Menu

Back-to-School Savings: 9 Tips & Tricks

If you’re a parent aiming to spend less this school year, you can turn a potentially stressful experience into a positive one… with a little bit of creativity and some planning. Read on for 9 back-to-school saving tips.

Share

This year, heading back to school may cause some parents financial anxiety and hardship, thanks to higher than ever price tags for school supplies, lunches, snacks, and more. But – good news – if you’re looking for back-to-school saving tips, you’re in the right place!

If you’re a parent aiming to spend less this school year, you can turn a potentially stressful experience into a positive one… with a little bit of creativity and some planning. Read on for 9 creative ways to save money on back-to-school shopping this year.

9 Back-to-School Saving Tips

1. Get your kids involved.

Together, create a list of items they will need for school. When it comes time to shop, take them with you. But before you head out, look around your house for items you already have, and get your kids to check them off their list. Reward them for their efforts in a way that doesn’t involve spending. Need ideas? Let them pick the movie and meal for family film night. They’re rewarded for their efforts, and you have one less meal to plan. That’s a win-win!

2. Model good spending habits.

By modelling good spending habits on the seemingly insignificant items (like school supplies, clothing, and groceries), show your kids how you can increase your savings for the ‘bigger and better things’ so they can feel like they aren’t going without. Teach them it’s all about sticking to a budget and living within your means so that when financial emergencies – or amazing opportunities – arise, you’re prepared.

3. Buy second-hand books.

(Better yet, get this one for free!)

Purchase used textbooks online or in person, or opt to download digital textbooks. Consider temporarily borrowing print books or downloading e-books from your community library. Know older students who’ve taken the same courses your kids are enrolled in this year? Encourage older children to reach out and ask if they can borrow or buy their old books for a deal. You get to save a bit of money, and their friends get to make some of their money back!

4. Buy second-hand clothing.

Visit local thrift shops to purchase gently used clothing or trade clothes with family members, friends, and neighbours. You can even organize a clothing swap by inviting your network to gather their no-longer-needed apparel so you can have fun trading garments with one another. You can donate any leftover pieces to those in need.

5. Consider buying refurbished electronics.

Purchasing refurbished laptops or tablets can be an excellent way to purchase the necessary device at a substantially lower cost. Check out online buy-and-sell platforms, like Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, or other local second-hand shopping websites. Do, however, take caution by looking for a certified used model from a reputable seller or from the manufacturer itself.

6. Be fearlessly frugal all year round.

Earn rewards. Use your points. Comparison shop. Combine your deals. Cut coupons. You don’t even have to literally cut coupons anymore! Instead, you can download them to your smartphone – or use the Flipp app to be the first to know about the sales at your local stores. Or sign up for an app like Too Good to Go to get huge savings on day-old meals and baked goods.

7. Save money by saving time.

You know what they say, time is money. So, if shopping in person doesn’t work with your schedule, order online. Look for online coupon codes and “cash-back” opportunities. Or try googling what you’re looking for with a specific question, like: What is the cheapest online store to purchase indoor running shoes?

8. Pause before you purchase.

Taking a moment to ponder your purchase allows you to make better choices as a consumer. Does your child really need the item in question? If yes, do they need it now or can they wait until it’s on sale? It’s a great feeling to hold off on a purchase now, only to later find the coveted item in a price-slashing sale. It almost feels like you can have whatever you want… if you’re willing to wait.

9. Sign up to our mailing list to save!

From time to time, Serenia Life will be offering email subscribers exclusive discounts on Canadian-made products. Right now, we’ve got a pretty great deal on back-to-school labels (and more) from Mabel’s Labels. Sign up today!

15% off Mabel's Labels for newsletter subscribers

At the end of the day, it’s important to make the experience of back-to-school shopping both positive and educational. Why? Because your children will come to associate your ‘fearlessly frugal’ attitude with the start of school, and with shopping in general. They may even think back on these memories in the future and might end up passing along these back-to-school saving tips to their own kids

External links are for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement by Serenia Life Financial. Serenia Life Financial bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.