10 Ways to Save on School Supplies This Year
By: Thomas Sigsworth on August 12, 2014
While it might seem like you were watching Canada Day fireworks just yesterday, the dog days of summer are slipping by. And even though that means soccer and swimming and playing on the beach, it also means good old back-to-school shopping. Penny pinching parents are already on the hunt for the best deals – they know that when it comes to back-to-school, now is the best time to strike. As September approaches, here are ten ways to save money on your children's school supplies.
(1) Make a Checklist. Backpack? Check. Freezer bags? Check. Glue sticks – wait, they still use glue sticks? Like most tasks, the best way to approach back-to-school shopping is with a checklist. Some institutions actually send out checklists so busy parents know what they need to get before school starts. Websites like goodhousekeeping.com also have school supply checklists to help get you started.
(2) Check Your Household Inventory. Before you back up the truck (or minivan) at the local mall, make a list of the supplies you have in your house. Most parents find that with a little digging, they actually have more school items at home than they thought!
(3) Swap Items with Friends, Neighbours and Family. Ask around to see if any of the families that you know have back-to-school items they want to swap with you. Kids outgrow equipment and clothes, need new books, get tired of lunch boxes, etc. Swap items between children and everyone wins!
(4) Take Advantage of Back-to-School Sales. Retailers love to throw back-to-school sales because they bring customers through the doors in droves. The savings you can get from back-to-school promotions can be substantial, so you should start shopping now for the items you know your child will need once school’s in session. Don’t waste any time – many back-to-school sales have already started!
(5) Use Said Sales to Stock Up. When you do go to a sale, go big. Stock up on all the pens, erasers and notebooks your child will need for the year so you won’t have to pay for them later at full price. Stocking up will also save you another trip to the mall!
(6) Get on Those Email Lists. It’s no secret that retailers love sending out special deals and promotions via email campaigns. Why not sign up at your favourite stores to take advantage of these great deals just in time for back-to-school?
(7) Ditto for Social Media Feeds. If anything is hotter than email campaigns among retailers right now, it’s promotions offered via social media. ‘Like’ your favourite retailers on Facebook or follow them on Twitter to gain access to some great back-to-school deals.
(8) Go Second-Hand. There are many great second-hand stores that specialize in selling kids merchandise. Do an online search to find the stores operating in your area, and just imagine finding that $25 sweater you saw at The GAP last week for $4 second-hand – it’s possible!
(9) Don’t Be Afraid of Giving Younger Children Hand-Me Downs. That lunchbox that Jimmy used in Grade 3? Now it’s time to give it to his kid brother, Mike. To make the hand-off easier, try labeling stuff with only your kids’ last name – that way, whatever you are handing down will be perceived as more of a ‘family’ item.
(10) Keep Your Receipts. You definitely want to be able to return back-to-school items your child doesn't end up needing or that break. Try having your receipts emailed to you rather than printed, so you’ll always be able to find them!
