Last Tuesday we went to my daughter’s school for a back-to-school event. At the event, a parent was surprised to hear the first day of school was that Thursday. He thought it was the next Monday.

In response to hearing the news his son asked the school staff member, “Well, can I bring all of my school supplies next week because Office Depot is having a sale later?” She advised him to make sure he had the essential items (pen, paper) to start the school year.

This middle school student was thoughtful. He clearly showed some concern about the cost of that school supply list. Because back-to-school expenses can really add up quickly.

Did you know back-to-school spending is expected to reach over $80 billion dollars this year?

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 2019 will be a record breaking year for back-to-school spending.

The NRF estimates, “Families with children in elementary school through high school plan to spend an average $696.70. That’s up from $684.79 last year. Families with college students are expected to spend an average $976.78, which is up from last year’s $942.17.”

Here are some tips to help you save on your back-to-school supplies this year:

  1. Identify What’s Needed – Every year before we go shopping, we take a look at the school supply list and compare it against our inventory of supplies. I usually keep extra school supplies on hand every year. It saves me money when I take advantage of the deep discounts at the end of the back-to-school season and stock up.

    We also take a look at any items they may have used last year to see if they can be reused. Do they need any new math tools (rulers, protractors, calculators)?

  2. Look for Bundle Savings – Sometimes you may find a better value when you take advantage of bundle deals. You may be able to get a lower price when you buy several of a specific item (e.g. folders, markers, pens) in a package instead of buying each one individually.

    For example, my daughter needed five 1.5″ binders. I found some high-quality binders for a great price at $3.99 each. After looking around a few minutes, I noticed the store was actually running a special on the same exact binder in packs. I could buy a six-pack of binders for only $10. That’s only $1.67 a binder and over 50% cheaper than buying it individually.

  3. Use any Coupons or Discount Offers – Keep an eye out for any coupons you may have received in your inbox or mailbox. This year I got a $10 off $30 coupon from Office Depot that came in handy. We also used an additional 15% off Target Cartwheel back-to-school savings offer. You may be able to find online in-store coupon and savings offers too.

  4. Comparison Shop – As your kids get older some of the school supply items get pricier. For example, math might require a new graphing calculator, which could cost you $120 vs. the $10 old one. Simply plugging in the name of the calculator into your favorite search engine can help you save more than $20 dollars on the same model. At least, that’s what happened for us.

  5. Price Match – Remember many retailers still offer to match their competitors prices. If you happen to see the same item in an ad or find it online for less, you may want to ask the store for a price match. Most retailers also price match their own website. There have been some occasions when I’ve saved almost 50% price matching the store’s website on the exact same item.

  6. Stock Up for Later – After the mad rush to get back-to-school supplies, many stores slash their prices on items. This is the perfect time to stock up for the future.

  7. Consider Donating School Supplies – When shopping for school supplies, you may notice some bins seeking donations in the store. This is a great way to help those less fortunate with their school supplies.

Happy Back-to-School Shopping & Saving!