Back-to-school expenses can put a huge dent in your budget. Instead of starting behind, get ahead by spending little on your family’s back-to-school needs.
Here’s how to avoid the back-to-school binge:
- Re-use last year’s supplies: Try to send your kids back to school with some of their supplies from last year. Things like scissors, glue, crayons, and colored pencils can often be used for a second year. While the freshly sharpened colored pencils are one of the signs of fall, use your at-home sharpener to feel that same joy and save some dollars.
- “Get by with a little help from your friends”: Just like the Beatles sang, using your friends is a great way to save on back-to-school supplies. Head to Costco or Sam’s Club and buy your supplies in bulk, split them up with a couple of families, and avoid overstocking!
- Get a used i-this or –that: Today, many kids have different forms of technology on their back-to-school shopping list. Things like iPads, tablets, fancy calculators, and e-readers are becoming more and more common. Instead of buying your 8 year old a brand new iPad that is likely to get dropped, try shopping for a used one on Amazon or Craigslist. That way you can save the money you would have spent on a new one for when he or she inevitably drops it in the hallway and needs a new one…
- Shop your closets: Instead of springing for lots of back-to-school clothes, tell your kids to make a wish list for Christmas. Black Friday will be here before you know it, so use those deal-days to stock up on the new clothes your kids need. For now, shop your family member’s closets for clothes that have been “forgotten” or could be handed down, over, or across to other siblings. These can be just as exciting and look as good as new.
Written by Kayla Johnson
This blog post is from the Author's perspective and doesn't speak for brightpeak financial. Contact brightpeak if you want to know more about brightpeak products, and keep in mind that they are not available in all states and there are some limitations (some exclusions and restrictions may apply).
