Tips to Save on Back-to-School Expenses
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

Did you know that the back-to-school season is expected to yield $82 Billion in sales this year?!? When it comes to retail sales, that comes in 2nd only to the holiday season!
According to the National Retail Foundation, planned average household spending for K — 12th students will be around $684.79, and $942.17 for college/grad school students (including those with parental assistance).
So, how do you try and keep these costs down? I’ve found a few tips that could help both the parents and the students. Check them out!
Tips for back-to-school savings (many also applicable for college shopping too, but for college specific tips click here) :
- Check what you have at home. There are often times supplies that can be reused like pencil cases or unfinished packets of paper.
- Stick to the list. As it goes with any type of shopping, lists give you a guide to follow while walking down the store aisles. I know many schools provide shopping lists, but here are some lists organized by grade level in case you find them handy. 😊
- Leave the kids at home. This makes it easier to stick to the list, and you don’t have to combat wandering eyes that find something bright and shiny at the store that they feel they can’t live without.
- Compare prices online to prices in-store. The better deal could go in either direction so it’s worth taking the time to compare, especially if you can find online coupons or options for free shipping. This app is great for this!
- Buy supplies in bulk when you can. Often times elementary schools will ask for some of the same supplies year after year. Think things like tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer, or pencils. You may have more than necessary at first, but you won’t need to purchase again at full price the following year. Amazon has some great options for this.
- Check out the dollar store. You won’t regret it. They often times have a lot of the essentials like binders, paper, pencils and more for great prices! Check out this video for some great tips on what products will give you all the bang for your buck at the dollar store!
- Keep an eye out for back-to-school expenses that may surprise you. Remember to check and see if there are any additional costs or fees for activities. For example, participation in athletics could cost around $150-$375 in fees.
What do you think of these tips? Did I miss any? Let me know your thoughts on twitter and let me know if you have some other tips that work well for you! Send them with me by tweeting me @OliviaAi_ .
