It's that time of year again! The sky is blue, the air is hot, and school supply lists are popping up left and right. Before you start running around and checking off all of those boxes, there are a few school supply shopping dos, don'ts, and deals that you need to know about!
1. Make a list! I know it sounds like a no brainer, but it is an important first step (especially if you have more than one child)!
2. Check it twice! Before you buy all brand new school supplies, make sure that you don't already have them at home. Are there crayons in a drawer? A ruler buried under papers on the desk? Perhaps a folder long forgotten that is just waiting to fulfill its purpose? Take a little time to dig through a couple desks and closets (or children's rooms?) to see what treasures you may find!
3. Do your online research! See what the stores you frequent have to offer. Do they price match? Price matching can save you not just money, but also the time it would take to go to separate stores AND your cost of transportation. Also check to see if your store offers online deals. Many stores (such as Walmart) have special online pricing and offer same day pick up!
4. Make coupons your friend! The internet is a BEAUTIFUL thing! With it comes the ease of finding coupons for things you need (or want) with just the click of a button. Check for manufacturer's coupons for your school supplies. Places like Pick N Save, Target, and Walgreens also offer coupons on their websites.
5. Use your rewards! After all, you signed up for a reason! Use rewards points to purchase or get discounts on items!
6. Don't forget you local dollar store! Ok, so you've checked under the sofa and scoured the internet, but you just can't find what you're looking for. Have you taken a look at Dollar Tree? Your local dollar store often sells school supplies for- you guessed it- just $1. No coupons or sale needed! It's a great place to pick up a calculator, pencil box, scissors, and more! Other stores such as STAPLES and Office Depot have loss-leaders (items that the store loses money on) advertised to get you in the door. These items are usually $1 or less, well worth a quick stop in.
7. Get thrifty! Check places like thrift stores, craigslist, freecycle, or even buy/sell/trade groups for great deals on all kinds of back to school (or off to college!) items.
8. Get to know the Krazy Coupon Lady! The awesome people at The Krazy Coupon Lady have done all of the legwork for you! Check out their Back to School Savings Guide for not only discounted items, but also to discover how some of your purchases can MAKE you money!
9. Get money back! Applications such as Checkout51, Ibotta, Walmart, Ebates, and others offer rebates on certain purchases. The rebates will often come in the form of cash back, gift card redemption, or (in the case of Walmart) in-store credit.
10. Don't buy all of your clothes at once! While back to school sales are great for buying school supplies, the best deals on fall clothes are later in the fall. Buy a few cute new outfits and then save your dough for when the real deals start rolling in!
11. Know your store! Knowing when your store marks down items can be key to getting the best deals. Often this information can be found online thanks to former (and current) employees. Rumor has it that Target marks down its children's clothing on Mondays and Old Navy cuts prices on Friday (clearance on Tuesdays!). The best day to hit a store is the day after price cuts... but you didn't hear it from me!
Did I miss a trick? Have your own Do or Don't to add? See or hear of a great deal around town? Drop a comment below and let us know!
