Back to school often comes as a brutal disruption sleep schedules (so long late nights, hello early mornings), our vacation schedules (squeeze in those last minute road trips while you can), and if we’re not intentional our budgets. If you’re gearing up for a new academic year, have no fear. While I can’t do anything about the sleep or vacation, I am here to help you with saving as many dollars as possible. Here are my can’t miss tips for saving in every category of your BTS budget.
1. Go Shopping In Your House
Remember those backpacks you still haven’t cleaned out? Where is last year’s gym suit? Before you open a single flyer or hit the aisles of your favorite big box retailer, you need to do some serious inventory. Almost every year, there are essentials you can use again and again and again. My top 10 items included:
- Backpacks (More on that Later)
- USB Drives (Wipe it Clean)
- Headphones
- Scissors
- Rulers
- Lunch Boxes & Water Bottles
- Locker Gear
- Pencil Boxes
- Binders (Clean Them Out)
- Colored Pencils (Just Sharpen Them)
Of course you may need to replace an item from time to time, but don’t overbuy at the store. See what you can do with what you already have. Print off your school’s supply list and begin the hunt.
For more ideas, check out How to Save Money on School Supplies.
2. Look at What You Spent Last Year
If you have no clue to budget, dig back through last year’s budget and/or bank records to get a good idea how much your fees (don’t forget gym suits and PTO), books, supplies, and clothes cost you. While not an exact figure, it will help you spitball how much you’ll spend.
Don’t miss reading Tips for Your Back to School Budget.
3. Inventory Clothes
Not unlike school supplies, you also need to get a good handle on what fits and what doesn’t as your kids head back into the classroom. After all, who wants to create more laundry than necessary?! If your school utilizes school uniforms, be sure to either resell or pass along items that no longer fit (Pro tip: Ask the school office if there’s a recycling program that gives gently used items to families in need). When you inventory how many shorts, shirts, pants, socks, and undies your kids have that fit, you can find that you meet their actual needs instead of purchasing new items that you don’t really need.
You seriously need to check out How to Save Money on Back to School Clothes for more great ideas!
4. Shop Loss Leaders
Every week, your big box retailer or grocery store puts item on sale just entice you in the door. During the back to school shopping season, we often see these items in the form of $0.05 or $0.01 deals. The trick to maximizing such great offers is to not get caught up in the extras once you hit that aisle. So once you’re in the store stay focused only on the sales. It’s also a great idea to compare the ads either from the Sunday Paper or online to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. If you’re grocery shopping, run through those BTS aisles only to grab the lowest priced items and add them to a stock pile at home. Make those loss leaders work for you instead of losing your money.
Have you seen these Affordable and FREE Back to School Celebration Ideas?
5. Time Your Offers
Even if your child needs a new backpack or a new lunch box this year, you might be better off having them begin their semester using the slightly worn one from last year. Stores stock many supplies like backpacks, notebooks, dorm gear, and locker items in abundance rarely dropping the price during the weeks before school starts. A month or two into the new school year, you can find these items slashed up to 90% percent off in clearance sales as stores make room for Halloween costumes. Don’t let the first day excitement over take your spending. Wait.
Get your family’s meal plan back on track with 5 Ways to Rule Back to School Meal Planning!
Like it or not, we’re gearing up for a new season. Smart planning can help you stay on track financially and use your resources wisely.
Our new book Your Money, Your Marriage releases September 25th from Zondervan Harper Collins Christian and is already available for pre-sale now everywhere books are sold.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission.
