Back to school time is usually stressful on  kids, but can also be stressful on the parents.  Buying school supplies can leave many parents feeling stressed out about money.  Here are a few tips to help you save money on those needed school supplies.

Shop at Home

Take the list your child’s teacher gives you and look around your house and see if you already have any of the items at home.  I have a stockpile of school supplies that I purchased on clearance and these can be used now to save you money.

Stick to the List and Budget

You need to have a budget for the items you plan to buy.  It is a good idea to even plan ahead.  Start saving a few months before so you have the extra money to spend on back to school items for your child.  Your child’s teacher will probably give you a list of needed items.  If your child wants to add something to the list decide what it will be before going to the store and if there will be money in the budget for that item.  Once you go shopping take your list with you and know your budget and stick to these.  Having a list and a budget will give you less room for temptation when you go to the store and see all the trendy school items they have available.

Leave the Kids Home

Once you have a list and a budget you might be better off shopping without your child.  The school supply aisles are packed with items to tempt your child and this will prevent your child from throwing a fit in the store when they don’t get all those trendy items.

Price Match

Many stores like Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Staples, and Office Max will price match a lower price from another store.  Look at all the sale ads before going shopping to determine the best deals.  Many times, you will be able to get the same price all at one store and this will save on gas money and time by shopping at one store to get the best deal.  At most stores that price match, all you have to do is bring in the sales ad you want to price match.

Shop the Dollar Stores

Many Dollar Stores seem to carry items that easily break and are not worth the money.  School supplies are usually pretty safe to buy though and you can usually get a great deal.  Look for pencils, rulers, index cards, and notebook paper here.  Sometimes you can find some great deals.

Play the Drugstore Game

Don’t forget to check out the drugstores, like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid for back to school supplies.  While school supplies are usually more expensive at drugstores, most of them have a reward card or rebate program to help you save.  These stores also offer great sales during back to school time.  You can even score a few free items if you play the game right.  Check the drug store ads and see what kind of deals you can find. And don’t forget to shop the drug stores after school starts because they have lots of great clearance sales too.

Wait Awhile Before Shopping

Start out with the basics that your child will need for back to school.  Many stores will have clearance markdowns on already low prices at the end of August.  You may want to wait until then to get some of those items that your child will need later in the year.  Also be on the lookout for back to school bashes.  I have found that many of these events give out free school supplies and even back packs.  So wait until after all of these events to see what you will still need.

Get Kids Involved in Recycling

Sometimes kids have items left over from the previous school year.  Look at those items and see if they can be reused.  An old notebook that the child only used a few times can be reused by tearing out the pages and decorating the cover with stickers.  Get your child involved in the decorating to make the item even more special to them.  School supplies like scissors, rulers and calculators can also be used for more than one year.  When buying items like calculators, consider skipping the cheaper models and buy a more expensive one with more features that will last longer for your child. This may save you money if your child is responsible with their belongings.  Many backpacks can be used for more than one year.  Look for companies that sell backpack with a lifetime warranty, like L.L. Bean or Lands’ End.  These companies will repair or replace back packs for life so you could save money by reusing it for more than one year.  

Stock Up

When you find a great deal during back to school shopping, add a few extras of those items to your cart.  These extra items are great for having on hand at home for kids to use to do homework.  School supplies also make great stocking stuffers and Easter basket items and the price of school supplies will cost a lot more then, so plan ahead and pick up some extras while the prices are low.