While summer may be in full heat, school is right around the corner.
One of the best ways to save money on back to school supplies is to start planning early. School supplies can add up, but if you plan your purchases in advance, you can take advantage of all of the great savings this summer.
Here are four ways you can save on Back to School essentials.
4 Ways to Save on Your Back to School Budget
1. Set a Realistic Back to School Budget
One of the best ways to save on school supplies is to make a budget.
Your budget will act as a shopping list as well. A list will help you purchase exactly what you need without buying extra things. This will help you stick to your budget and make smart purchasing decisions.
When setting your back to school budget, find out what items are a necessity and which items are wants.
If you have room in your current budget, set aside money each month to go towards your back-to-school spending. If not, try to cut back other areas in your budget to help you save money. Your back-to-school budget should fit in with your current budget.
By planning how much you anticipate spending on back to school supplies, you can make sure you have enough money for all of your purchases. This will allow you to avoid going into debt for these essential purchases and be a more financially responsible shopper.
2. Taking Advantage of Tax-Free Weekends
18 states in the US have some type of summer Tax-free day or weekend. Tax-free weekends are exactly what it sounds like – when states do not charge additional sales taxes on certain items.
Each state has slight differences, but most of the states that participate wave state sales taxes on:
- school supplies
- books
- clothing
- computers
If you live in a state (or close to a state) that participates in a tax-free weekend, you could save hundreds on back to school items. Depending on what store you shop at, you can also stack tax-free weekends with additional sales.
Tax-free weekends also apply to online shopping if you ship to a state that is participating in a tax-free weekend.
For example, you can purchase a Macbook Air with an educational discount (for students or teachers) and not pay taxes on that computer.
The educational discounts for an Apple product are usually $100 off the retail price. In addition to this discount, you will get a $150 Apple Gift Card. Depending on the computer you buy, you can save an additional $50-$100 on taxes by purchasing a laptop on a tax-free weekend.
Stacking sales, cash-back offers, and tax-free weekends will give you the best bang for your buck. Stacking offers on tax-free weekends can be used on other back to school items like clothes and books. This will help stretch every dollar.
3. Use Coupons and Retail Apps
One of the best ways to save on Back to School supplies is to use coupons, shop sales, and use cash back apps.
If you create your budget and shopping list, you will know exactly what you need to buy and can be on the lookout for sales for those things.
By planning, you can be prepared to buy something when it’s on sale without being tempted to buy more. Sales can trick us into buying more than we intended, so having a list of what you need can help you from spending additional money during sales.
Some apps will reward you with additional savings or cash back. Each app is different, but they essentially are the same, where you link a credit card or scan a receipt to claim the cash-back bonus or discount. Apps to check out for back to school savings are:
- Ibotta
- Dosh
- Fetch
- Rakuten
Take advantage of all of the ways you can save money on the purchases you already want to make. Everything you save will help you stick to your budget and not overspend.
4. Reuse and Recycle
While back to school shopping can be exciting and gets you in the mood for a new school year, you may not have to buy something new every year. Consider using items from last year for this school year, like:
- Backpacks
- Binders
- Calculators
- Pens
- Computers
- Clothes
Only some items need to be new for the school year. Go through the school things that you have to see what can be reused.
If you buy back-to-school essentials for a high school student, they may only need new clothes if they have grown a little over the summer. Or, if your computer is a few years old but still works, it can be used for another school year.
Other school items can be bought second-hand or refurbished. Checking out your local Goodwill or second hand store could give you some options for clothes or shoes that are new to you for the new school year while still being eco-friendly and more affordable.
Refurbished tech items are also a great way to be sustainable and save money. Apple and other companies have refurbished items for sale and can save you hundreds of dollars on a new laptop or tablet.
Final Thoughts
If you dread the back to school season because it means overspending and going into debt, apply these tips to help you save money.
Planning ahead and setting a budget can make back-to-school shopping a fun and rewarding experience, with plenty of great deals to be found.