How to Save on School Supplies

The average American family with school-age children spends over $600 on back-to-school supplies.^[1] With millions of kids, teens, and adults going back to school in August and September, the stores are crowded with people looking to buy school supplies at the last minute and joining this fray can cause you to overspend. On the other hand, it doesn't take much to scope out good deals and sales, and the following steps will help you to make budget savvy choices for this year's school supplies.

Steps

1. 
   Stick to the school's list of required supplies. While your children might want a higher-end range of stationery and accessories, deviating from the recommended supplies can increase costs, and still cause your child discomfort when the teacher requests that you still supply the originally requested items. Contact the school, or look at their official website if you have not already received a copy. Many schools now provide a downloadable list straight from their website. Also, teachers also often want items different than the general list sent out by the school, so wait until the child's orientation for specific things, and focus on the basics, such as pens and paper before hand.
   • Decide in advance how you will respond to requests for extra items. You could allow one extra item only, or tell your child that any items outside the required list are to be paid for out of your child's own money.
2. Ask your child's school for information on any community programs that are distributing free school supplies. Note, however, that in some communities, this may be only offered to low-income families, so be prepared to show that you really can't afford the supplies.
   • Talk to your school principal about the school joining the National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources (USA) or a similar organization in your country. These organizations collect overstocked donations from businesses and redistribute them to nonprofit organizations, like schools.
3. 
   Recycle and reuse where possible. Before you even consider shopping, see what you already have. Consider reusing and recycling where possible:
   • Go through last year's supplies and salvage what is still good to use. Clean, mend, and redecorate as necessary.
   • Ask other family members what they have that they don't need anymore. Start at home with older brothers and sisters, then ask grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. Even your neighbors might have unwanted stationery supplies.
   • Cover all books in recycled paper.
   • Wash, clean, and stitch up any tears or holes in backpacks, lunch bags, etc. to give them another year's use.
     • Note however, that trying to reuse backpacks or lunch bags isn't always the best idea. Lunch bags can harbor mold and bacteria, so reuse them only as long as they can be cleaned. As for backpacks, make sure that the backpack is still large enough to suit your child's needs. For example, a backpack they've used since first grade may no longer be appropriate for a child going into the 6th or 7th grade. They have a lot more stuff to carry with them, and the backpack will need to be big and sturdy enough.
   • Make your own pencil cases, laptop cases, backpacks, etc., using fabric or other materials already stashed at home.
   • Make plain supplies more exciting by adding embellishments using markers, stickers, scrap fabric and paper, etc. This can be a big part of the fun of getting the supplies ready to go.
   • If uniforms are required, use the school's used uniform distribution system. Most schools with uniforms will have a uniform reuse system in place, and the clothing will be in good condition.
4. Set a budget. Knowing in advance how much there is to spare will keep everyone's minds focused on the limits to spending.
   • Withdraw only that amount of cash. Have your children involved in this process so that they can understand the process of budgeting.^[2]
5. 
   Check the weekly store sale advertisements. Have your child help you find the best prices in catalogs and online. This can be a source of responsible fun for each child to find the best coupon or deal on their needed items, as well as serve as an unstructured lesson in financial responsibility. Things to keep in mind include:
   • Some stores have a "loss leader" category, where they'll sell items at a loss to lure you into the store. If you shop for the items on special on a weekly basis, over a period of several weeks, you can accumulate many of the items on the list at a sale price, provided you're prepared to keep returning to the stores regularly.
   • Note that specialist stationery stores can sometimes be the most expensive place to source your supplies. Shop around to compare prices and ask for discounts if you have seen items cheaper at another store. Many stores offer price matching; however, don't expect full-service stores to match discounter prices, and don't expect discount store employees to offer personalized service. To save money, you should expect to provide your own "customer service."
   • Look for upcoming tax-free shopping days to add to your discount. Tax free sales days or weekends can provide big discounts where offered. (This is more common in the United States and Canada.)
   • As well as cutting out catalog coupons, print out downloadable coupons or deals that you can only get online. The effort to search through relevant sites is well worth it, as you will find coupons that can be printed, cut out and taken along to the store for discounts.
6. 
   Browse through a variety of dollar stores, department stores, stationery stores, and large stores, for the best deals on pencils, pens, notebooks, and other items.
   • Generics and store brands are fine, but make sure that what you get is good enough to use and sturdy enough to last.
7. Team up with other local parents. Use your group buying power to purchase school supplies in bulk at reduced cost. Split the supplies up between you. This is extremely helpful if the children are in the same class, and may also make your child understand that "But all my friends get this or that (expensive) thing." will be harder to pull through.
8. Look at reconditioned or last season's options for more expensive items such as laptops or sports gear. If a laptop is required, this is a big expense item. You can reduce the purchase costs by purchasing a reconditioned laptop from a reliable supplier, looking at older models on special, or using a hand-me-down model from another family member who no longer needs it. Try to avoid borrowing a laptop in case it gets damaged or lost, and consider insuring it.
   • Make use of the tax-free sales days when purchasing laptops, desktops, flash drives, and other electronic items for school. You can save thousands.^[3]
   • Think about trading in old equipment for new or reconditioned. This can be really useful for sports or music gear. Ask your local sports or music store if they have such a system in place, or if they know of a club or other place that can help. Or check out trading bulletins or online sites for other options.
9. Try some less obvious places. There are some other supply sources that you might not have considered that are worth checking out:
   • Try your local thrift store or charity shop. If you let them know in advance that you're looking for school supplies, they might be able to keep some back for you. Otherwise, rummage through the supplies that they do have.
   • Look through online auctions. People often clear out their stationery items, or things that their children have outgrown. Don't forget to check the craft section for things like scissors, glue, and bulk items being cleared out.
   • If you work somewhere that is getting rid of its stationery supplies (such as for an upgrade), ask your boss if the spare, unwanted items can be donated to the school. Never take stationery from work without asking, though, or you could lose your job for stealing.
10. Wait until school starts. This is a little trickier, but with your child's teacher's help or some knowledge of the upcoming timetable, you can find out which supplies won't be needed until later in the school year. Wait to buy these ones until the stores start to move their back-to-school stock into the clearance bins at discounted prices.
    • Many stores will start reducing stock as early as a week after school has gone back, so you might not have long to wait; you might, however, have to withstand your child's complaints of "I want it now!". ^[4]
11. Reuse supplies if they are still good. If there were supplies you didn't use the year before use them.

Video

Tips

• Teach your kids the responsibility to take care of their stuff and not lose it. You can still expect the occasional pen or pencil to disappear, but if you can keep track of the big things, you can choose sturdier things and plan to reuse them.
• During the year, always keep free pencils, pens, note paper, etc., that you receive from businesses, hotels, etc. and keep these as part of your school supplies stash.
• If you have a child in kindergarten or 1st grade and really want to save on backpacks, consider buying them a hiking bag or a backpack made by a reputable "outdoor" company, (such as L. L. Bean or Land's End) which, chosen carefully, could last them through college. While the extra $20 (average) may be a splurge now, the savings add up when you consider the fact that the average backpack is between $15 and $25, and you might otherwise spend that amount every year for 12 years. You could spend $40 now and still end up having spent less than a parent who buys a new backpack every year by the time your child graduates high school (or beyond). Make this sort of investment when you are confident that your child is responsible enough not to lose the backpack.
• Check art supply companies online like Jerry's Artarama, Dick Blick or Utrecht online to compare prices and bargains. Some honor others' coupons and promotions. You can also split an online order with friends or other parents to get free shipping and a bulk discount on top of all those other discounts. Crayons, pencils and other supplies often come in "class packs" at art supply places, usually for 12 kids - if you connect with five other families averaging two kids each, splitting the cost of Class Packs starts to get loony cheap.
• If you know someone who has a fledging eco-stationery or other newly formed stationery business, ask them for free supplies in return for sharing information about the business with other parents or your school.
• Consider not buying anything. In the USA, all state constitutions require that children in the state have access to a "free public education." Requiring payment of fees or purchasing of supplies in order to attend public school may be very common, but it is not lawful. Remember, however, that teachers often have to supply items out of their own pockets for students who don't bring supplies. Making a stand when you really could afford basic school supplies can pass this burden on unfairly.
• Buying up supplies throughout the school year, whenever you spot them on special, can be a great way to save money. Keep a special stationery cupboard for collecting supplies. If you don't use them all up at the end of your child's schooling, donate what is left over, or save whatever you can for use during the summer or the next school year. Basics to keep an eye for include:
  • Ballpoint pens black or blue
  • Pencils, colored and graphite, plus sharpeners
  • Rulers, protractors, compass
  • Lined paper
  • Erasers
  • Subject folders with pockets or binder
  • Highlighters
  • Backpack, pencil case, lunchbox
  • Stapler and staples
  • Scissors
  • Glue sticks (note that these have a tendency to dry out, so only buy if they'll be used within the school year)
  • Calculator or scientific calculator
  • Sports and music equipment (always expensive, so it pays to be looking out for these items going on sale all year round)
• Check the prices online. If you don't have to travel between multiple stores to compare coupons but just click, then you save the cost of your gas. Online supply companies have much lower overhead than brick and mortar stores, so their prices are often up to 50% off list - and that's before the sale prices, deep discount loss leaders and coupons. Remember to factor in shipping costs if you're buying online.
• Don't assume that dollar stores will have the best prices. More often, the bigger name stores will have better deals on higher-quality items.
• Suggest that your child trade with her friends. They could pool all of their existing stationery at your house during a "trade school supplies" party with party snacks and drinks the only costs involved.
• You can find most things at the dollar store
  *Don't necessarily go for the generic brand. Some items may break or wear down sooner than others. If you have used a certain brand in the past, for example work, leisure, etc, use that knowledge to purchase supplies.

Warnings

• Only refuse to buy anything if you really can't afford it. Not only will your child be singled out as the "poor" one, but they'll get funny looks from teachers, because the teachers now have to buy everything your child absolutely needs out of their own pocket. While requiring school supplies at a public school is a loophole in the law, not buying anything is taking advantage of the teacher.
• Don't be a free-loader and take advantage of programs set up to supply poor or homeless children with the things they need for school. Not only is this cruel, but it could get you in trouble. Spending your money on school supplies is better than paying the fines you'll be charged should you get caught.
• Try not to leave the shopping until the last minute. Sales are offered all through the summer season and even while on vacation, browse through the stationery sections as you select your sunscreen and other vacation goodies. You can usually find room to take home a few extra items of stationery bought at a bargain!

Things You'll Need

• Budget
• School supplies list
• Internet access
• Catalogs
• Transport

Related wikiHows

• How to Create a School Garden
• How to Buy School Supplies for High School
• How to Cover School Books Using Biodegradable Materials
• How to Keep Your Binder Clean and Organized
• How to Make Your School Supplies Last
• How to Make a Laptop Bag from Cardboard
• How to Make a Laptop Tote Bag
• How to Make School Supply Shopping Fun
• How to Save up to 85% on School Supplies
• How to Reuse Old School Supplies
• How to Save Money on Back to School Clothes

Sources and Citations

• Original Source of text and images, How to Save on School Supplies, http://ift.tt/1uyZsU1. Video from Howcast, shared with permission.
• The cost of school supplies is sourced from Howcast.

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source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1LqPMmi