Ways to Save on Back to School Shopping
I know it feels like summer just started for some of you, however the reality is that it’s already time to start thinking about Back to School Shopping! Beginning now we will be seeing great deals each week on Back to School essentials. We’re here to help you save money and provide helpful tips for all your Back to School needs! The best time to stock up is when the prices are at their lowest so start stocking up all summer long to keep your costs on school supplies down.
Did you know that in 2012, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual back-to-school spending survey, the average person with children in grades K-12 spent $688.62 on Back to School Supplies? Wow! You don’t have to be that average person!
Here are some helpful tips as you begin your Back to School Shopping:
1. Use the LRWC Back to School Page – We are your Back to School Savings Headquarters! Each week, LRWC will post weekly Back to School Savings and Back to School Coupons. Bookmark the Back to School Deals 2013 page and use it each week to see what and where you can score the best Back to School Deals for your needs. This page breaks down the sales as well as the available coupons to pair with the sales at national stores such as Walmart and Target, dollar stores such as Dollar Tree and Dollar General, drug stores such as Walgreens and Rite Aid, office stores such as Staples and Office Max, as well as online sites such as Amazon and even some local grocery store deals! Wow, we’ve really got you covered 😉
2. Don’t Overbuy – This is often a very common mistake made when Back to School shopping. You think just because you see what you think is a good price on an item, that you immediately have to buy 10 of them to last you the whole school year. While it’s wise to stock up on really great deals when we know it’s the absolute lowest price, it isn’t always wise to buy more than you need on school supplies early in the shopping season because we may see better deals as the school year begins to replenish the supplies that will be used the first few weeks of school. In order to prevent yourself from overbuying or buying items you really don’t need, use a checklist to guide you. Also consider asking your child’s school for a checklist on exactly what they need for the school year so you only buy what you actually need.
3. Check your Stockpile – Sometimes the things I find in my stockpile surprise me! I may have picked up an item or two within the past year that I completely forgot I had. This is a great reason to check your stockpile and look through the items you already have to see if you have some hidden Back to School Supplies already in your home you might not have been aware of! This will help cut your spending costs down for this season and will allow you to add more to your budget down the road when you need to replenish, hopefully when prices are even better or when you spot clearance finds!
4. Know What You Need for the Dorm – Back to School Shopping is one thing, but Back to School Shopping for college-aged students headed to dorms is a whole other ballpark, one which can become quite costly! Be sure to check out our College Dorm Checklist post which will help guide you on some of the essentials needed for college dorm living!
5. Think Outside the Box; Use Craigslist, Thrift Stores – Looking for a second hand, gently used backpack, lunch box, T9 Calculator, etc. and don’t want to pay full price? Nowadays we have the luxury of using sites such as Craigslist and Ebay or other newer sites such as Thred Up where you can purchase second hand items for a fraction of the cost! This is a great way to save and becoming more and more popular. Don’t forget to look in stores such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army too!
6. Don’t Overlook Grocery Store Deals on School Supplies – Although we do include some grocery store Back to School Deals in our weekly Back to School post, remember on your own to use your favorite grocery store’s weekly Coupon Match Ups to score some awesome deals on Back to School Essentials! Look for manufacturer’s coupons we post on LRWC that will “fully double” at grocery stores and compare to see if you can get a better deal at the grocery store than some of the other more traditional Back to School shopping stores.
Living Rich With Coupons saves you money not just on groceries, but on Back to School Shopping and so much more. Don’t begin your Back to School Shopping without using the help of LRWC which will ultimately help you live a truly “rich” life using coupons!
If you are new to couponing, you may want to check out the Couponing for Beginners section where you will find a lot of answers to your questions.