It’s no secret that the cost of everything is WAY up and we’re all feeling the pinch. School will be starting back sooner than you think, and the new semester also brings the holiday season (not trying to make you panic, buuuut we’ve got less than four months until Christmas). I’m here to show you how back-to-school-shopping can help you save money, as well as your sanity for future events (as long as you have a small storage space)!
Tip #1: Buy three of your child’s main supplies.
What I mean by “main supplies” is: packs of pencils, crayons, and markers. If you buy three, you can send one of each with little Johnny on his first day. The second set you can put in his stocking at Christmastime (because, let’s be real, the ones at school will be lost/broken by then) and the third set can go in his Easter basket! It may feel like a lot right now, but when you spend fifty cents now as opposed to $3.50 later, your Christmas budget will thank you.
Tip #2: Look for teacher appreciation gifts now.
Listen, teachers deserve a pot of gold for the work they do, but I’m betting none of us can give that. If you see a “World’s Best Teacher” water bottle or a “Thank You For Helping Me Grow” planter that’s a great deal, snag it up now so in “May-Cember” (that’s what I like to call the three weeks of school in May, because it’s basically December 2.0) you can have something on-hand in case you forget!
Tip #3: If you do Operation Christmas Child or another charity at Christmastime, shop now.
Every year, my family and I fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a charity that delivers shoeboxes full of goodies to children all over the world! When the back-to-school sales are hot, it’s a great time to stock up on items that you can later stuff into shoeboxes for boys and girls that may not receive anything for Christmas. (It’s also a great way to give back to local communities that do school supply drives!)
Back-to-school shopping is an awesome way to help you save money now and later! Do you have any tips for school supply shopping? Share in the comments below!
