back to school savings tips sm

Summer’s almost over, and kids will find themselves back in classrooms in no time. For parents this means they must confront the dreaded back-to-school shopping list. Considering the average family with school-age children spent $690 on supplies last year, shopping smart is essential. To keep more money in your pockets this year, follow these helpful strategies.


Take Inventory


When you go grocery shopping, you generally have a good idea of what’s filling your fridge and pantry. Take the same approach with back-to-school shopping and search around the house for any supplies you already have or can reuse. If there are optional items on the supply list, hold off on buying those until you’re absolutely sure your student needs them.


Consider Second-Hand


There’s never an end to the need for children’s clothing. Sizes don’t stick around long, adding up to a lot of expense. Instead of buying everything brand new, see what kind of second-hand options are available. This doesn’t mean you have to comb through the shelves at your local Salvation Army store, either. Sites such as thredUP.com specialize in consignment of like-new clothing for kids or check our resale shops.


Keep Coupons Handy


Coupons are more popular than ever, with nearly 80-percent of consumers reporting they regularly shopped with them last year. During back-to-school time there will be plenty of offers available, it’s just a matter of knowing where to find them. Though traditional coupon clipping still works, mobile coupon apps are especially convenient and widely accepted by retailers.


Mix & Match


There always seems to be one supply you’ve accumulated a massive stockpile of. Maybe you have notebooks stacked to the ceiling, but there’s nary a pen or pencil to be found. Before you start buying, see what other parents have in their inventory. A neighborhood swap is simple to organize and saves everyone money.


Comparison Shop


Whether it’s writing a book report or shopping for school supplies, procrastination is king for both kids and adults alike. This year avoid the expense of last-minute shopping and start early by comparing prices for more expensive items online. Generic items can be found through PriceGrabber, while deals on more specific items like ink cartridges are available through sites such as InkjetWilly.com.


---------
Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. Follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.

Publisehd: August 2013

8 Simple Secrets of Happy Families

8 Simple Secrets of Happy Families

  Happiness varies depending on personal circumstances. But why are some families more resilient and happier despite the obstacles life throws their way? Here are simple secrets of happy familie . . .

Read more

7 Tips to Overcome Fear of the Dark

7 Tips to Overcome Fear of the Dark

Avoid ideas like "monster spray" which only affirm in a child's mind that monsters are real and need to be "sprayed away."  - Berkley James, pediatric sleep consultant  Fear of the dark i . . .

Read more

Extended Bedwetting

Extended Bedwetting

Help for older kids who wet the bed Bedwetting among older children is more common than parents realize.   Over 7 million children, ages 5-17, in the U.S. are affected. Boys wet the bed 2/ . . .

Read more

Great Daddy-Daughter Dates

Great Daddy-Daughter Dates

A father spending one-on-one time with his daughter is an awesome way to make his girl feel special and a priceless opportunity to demonstrate how he would like her to be treated as she grows up. Ne . . .

Read more

Tips for Sending a Child with Food Allergies to Camp

Tips for Sending a Child with Food Allergies to Camp

Mention summer camp and kids get excited about activities, art, s’mores and friends. But for parents of kids with food allergies, the prospect of sending a child to day camp or overnight camp can . . .

Read more

Every Child with Special Needs is Entitled to A Free and Appropriate Education

Every Child with Special Needs is Entitled to A Free and Appropriate Education

Today, 1 in 50 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups and is four times more l . . .

Read more

Prepare Your Child to Go Back-to-school After Winter Break

Prepare Your Child to Go Back-to-school After Winter Break

For most students, January means a return to school after a winter vacation. Because there are few three-day weekends or other interruptions, the months between winter and spring breaks are the time . . .

Read more

5 Ways to Help Your Child Make the Team

5 Ways to Help Your Child Make the Team

As the school year starts up, our throats begin to tighten. Fall sports tryouts are underway, and our children are stressed. Chances are, you’re feeling just as anxious for tryouts as your kids.&n . . .

Read more

Expert Savings Tips for Back-to-school Shopping

Expert Savings Tips for Back-to-school Shopping

Summer’s almost over, and kids will find themselves back in classrooms in no time. For parents this means they must confront the dreaded back-to-school shopping list. Considering the average famil . . .

Read more

Contracts for Connected Families

Contracts for Connected Families

In general, families run better with good rules, so it’s not surprising that parents want to make rules about how kids use technology. Lots of organizations offer well-intended versions of online . . .

Read more

Protect Your Family Against Summer Stings, Bites and Bugs

Protect Your Family Against Summer Stings, Bites and Bugs

Toxicologists at UCSD Medical Center and the San Diego Division of the California Poison Control System recommend taking a few simple precautions to protect your family against summer stings, bites . . .

Read more

The Dos and Don'ts of Raising a Difficult Child

The Dos and Don'ts of Raising a Difficult Child

I strive to be a great parent. I have moments of glory and others of massive doubt and worry. Because I constantly revisit what is a good parent? And for every happy, proud moment there are a thousa . . .

Read more

Help Kids Grow Strawberries

Help Kids Grow Strawberries

Planting strawberries is a great way to get kids interested in gardening. You can let them plant and care for a whole patch, or just one or two plants, planted in a strawberry jar or garden containe . . .

Read more

Are Children's Symptom's Worse At Night When They're Sick?

Are Children's Symptom's Worse At Night When They're Sick?

Why is it that your 5-year-old’s fever, congestion, and pain suddenly worsen at nightfall when the pediatrician’s office is closed? Is it simply a matter of your weary child noticing their symp . . .

Read more

10 Tips to Make Moving Homes Easier With Children

10 Tips to Make Moving Homes Easier With Children

Moving is a hectic transition for anyone to make, but having young children makes it all the more difficult. Not only do you have to consider packing up all those toys, books, and clothes, you also . . .

Read more

How To Empower Kids by Giving Them "Keys to Peace"

How To Empower Kids by Giving Them "Keys to Peace"

Parents and educators are always trying to spark student participation whether it’s in the classroom, in the local community, or throughout the world. When middle-school students were asked what t . . .

Read more

Bedwetting Qualms

Bedwetting Qualms

When it comes to the problem of children wetting the bed, the consolation for most parents is that most children usually outgrow bedwetting. Sadly, however, this is not always the case. Even when a . . .

Read more

The Battle: Dressing Your Kids

The Battle: Dressing Your Kids

If you’ve ever left the house with a child wearing a super hero cape or princess dress, or if you’ve ever noticed your daughter’s socks don’t match as you’re dropping her at school or real . . .

Read more

Keeping Kids Safe When Home Alone

Keeping Kids Safe When Home Alone

American Red Cross Tips Help Kids Stay Safe When Home Alone:Develop and practice a plan to ensure safety after school Many children spend time home alone after school until their parents get home fr . . .

Read more

Dogs Help Children Learn to Read

Dogs Help Children Learn to Read

It turns out dogs are not only good for our health, finding missing people, and helping people with disabilities live independent lives—they’re good for kids’ report cards, too! Canines have . . .

Read more

Be Family Informed – Sign up for our Newsletters below!

Subscribe