12 Ways to Save Money on Back to School

Back to school season is here, which might have you checking your bank account to see if you have enough funds to get all of the supplies you need. Back to school season can be a stressful time if money is tight, but the good news is there are plenty of ways to save some cash in the process. Take a look below at 12 ways to save money on back to school so you can get all of the supplies you need without draining your bank account.

1. Start early.
The earlier you start shopping the better deals you will find. You will also feel less rushed, have better selection, and be able to get the items you need and want at the very price. Start early and see what a difference it makes.

2. Visit consignment shops.
Consignments shops are a great place to look for gently used uniform pieces and other back to school clothing. Supplement your back to school clothing with some smart consignment shop purchases.

3. Consider thrift stores.
Thrift stores can be a great place to find the furniture items you need to build a homework center or family command center. You can also find clothing pieces to supplement your back to school wardrobe.

4. Buy supplies in bulk.
Head to a wholesale store like Costco and grab not only things like paper and pencils, but consider your after school snack foods and lunch foods while you are at it. When you buy in bulk you save, and avoid running out for last minute shopping trips.

5. Plan weekly lunch menus.
When you plan ahead, you can pack lunches based on sales and specials. Consider planning weekly lunch menus so you can pack the perfect lunch while still keeping some cash in your pocket.

6. Reuse what you can.
Go through what you already own to see what can be reused. See what shape last year’s lunch box is in, go through clothing to see what still fits, and dig out whatever school supplies are still good for use.

7. Take advantage of money saving apps.
There are so many apps out there designed to save you cash. Try Ibotta which is perfect for earning rewards while you shop. You can also try Retail Me Not to find coupon codes redeemable at the places you shop.

8. Stay organized.
When you lack organization, you pay for it! Try to stay on top of calendars and events so you can meet deadlines without monetary penalties. Man times if you meet early registration dates you can save money, so keep dates organized and see if it helps you save some cash.

9. Price match.
There is no sense in running from store to store to find a great deal. Instead, shop at a retailer that offers price matching. This is the best way to get all of your shopping done in one place while still taking advantage of sale prices.

10. Buy generic.
When purchasing lunch foods or even crayons you should consider buying generic. Generic will always cost less than name brand and in most cases it is high quality and just as good.

11. Purchase reusable items.
Purchase reusable lunch bags, sandwich bags, food containers, silverware, and napkins that can be used again and again. This way you aren’t wasting money on lunch items that will just be tossed out.

12. Go paperless.
Try a free app like Evernote which can keep you organized without the use of tons of paper. Kids can even use apps to help them take notes and keep lists without the use of paper as well.

Back to school season doesn’t need to be a pricey time of year. Consider these 12 ways to save money on back to school and see how frugal the back to school season can be.