Things You'll Need:
- sale ads
- computer and printer
- list of your child's necessary school supplies
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Step 1
School supplies: We all know its coming, and fortunately we have plenty of time to plan and bargain-hunt. Start with a list of your child's needed supplies for the upcoming year. Before you buy anything, send the kids on a scavenger hunt through the house. See how many pens, pencils, highlighters, notebooks, crayons and packages of paper they can find. Chances are, its far more than you thought and will take a big bite out of that school supply bill!
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Step 2
Once you know what you have and what you need, its time to scout the school supply ads. Stores like Wal-Mart and Target offer super-low prices on basics like paper, glue sticks, crayons, etc. Plan to buy the basics there, and stock a few extra for mid-year when the kids will need more and the prices will be much higher.
Some stores, such as Office Depot and Staples, will offer certain school supply items for a penny. Check their ads every week, (you can check them online if you don't want to buy a newspaper) and if they offer a good deal and you have a store nearby, pop in and take advantage of it. You'll be stocked up in no time! -
Step 3
Backpacks and lunch boxes are another back-to-school necessity. Start with the most basic question--do they really need a new one? Often they will, but occasionally they WANT one rather than actually NEEDING it. If you have a serviceable backpack or lunch box, see if you can jazz it up a little with iron-ons or other decor. If that doesn't work, maybe a younger sibling will take the older backpack and save you the cost of a new one. Keep in mind that backpacks and lunch boxes will be on clearance shortly after school starts, so if your child will start the year with his old ones, you can replace them with new ones in a few weeks for as much as 75% off.
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Step 4
School clothes are possibly the biggest expense parents will have when preparing children to go back to school. Naturally, before you shop you'll want to inventory what your kids already have and like, and avoid duplicating those wardrobe items. Next, make a list of what your kids will need to START the year. In most places, you will have hot weather for another month, so some nice summer clothes on clearance will easily get you off on the right foot. By the time it starts to get cold, fall clothes will be on clearance and you can buy a far nicer wardrobe than if you'd tried to get everything at once. Finally, before you shop do an online search for coupons or coupon codes to the stores you plan to visit. More than likely they are out there, and the savings will be money in your pocket.
