for more oversized ticket items like textbooks, calculators, and tablets. Amazon provides a used purchase option that makes it easy to buy an item pre-owned or sometimes certified pre-owned (these items often look new!) Or consider networking with other families in your community to purchase used items from them. Someone may have the exact thing your student needs this year and is willing to get rid of it for free or at a reduced cost.

Back-to-school shopping can be easy and maybe even fun with these simple ideas to help you save money. Have a great school year!

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