How To Find Back To School Shopping Deals

Going back to school means parents need to spend money. Back to school supplies range from the small erasers to the bigger ticket items like clothing and designer book bags. It can be an expensive journey especially for parents that have several children ready to get on the school bus.

There are ways to save on the profound cost of back to school shopping. It takes a little effort, some research, and a desire to save money but it can be done. Here are some tips for finding back to school shopping deals:

Start With a Budget

The best way to make sure you are getting the deals you need is to start shopping with a budget on paper. Figure out how much you have to spend each time you are ready to go shopping and stick with that number as you make your purchases.

Check Out Online/In-Store Fliers

Long before school is back in session, retailers start announcing their back to school shopping specials. In order to keep track of what is on sale where, you’ll need to check out the promotions on a regular basis and take notes. If you are looking for specific items like clothing, shoes, and supplies, you should keep a small notebook full of store sales, dates they end, and what is on sale. Plan to hit sales when you can as far in advance as you can to prevent having to spend a large, lump sum of money at one time.

Hit Up the Dollar Stores

There are several dollar store chains that offer great school products for only a dollar. Pens, pencils, binders, and other supplies can be purchased in bulk and stored for the rest of the year and even for years down the road. Dollar stores offer much more of a variety than in years past so check out the aisles before visiting more expensive stores.

Shop Online

Online shopping offers the convenience of getting everything you need without ever leaving home. You get to save money on gas and save time to accomplish other things before school starts. Online shopping often offers consumers special deals that can not be found in stores. Many also offer free shipping and other promotional deals that allow you to get more for your money. There are also resources like eBay where brand-named clothing and other products can be purchased cheaply in great condition.

Wait a Few Weeks

Rather than rush out among the crowds right before school starts, you can choose to wait a few weeks until the commotion dies down and the clearance sales begin. While you can get good deals during the back to school rush, you can also get much better deals and clearance prices when stores start clearing the aisles in preparation for fall specials and Christmas items.

Set Limitations

Since many kids head first for the brand names, parents need to set limits about what items are going to be purchased. Make some compromises about the more expensive items. For instance, agree to purchase only one pair of brand-name jeans while the rest are more affordable, off brands. Kids who expect brand new everything do extra chores/odd jobs to earn money and contribute to the purchase of the more expensive items. This is also a good opportunity for parents to teach kids more about the difference between wants and needs and responsibilities of earning their own money for their wants.