How To Save Big on Back-to-School Shopping

The start of the school year can be exciting but comes with a daunting (and potentially expensive) task—back-to-school shopping. 

As every major retailer offers deals on school supplies, clothing, electronics, and more, this time of the year comes with opportunities for big savings but also major overconsumption. The National Retail Federation tracked record-high back-to-school spending of $45.1 billion in 2023, up from $36.9 billion in 2022—despite financial analysts predicting a reduction in back-to-school spending due to high inflation last year.

Here are expert tips to simplify and save on back-to-school shopping. 

Create a Plan 

To make the most of back-to-school shopping, organization is a must. Creating a plan for your spending can help you feel confident and shop efficiently. 

Start With a Budget

When planning for the back-to-school season, your budget will be your best friend. If you already have a personal budget with your expenses, debt, and income, you will want to examine it to see how much you can reasonably spend during back-to-school. This will help you to take advantage of sales while not overspending. 

According to Tom Arasz, a certified financial planner and the founder of BMore Financially Fit, it is crucial to clearly communicate your shopping plans with your partner or spouse. “Communication between all parties is the first thing that we talk about and it’s the last thing that we circle back to at the end because it’s just that important,” said Arasz. 

Budgeting for back-to-school shopping may mean cutting back on spending in other areas of your life, like food, or luxury purchases. Be aware of these tradeoffs, considering the longevity and necessity of different purchases. On the other hand, if you have been spending less than you expected in other areas of your life, you may now be able to splurge a bit more on back-to-school than you anticipated. 

Arasz also recommends pacing your budget throughout the school year. “Don’t spend 100% of your budget in July or August or September,” he advised. “Try to spend 70% of it … hold back 20 or 30% for the inevitable ‘Hey, my crayons broke on day one’ or ‘Hey, I lost my folder or notebook on day two.’” 

Consider including your student in the process of budgeting for back-to-school. Depending on their age, you can walk them through your budgeting process, give them a small allowance to budget how they want in the store or ask them to budget their own school spending by giving them a lump sum and list of items.  

Make a Shopping List

Start making a shopping list for your back-to-school shopping, to avoid unnecessary purchases that you and your wallet may regret later. 

Before you start shopping, family budgeting expert and blogger Andrea Woroch recommends taking inventory of the supplies you already have at home.

“Shop at home first to see what you have left over from last year that you could reuse,” Woroch said. “This is a good teaching moment for your kids…the money saved by reusing supplies can give you more money to put towards those new sneakers they want!”

Some schools provide parents with shopping lists ahead of the school year, and Arasz recommends contacting your student’s teacher, other parents, or past parents to determine how necessary each of the items on the list is or if there is anything left off of the list which would be good to own. 

When including your students in the shopping process, Arasz also emphasizes the importance of setting up their expectations for what they will be getting during back-to-school shopping, so that they are not disappointed or surprised by what they are going to school with. 

Shop With Intention

With your budget and shopping list in hand, you will already feel confident and prepared to make smart shopping decisions. However, before you go shopping, you may want to compare store prices, consider product reviews, and assess the value of different sales. 

“It’s important to identify the absolute necessities that your children need to succeed but remember that there are also alternatives even within those needs,” said Woroch. “For example, your child may need a backpack for school but he or she doesn’t need a new backpack. They may also need sneakers for sports and PE, but they don’t need the latest style from the most expensive brands.”

Plus, remember that back-to-school sales are just one opportunity to save throughout the year, so check your impulse to buy because of price reductions. “Before you’re ever trying to time sales you want to make sure it fits in your budget first and foremost,” said Arasz. 

By taking this extra step to shop with intention, you can make sure that you are making the most of your shopping.

Ways To Save 

Besides back-to-school sales, there are many more discrete ways to save money while upgrading your school supplies, electronics, and wardrobe. Here are some strategies to make your dollar go farther. 

Consider Used or Secondhand Items

While buying new can be important to make investments, you may also want to consider purchasing used and secondhand items. Secondhand items can be more affordable than new ones while working just as well. Here are some places to find specific items: