Moms Vibe:
By Krystle J. Bailey
With inflation at a 41-year high, it seems as if life has become nearly unaffordable for many families. As a new school year lurks around the corner, the thought of buying school clothes and supplies may seem daunting. Thankfully, in New Jersey, we still have several weeks left before we send our little ones back on the school bus, which is why now is a perfect time to start thinking about school shopping.
According to a study conducted by Good Morning America, families plan to spend over $860 on average this year, which is significantly higher than in years past.
Here are a few tips to pinch a penny this season.
Bargain hunt early
Start now, if you haven’t already. Many stores offer back-to-school sales as early as July, including Walgreens, Walmart, and Staples. Look for available deals and steals on couponing websites and parenting blogs. Check out these websites to get you started:
- www.passionatepennypincher.com
- www.thekrazycouponlady.com
- www.offers.com/back-to-school
- www.techrepublic.com
- www.retailmenot.com
Get cash back
Technology has made it easier than ever to save money and earn cash back. Apps such as Ibotta and Fetch Rewards are convenient ways to earn money back on your purchases. These apps are a win/win for everybody involved. The stores gain new customers through referrals, the app companies earn money through referral fees, and you save money on your shopping. Other apps to consider include Rakuten, Receipt Log, and Retail Me Not.
Host a clothing swap
Keep it in the community by hosting a local clothing and supplies swap with your friends, family, and neighbors. One person’s outgrown wardrobe is another person’s back-to-school lineup. They say it takes a village to raise a family. A clothing swap is a beautiful opportunity to be the village and support one another in times of need. Select a group of families with kids in various age groups, pick a date and location, collect everyone’s outgrown clothes, then swap them to save money on clothes this year.
Buy in bulk
Work together with other local families to buy school supplies in bulk. Create a business account on Amazon, check out Orientaltrading.com, or visit your local wholesale store to grab stationery, writing utensils, and more. Split the bulk goods between multiple families to save a few dollars on these necessary back-to-school items.
Spread out purchases
There is nothing more frustrating than spending money on the generic supplies list only to find out that your child doesn’t need all of it or needs different things altogether. Spread out the purchases by starting with only the necessities. You know you need certain items like backpacks, lunch boxes, a few outfits, and some notebooks. However, many money-saving experts recommend waiting until the first week of school to purchase supplies. Teachers will often send home lists that include different items than the generic list, and realistically, children don’t need much for the first few days as they get acclimated to their new classrooms. When it comes to clothes, remember that it’s warm for the first month of school, so a few new fall items should do the trick. No need to purchase the entire winter wardrobe just yet. Buy a couple of transition pieces to get started, then follow up with another shopping trip later in the year.
Visit discount stores
Stores like Dollar Tree and Five Below offer steep discounts on many school supplies, from tissues and Clorox wipes to notebooks and pencils. Start where you know the items are cheaper, grab whatever you can find from your list, then expand outward to stores like Target and Walmart.
The school year will be here before you know it! While I, for one, am not ready for summer to end, if I’ve learned anything as a mother, it’s that you can’t slow down time. While you’re busy enjoying the sunshine on your skin, start making a back-to-school shopping plan that won’t break the bank.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
