Notebooks, pens, paper, binders, folders, storage containers, book bags, calculators… it adds up! School supplies can be pretty pricey, especially when bought at peak seasons. Unfortunately for our wallets, it is a required yearly ritual for us parents to ensure our children enjoy a fantastic and smooth school year.
However, shopping for school supplies doesn’t always have to break the bank yearly. There are many alternative ways to shop for school supplies that will not only be incredibly easy on your budget but might even prove to be a more sustainable way to get yearly supplies.
Here are five tips on how to save money on school supplies this year to help you with this shopping challenge!
1. Take Inventory
Before you start to spend any money, the first thing you should do is search throughout your house. Look inside the closets, cupboards, storage units, your child’s old supplies, and even their old school bags. You might find something helpful lying around that you would have needed to buy anyway.
A thorough sweep throughout the house might surprise you with surplus supplies you didn’t know you had. Reusing and recycling what you already have is an excellent idea before buying brand-new supplies. You can even use everything you might find for future activities with the kids.
2. Write down a Shopping List and Set a Realistic Budget
Once you have found some supplies around the house, work with your child to create a list of all the supplies they think are essential and those they want and do not need.
The best way to start is to review their school supply list. Sometimes, teachers provide this list; other times, you will have to create it yourself. If you are creating it yourself, think about the essential things your child needs and ask them for their opinions. Match it up with your budget and cross out what you have already found lying around the house.
Related: 3 Ways to Help Your Child With Homework… Without Giving Them The Answers
3. Actively Hunt for Bargains
After you have your list set up and your house has been thoroughly recycled for supplies, then it is time to head out to the stores. However, you should not just make impulsive trips to the closest store to get it done as soon as possible. Instead, you should be prepared for those inevitable back-to-school deals. The best way to be ready for this is to go online and research for such sales close by to your area. Browse some websites and scan through some of their digital flyers, and of course, always keep a close eye on their social media pages. This might seem like quite an effort, but your wallet will thank you once you’ve found an absolute bargain.
4. Don’t Sleep on the Dollar Store
Dollar stores offer great bargains on certain supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters, art supplies, and many others. The supplies provided in the dollar store are usually a fraction of the cost as compared to if you were to buy them at school supplies and art stores. Competing stores like Dollarama and Dollar Tree often have deals where you can grab a few packs of supplies and stationery for the same price.
Related: How to Have a Successful Study Session with Friends
5. Buy in Bulk Online
Certain online stores also offer much cheaper alternatives to physical stores. As they are also mass providers of supplies, there are options to buy in bulk at factory costs. By shopping for supplies in bulk, you are extracting a lot more value from the purchase, and with the sheer amount bought, it could even be a one-off purchase for a lifetime!
There are deals and bargains everywhere; you must keep your eyes open!
Instead of going to the nearest stationary store as you do every year, you could be a bargain hunter and look for solid deals in your home. Not only do you save a ton of money on supplies, but you might also find deals that could get you years’ worth of school supplies at an unbelievably low cost!
Heading back to school can be stressful; if your child is struggling in their classes, contact your closest School is Easy Tutoring to help them get back on track with a highly specialized tutor.
