Save money getting the kids back to school

My kids are headed back to school and I was looking for ideas on how to save some money. I read recently that the average cost for sending the kids back to school is $500.00. I know that is more than I usually spend, but I am always looking to ways to save. Here are some ideas that I liked.

I wrote in blue how I am going to use each of these bits of advise.

Shop at home first

Any item already on-hand is a bonus freebie, so check the house for rulers and protractors, pencils and binder paper. You may not need to purchase many of these items.

I do not need to buy any new pencils. We already have a million!

Wait an Extra Month or Two

School supplies generally need to be brought to school on the first day, but all the clothing does not need to be purchased ahead of time. Ensuring that your child has one special, new outfit for the first day of school is often enough. Wait until the next month to make additional purchases to ease the initial financial burden. Most children start school at the end of the summer when the weather is still warm enough for summer clothes. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts will often not be practical right away and purchases can be delayed.

I do this. I always buy my kids a new back to school outfit and then have them wear their summer clothes for the first couple of months while it is still so hot. Then I watch for all the sales on school clothes and get stocked up for the cooler months with great deals.

Anticipate school supplies, when necessary.

Don't miss out on the back to school sales if you don't have your children's school supplies lists over the summer. Purchase back-to-school sale items that you know they will need or that will eventually be used by the household, i.e. lunchbox, pencils, paper, glue. Just remember to save your receipt, so if turns out your child absolutely must have wide-ruled paper and you bought college-ruled, you can exchange it.

I love school supplies and I love it when you can get them for a great price. I always try to buy extra supplies that I know we will need throughout the year when you can get them for a deal.

Reuse last year's school supplies when possible.

Many parents buy a new backpack or lunch boxes every year. But if you prefer to make these things last from year to year, buy high quality and nothing too trendy. After a spin in the washer, most book bags and lunchboxes come out ready for more use.

My kids backpacks for still in good shape so I think I will skip getting new ones this year, and get new one every other year. This will save me at least $40.00. Same with their lunch bags. Do they really need a new one every year?

Give kids a budget.

Kids can be resistant to using last year's backpack or lunchbox or wearing older clothes. Maybe they are hankering for a fancy new binder that everyone has this year. If this attitude is hampering your efforts to save money on school supplies, give kids a budget. Tell them that you will spend a certain amount on an item, if they want an upgrade they'll need to chip in (either with money they've saved or by doing extra chores.) Or perhaps let kids choose which items to reuse and which to buy new.

My kids are young enough that they really don't care, but I could see how this could be very helpful for older children.

Don’t bring your kids with you, if possible.

Even with school supplies, their eyes get big, and they act like they need everything and the best of everything. Kids are very brand conscious, but they rarely care what brand they are using after a couple of weeks of school.

I always loved picking out my school supplies and my kids do to, but I can see how this could be a great idea that I may try. My kids would be so excited with everything I got for them and would not know about all the cool stuff that they did not get at the store. I would be kind of like Christmas .

{Alish}

Let me know if you have any other ideas that have worked for you.