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4 Ways to Save on Back to School Supplies and Clothes

By Carrie Rocha, www.pocketyourdollars.com, re-posted with permission July 24, 2014
Thanks so much to Carrie Rocha for allowing me to re-post this entry from her blog in this week's Macaroni Kid newsletter. Carrie is pasionate about helping people live within their means so they can get out and stay out of debt. She offers great information via her website, blog and facebook page to help families do just that. My family is grateful to her for her tips and I am thrilled to share the following with you as we look ahead to school this Fall - Lori Wondra, Publisher Mom

As surely as Black Friday follows Thanksgiving, back to school sales follow the Fourth of July. You may not want to hear it, but now is the time to start saving on back to school supplies and clothes.

The task may seem gargantuan, but don’t fret! I’ve come up with a few tips to help you save by planning ahead and thinking outside the box.

4 Ways to Save on Back to School Supplies

#1: Make a Plan
First things first: make a plan! Take inventory of what you already have so you don’t unnecessarily double up. Then find or make a list of the school supplies your kids will need for the upcoming school year. If you don’t have lists on hand, call the school or school district and request one for the grades they’ll be entering.

Are you wondering why I’m even mentioning this now? “Can’t we wait until August to think about back-to-school?” you may wonder. You can wait, but the prices for school supplies will be lowest in July and early August, going up as Labor Day nears. Getting your act together now will pay off – it can mean the difference between spending $10 instead of $50 to get your kids the supplies they need.

#2: Use Our Price Comparison Chart
We’ve made it really easy for you to pay attention to the best school supply deals – every week through Labor Day, we’re putting together a school supply price comparison chart that lines up prices on 60+ items at 10 national chains as well as Amazon. It includes everything from crayons and erasers to graphing calculators. We’ll also keep track of the season’s best price for each item so you know if this week’s sale is truly a sale.

You may be tempted to go all out and buy everything you need all at one store in one day, but if you truly want to get the best deals, you’ll cherry-pick a few of the best-priced supplies each week while you’re out running errands.

#3: Buy Ahead
Don’t just buy what you need to start the year; be sure to pick up enough supplies to get through the year as prices go up dramatically when school starts. I also encourage you to purchase extras to give away to a school supply drive, put in your Operation Christmas Child boxes, etc. Also think ahead to Christmas stocking stuffers, craft-themed gifts, etc.

#4: Use Coupons and Loyalty Programs
Before heading out to the store, be sure to check online for printable coupons at Coupons.com and Target.com, and if you’re shopping Target you can check the Cartwheel app for any applicable offers. Familiarize yourself with loyalty programs at the office supply stores as oftentimes you can get credit toward a future purchase by taking advantage of these (free!) programs.


4 Ways to Save on Back to School Clothes

#1: Make a Plan
I’ll start with the same advice: make a plan! Figure out how much you need to buy and what sizes your kids will be wearing this fall. If you’re really on top of it, you’ll make a guess at what sizes they’ll be wearing next spring, too.

#2: Shop Clothing Clearance
There’s no rule that you need to have an entirely new wardrobe for your kids every year before school starts. If you can, consider waiting until mid-September/October to buy most of your brand new clothes as that’s when we’ll see clearance sales on fall items starting after Labor Day.
Speaking of clearance, July is one of two months annually (January is the other) when retailers turn over their merchandise en masse, creating huge clearance sales for consumers. If you have the cash on hand right now, it’s a great time to look for spring/summer clothes for next year.

#3: Buy (Gently) Used Online
Don’t mind buying used clothes? You still have time to check out garage sales and consignment stores, but I also encourage you to use online second-hand sites like Schoola.com, ThredUp.com or Kindermint.com to get used clothes prices without having to scour the racks at area thrift stores. All of the clothes available on these websites have been examined to be sure they’re in good condition and in style.

#4: Use Discounted Gift Cards
Cash in your credit card rewards points now for gift cards. You can buy discounted gift cards for clothing retailers like Target, Kohl’s, Old Navy, JCPenney, etc. at a site like GiftCards.com or Raise.com. These websites verify the amount that’s on the card, then sell it at a discount so it’s like getting a coupon right off the top of your total.

Getting set for school doesn’t have to be a budget-breaker. With a little planning ahead, you can keep your kids (and your wallet) happy.