The Back to School season, like Halloween and Christmas, seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Whether you look at this season with the fears of Halloween or the delight of Christmas, the fact is, it’s upon us! I’m sure you’ve looked at your list a few times, and you may have felt a bit overwhelmed. Well, we are here to help! We’ve got Houston Moms approved tips to help you score those great Back to School deals, stay within budget, and set your child up for success this school year!
Step 1: Start NOW!
Believe me, I know you don’t want summer vacation to end (or maybe you do)! Either way, Back to School shopping is NOT something to put off until the last minute. Go ahead and start now because those sales have already begun! By starting early, you can take care of items on your list gradually and shop smart instead of doing a last minute binge.
Heading to the grocery store? Take your list with you, and check out their Back to School section. If you find a few good sales, pick up those items now, cross them off your list, take them home, AND LABEL THEM! This will help you stay organized, and it will also be less of a financial burden, because you’ll be biting off that list bits at a time.
Step 2: Shop the Deals
Another positive of shopping early is that you can shop the deals! Don’t forget to check out the weekly flyers for the big school supply retailers (Staples, Office Depot, Target, Walmart, etc.) and compare them. If you do this, you’ll notice that sale items switch between stores. Furthermore, some stores will offer deeper discounts than others on the same item based on the week you shop.
Step 3: Buy Store Brand When Possible
Sometimes you want to buy name brand, and sometimes you simply don’t need to. By buying store brand over name brand on certain items, you can save BIG TIME! Especially on things like scissors, paper, pencils, pens, rulers, etc. The quality will be virtually the same no matter what brand you purchase for those items. There are a few items where brand matters though. We recommend sticking with Crayola for crayons and markers, Sharpie for permanent markers, and Elmer’s for all those glue sticks.
Step 4: Shop from Home!
Avoid the rush, the crowds, and the heat. Start your shopping today right from your couch. We’ve got you covered with our own links below to all the essentials (and maybe a few nonessentials as well). We do recommend you double check the list from your school before purchasing. Some teachers/districts are VERY specific, and it’s important to get exactly what your child or teacher needs to have a successful year.
- Notebook paper
- Spiral Notebooks
- Composition Books
- Notecards
- Scissors
- Erasers
- Pencils
- Pencil Sharpeners
- Pens
- Rulers
- Math Kit with Protractor and Compass
- Liquid glue
- Glue Sticks
- Highlighters
- Dry Erase Markers
- Pencil Bag
- Hand Sanitizer and Pouch
- Binders
- Crayons
- Markers
- Watercolors
- Tissues
- Colored pencils
- Permanent markers
- Locker Organizer
- Personalized Labels- We love these from Stuck on You!
- Water Bottle- We love this flip top that is leak resistant!
- Lunch Box
- Backpack
- Planner
- Headphones
- Post-its
Step 4: Buy Extras Now or Just After School Starts
I know it’s enticing to buy exactly what’s on the list and then dust off your hands to be done with it all. But we have a VALUABLE tip to save you money in the long run. While the sales are on, buy a few extra items for your children to have for use at home as a “homework set” and in reserve when they run out at school. Right now you can get deep discounts on these items. More than likely, your kids are going to run low on these items come February. If you have some in reserve, you’re replenishing your supply with your sale items instead of having to run out and buy these supplies at full price. Extra items to buy as a homework set are writing utensils, filler paper, spirals, scissors, a ruler, and glue.
On another note, consider buying some extra classroom supplies for your children’s teachers while prices are low. I can’t tell you how excited your teachers will be to receive new dry erase markers, highlighters, post-its, sharpies, and especially Kleenex when supplies are dwindling around Christmas and Spring Break.
Finally, if you don’t want to buy extra items during the full swing of Back to School shopping, make sure to watch for those deep discounts RIGHT AFTER the Back to School season. Many retailers (grocery stores especially) are pushing to put out their Halloween decorations and need to make room. During this time, they will put all the school supplies on sale.
Step 5: Take Advantage of Tax Free Weekend (August 9-11)
This is the best time to do your Back to School clothes shopping. Make sure to go early and pack your patience because stores can get slammed. It’s worth it though because many stores provide BIG discounts on this weekend to lure customers.
Does your child go to a private school and need a new uniform? Make sure to ask your school if they’re doing any used uniform sales, or if there’s a moms’ group that passes along used uniforms. These are great ways to stay within budget and to get your kids exactly what they need!
Have any more ideas? Put them in the comments below, and I’m sure you’ll get a gold star from all of our readers!
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