How to Maximize Your Back to School Savings

The return to school is a momentous occasion for any family. Your children look forward to getting to see their old friends again, learning new things, and all of the activities that come with school. You can enjoy having more time to get things done, whether you will be taking care of household chores or devoting some time to your long-neglected hobbies. Everyone has something to be excited about.

The only part of your family that may not be counting the moments until school starts is your checkbook. With the advent of the new school year comes a wide variety of expenses. Your children will need all manner of school supplies: crayons, paper, folders, scissors, and Kleenex. In addition, your kids are sure to want to pick out some new clothes to make their fall debut at school. It’s easy to see how the expenses add up so quickly.

Unfortunately, nothing will eliminate all of the costs of returning to school from your budget. You can, however, take a few steps to keep the costs from escalating out of control. By following these guidelines you can ensure that you make the most of each dollar and get the things your children really need.

Obtain a school supply list from your school district and follow it. Pay particular attention to things that are not allowed for children in your child’s class. You don’t want to spend extra money on a fancy notebook and then find that your child won’t be able to use it in school. Many schools also prefer that you buy a specific quantity of crayons rather than splurging for the big 64-count box.

Buy generic supplies when possible. A third grade class probably won’t appreciate the difference between the store brand of facial tissues and the Kleenex brand. The same logic applies to crayons and paper. Stick to the store brands and enjoy their discounted prices.

Keep fall clothing purchases to a minimum before school starts. You can make a few select purchases during the “back to school” sales to get a jump start on the kids’ fall wardrobes. However, since many schools start during warm weather, your kids may very well be wearing their shorts and t-shirts from summer for the first month or so. By the time the weather requires that they switch to long sleeves and pants, fall clothing will be making its way to the clearance racks.

Take advantage of any sales tax holidays in your state. Many states have a weekend or day that allows stores to suspend any sales tax charges on school supplies or clothing. In effect, you’re able to save seven or eight percent of eligible purchases.

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