I have vivid memories from childhood of those telltale signs that summer was coming to an end. The cicadas would start singing, it started to get dark earlier and back-to-school advertising would creep in. Still to this day, I feel a little melancholy when these things happen. One thing that always helped cure those blues was back to school shopping! For some reason getting new folders and pencil cases made it less dreadful. My kids both told me that one of the only good things about going back to school is getting new school supplies. It’s that time!
A Back-to-School Survey by Deloitte estimates that spending for K-12 hopping will remain steady at $30.9 billion or approximately $570 per student. That is down $16 a student from last year. Back to school expenses are the second most expensive event for families so here are a few simple steps you can take to cut those costs for your household.
Take inventory. At the end of every year I pull out unused items out of my children’s book bags and store them away for the next year. When I get their lists I cross off any items that we already have.
Take advantage of tax holidays. Some states set aside a time period of reduced tax rates to give families a break on expenses. I just read that my state, Illinois, will not be implementing a tax holiday this year but hopefully yours will! To find out if your state will be implementing a sales tax holiday, visit the Federation of Tax Administrators Tax Sale Holiday list.
Shop around. Use flyers from different businesses to find the best prices. Most businesses will price match so do your homework before heading out to shop.
Shop alone. Even though my kids love school supply shopping, I try to do some of it alone. They seem to want to buy the supplies with cuter designs which cost more. If you do bring your kids, give them a budget and make it a lesson on wise spending. Older kids will almost definitely want to be included on clothing purchases, so make sure you let them have some say.
Take advantage of sale events. Keep an eye out for sales, most stores target specific weekends for big sales.
Don’t forget other stores. Grocery stores and Dollar stores often have some good finds at discounted prices. Make sure you look out for these deals.
Use technology. Download retailers’ apps and follow them on their social media accounts. This will help you become aware of good deals, and give you access to special coupons and offers.
Take inventory on spending. Make sure you write down amounts you spent this year on supplies. This will help budgeting next year a simpler process.
Practice budgeting with the kids. Get your kids involved with shopping on a budget. Sit down with your kids and determine what amount you are going to spend on each child. Tell them you are going shopping and they must stay under budget. This is a great lesson for them in determining wants vs. needs. They may want a really cool binder and that is okay; however, they should compensate by spending less on other items. This is great way to teach your child budgeting while getting them excited for the new school year.
With a little planning ahead, hopefully you will save money while still getting all the stuff your kids need for a great 2025-26 school year!
