5 Tips for Saving on Back-To-School Shopping

Shopping for school supplies is probably one of a kid’s first experiences with what’s considered “cool.”

If you grew up in the ’90s, you had to have a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper and gel pens. If you grew up at any other time, I’m not sure what you had to have because all I cared about was a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper and gel pens.

School supplies can be unnecessarily expensive. A lot of that has to do with brands. If you can look past the mainstream labels, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also maybe get the opportunity to have your own custom look. DIY anyone? We love a good saving hack, so here’s some tips for saving on back-to-school items and what to stock up on at your local bargain outlet for this school year.

Check the closet

There could be some old notebooks, pens or other supplies lying around that could easily save you a trip to the store.

Stop by the garage sales and thrift stores

Moneycrashers.com suggests picking up backpacks and lightly used clothing. You can also look out for pencil boxes or anything else the retail stores run out of.

Buy college textbooks online

It’s often cheaper to get an older edition of the book and you can compare prices on sites like Amazon and eBay.

Don’t forget the dollar store!

Dollar stores sometimes get a bad rap for having poor quality, but some items are just as capable as the ones in any office supply store. Notebooks, pens, pencils and other basic supplies are a steal at the dollar store.

Buy in bulk

When all the crayons and glue go on sale late in the summer, load up to get through the entire year. It could be helpful to check stores like Sam’s Club and Costco.