Back to School Savings and Support

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Shopping for school supplies can be an arduous task for parents. Long lists, aisles and aisles of choices, and multiple stores to choose from. The expenses add up. But if parents are savvy in their back to school shopping, they can reduce the stress and expense, and get back to enjoying their final days of summer. Consider these tips when shopping for school supplies for your children.

 COMPARE PRICES

Price comparisons can be done in minutes with the free Savvy Shopper app by Red Laser. Named one of the “Top 10 Must Have Apps for your iPhone” by The New York Times, this app eliminates the search for the best prices by comparing them all at once. Know exactly where you have to go to get the job done and save time and money at the same time. Simply scan the item’s bar code, and it compares online and in-store prices to locate the best deals.

SHOP ONLINE

Don’t want to hassle with making trips to stores and fighting crowds for school supplies? Check out Schoolsupplies.com. They provide “bundles” of age-appropriate materials based on grade (early, elementary, middle and high school). Their bundles are teacher-curated and approved. You’ll save money by buying in bulk and eliminate purchasing supplies your child won't necessarily need.

Bonus: They offer free shipping with any bundle purchase (lower 48 States only). Bundles start at $69!

USE DISCOUNT CODES

Many stores offer discounts when you use a discount code (in the store or online). Here are some examples of current savings:

  • ASOS: Students take 10% off and get free shipping on $25 or more.
  • Children’s Place: Through September 1, get 30% off $60 or more.
  • Disney Store: Get backpacks starting at $15 and lunch totes at $10.
  • JCPenney: Get 15% off sitewide with an exclusive RetailMeNot code.
  • Kohl’s: Through August 23, get 15% off sitewide and free shipping on $75 or more.
  • Pottery Barn Kids: For a limited time, get free shipping on all backpacks.
  • Staples: Get $15 off $150 or more on school supplies online.
  • Tilly’s: Through September 7, get 20% off one item in-store or online & $5 off all Jansport backpacks through September 10.
  • Torrid: Through September 4, get 10% off your purchase.
  • Toys R Us: Through September 1, get a free lunch kit when you buy any backpack for $12.99 or more.
  • Urban Outfitters: For a limited time, shop for up to 70% off plus free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Get discounts with coupon and promo codes for thousands of online stores, and also save offline with in-store and printable coupons using RetailMeNot.com, CouponCabin.com, Coupons.com, and other coupon sites.

GIVE BACK & GET MONEY BACK

It’s inevitable, your child is going to outgrow his/her clothes in the blink of an eye. Donate their outgrown clothes and get money back using Schoola, an organization that collects gently used clothes for cash. Forty percent of the money they gain from selling the clothes is donated to your child’s school. Give back to get back!

 PAY IT FORWARD

Once you’ve completed your back to school shopping (and hopefully saved a little money), consider paying it forward to others.

  •  Support charities that support kids

If you're looking for a way to give back, consider supporting charities that support kids.  Donating backpacks is a simple way to do this. Blessings in a Backpack raises money to give kids in need new backpacks and the supplies they need to succeed during the school year. Consider purchasing two backpacks this year—one for your child and one for a child in need.

  • Help teachers stock their classrooms

Statistics show that many teachers spend hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket for their classrooms. Help them by giving them what they need through Donors Choose.  DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers across America post classroom project requests on the DonorsChoose site, and you can give any amount to the project that most inspires you. When a project reaches the funding goal, the supplies get shipped to the school. Added Benefit: You'll get photos of the project taking place, a letter from the teacher, and insight into how every dollar was spent. You can give as little as $1 but if you give over $50 you'll receive hand-written thank-yous from the students.

Take a look at our past blogs for more back-to-school tips:

Back-to-school shopping can be a learning experience for both parents and kids. Get your children involved in the process; the best way to learn is by doing. Let FamilyMint.com help you teach your kids about managing their money and making wise purchasing decisions.  FamilyMint.com provides a fun and educational way for children, with the help of their parents, to manage money and build financial literacy.

SOURCES

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/13/back-to-school-hacks_n_5652520.html