Back to school money-saving tips

It's that time of year for back-to-school shopping. Here are some tips from at least a dozen money experts and parents who are veteran back-to-school shoppers about how to save from my paper, The Miami Herald:   
   

• Before hitting the stores, take inventory of what you already have. You may not need as much underwear -- or pens -- as you thought.
• Separate wants from needs. This is true year round, of course, but never more important than during the back-to-school crunch. Say no to the special pencils because they cost twice as much as the regular ones.   
• Recycle, recycle, recycle. If last year's book bag is still holding up, don't buy a new one. Uniform shirts still fit? If they're in good shape, don't replace them. Don't be sucked into the annual consumption frenzy.   
• Make a list and check it twice -- and we're not talking about the supply list schools hand out. This is YOUR list about other essentials. Assign a maximum dollar figure to items so you don't blow your budget. This way you'll avoid impulse shopping.
• Hit the consignment stores, thrift shops and garage sales. You'd be amazed at what you will find in gently worn, fashionable clothing.   
• Check department store ads and Sunday newspaper advertising sections before hitting the stores every week. Ennen likes to stock up on Staples' one-cent specials every week. "For example, this week they had folders on sale for a penny, limit 20. If it is something that we use regularly with a limit, I'll have my husband go with me so that we both can purchase the maximum amount.''   
• Buy educational staples year around to catch the best sales -- and to help distribute the expense over several months. From Villamizar: "I've got pencil boxes at 50 cents and backpacks for $9.99 stashed away for when they're needed.'' She loves the clearance bins at Office Depot.   
• If you shop with the kids, set the ground rules up front. Tell them what you're shopping for, how much you're willing to pay and stick to your guns. This might even serve as a teachable moment about budgets.   
• Wait until September to buy school uniforms if you already have enough to get you through the first few weeks. Some stores start their deep discounts in September. But you risk not being able to find your child's size.   
• Look for special deals online. There are coupons you can print from websites to use at a bricks and mortar location or to apply for a web purchase. Some say online purchases have advantages. Ennen buys items from Wal-mart online, ships them to store and picks them up there. This saves her on shipping charges and time spent in line. It also guarantees quantity and sizes.   
• Let your fingers do the comparison shopping. Instead of using gas in your car, click on comparison shopping sites such as Shopzilla and Bizrate to find the best deals. Also, www.ShoppingQueen.com lists the best weekly school supply deals.   
• If you absolutely must charge it, then use a credit card that that offers rewards. Better yet, use one that will help you pay for college. Fidelity Investments partners with American Express to funnel rewards into a 529 college savings account. Futuretrust Mastercard deposits up to a 10 percent rebate into a tax-free college account as well.   
• Ask around for a uniform exchange at your children's schools. You can benefit from someone else's hand-me-downs. Also, check out the MomsMiami Swap Your Stuff forum and other sites like www.zwaggle.com, online communities that help family swap goods.   
• If you're truly strapped, ask for help at your child's school. Many have gently used uniforms donated by students who have graduated. Principals also have other discretionary funds to help needy families. Business partners often contribute as well. Ibiley, for instance, donates 5 percent of the company's sales to its schools, supplying them with purchase vouchers that can be used by needy parents at its store.   
• Keep your ear to the ground for special deals. J.C. Penney at Miami's International Mall is having its own tax-free week -- actually it's offering a 7 percent discount -- Aug. 2-11.   
• Hit the street fair circuit for freebies. Perhaps the best one for school-oriented items may be The Children's Trust Family Expo! on Saturday Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside Arnold Hall at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Expo. In addition to the goodies handed out at booths, the Expo will provide 1,000 book bags with some school supplies to the first 1,000 school-age children. Other community organizations will also be handing out book bags and supplies to needy children.   
• If your kid is headed for college, take an active role in textbook shopping. It's an enormous expense that shocks most parents. Check out the used-textbook sites, but also try places like StudentMarket.com, which sells furniture and dorm room supplies. StudentMarket provides a free service that compares new and used textbook prices among competing online bookstores.

How are you saving money on back-to-school items?

Comments

[Mirror Image]

That post reminds me of when my mom used to stack up our brand new back-to-school-supplies at our respective dinner table spots as the weeks led up to the first day. She carried our lists with her the whole month of August and always managed to find the best prices for our supplies. Oh how I loved my new magic markers! Anybody else have a favorite school supply?

[Product Junkie Diva]

I don't have kids but I know that if you shop at just the right time there are tons of sales all around. Target will usually devote a few aisles to back to school shopping with really low prices. I like the tips mentioned especially taking stock of what you have because it is so easy to keep buying the same items over and over again when you may not even need them.

[Jody Reale]

Using Zwaggle has been great for me. Not only do I not have to spend good money on stuff that's going to be outgrown before it gets home, but I can feel good about conserving resources. Their Seasonal/Back to School category is going to be of great use to me next year, when my daughter starts elementary school. I feel better already.

[Coco]

A good portion of my school supplies were emblazoned with the names of government agencies that my parents worked for.

[mims]

Hey Nataliw,

I just heard you on NPR/TOTN and what do you mean you are surprised about magazine subscriptions? Have you ever tried to curl in bed with a your laptop to flip thru the fall fashion updates? Uncomfrotable.

I have 15 years of backissues of MS Living and Utne Reader and always grab a few to take to the pool or keep in the car for a few a minutes of down time. Having a real copy you can save and look back to again and again is more efficient than burning the electrons, clicking away at your desk. My magazines totally pay for themselves many times over.

[mims]

BTW, what a great blog!

[mims]

BTW, what a great blog!

[Vanessa]

Also check for that tax-free weekend. Where I am is 40 min from the TX border and the LA and TX weekends are two weeks apart. So parents from both states go back and forth to buy everything.

[The Frugalista Files]

Mirror Image-Magic markers have a strong scent. I bet they gave you a buzz. I loved the 64 box of crayons. Those rocked. I liked periwinkle and sierra!

PJD- I'm going to do a whole post one day on getting organized. Folks end up buying the same stuff over and over again.
Jody-Thanks for the Zwaggle info firsthand! I haven't used it.
Coco-There's nothing wrong with "gubment" supplies
Mim-Thanks for reading the blog. I had to cancel a subscription to New York magazine on Sunday. I have no idea how they found me and I don't live in New York! I love a nice glossy, but I'm becoming more and more internet based. I must admit, I do have a very nice magazine rack filled with the latest Newsweek, Glamour and Ebony.

[Natalie]

I looove school supplies and used to be the type of person that had to have everything. But my husband has taught me otherwise. He just needs a laptop and whatever steno pad is on sale. I'm like "don't you need the matching pack of pens honey?" Nope!

[CreditMom]

I loved your post. I make sure I shop in one store only. In the long run you spend more time and energy running from store to store to shop sales, wait on line and get aggravated when what you want just happens to be out of stock.

However, if you really want to shop the sales then keep a copy of your list on you at all times. This way when you're already in a store for something else and you see some of your necessities on sale, just buy it then and cross it off. It's great to shop the sales this way but when you're running from place to place just to save a couple of dollars I feel you're paying more in the long run.

[Winston]

I agree, this is a great blog!

This tips are a great way to save. A friend of mine also compiled his own list on how to save generally (not just on school supplies) which I'd like to share here :

http://www.siakoi.com/business/shopping/random-money-saving-tips.html