Shopping for back to school supplies can quickly add up in cost, especially when you have multiple children in one household. If you are seeking out the most affordable ways to shop for back to school supplies, there are a few solutions and resources available to help ensure you are paying the least amount possible to get what you need for this upcoming year.

School Supplies

Shop a Year in Advance

Once the school year has begun, shopping for school supplies for the next year is highly recommended.

Once school is in sessions, many retailers begin to host drastic sales and discounts for everything from notebooks and paper to pens, markers, crayons and more. Shopping a year in advance for your child’s next year of school supplies can cut your costs in half, if not getting you an even bigger discount.

Check Local Coupons

Browse local sales papers for coupons that can be redeemed at local school supply outlets or retailers. Many coupons you find from specific retailers can also be combined with manufacturer coupons, which can often be found by printing them right from home, online.

Using local coupons can help to get double the amount of supplies for your money while also allowing you to save drastically on the overall cost of the items you need to purchase.

Browse Online

Buying the school supplies you need from home online not only helps you to save time by ordering from your own home, but it also helps to save on costs. Many online retailers provide free shipping depending on how much you spend and what you are shopping for online.

Additionally, browsing online can help to find discounts and online coupon codes to enter before you virtually checkout, saving you even more. Browsing online for school supplies is a way for you to compare brands, sales and the overall cost of various types of supplies before you make a decision.

Shopping online for school supplies is also a way to read real reviews from customers to find high-quality products that are also affordable and fit within your own personal budget.

Buy in Bulk

Buying school supplies in bulk is another method to find affordable costs while getting more product for the money you spend. Shopping for school supplies in bulk can be done at a bulk supply outlet such as a teacher’s supply store. You can also shop for school supplies in bulk by browsing online.

Buying school supplies in bulk may cost more when you are making the actual purchase, but often provides many more items in one package at once, reducing the times you need to shop for additional school supplies throughout the year. School supplies in bulk is ideal if you have a household with multiple children who attend school.

Visit Outlet Stores

Visit local outlet stores and even dollar stores to save on school supply costs. Many dollar stores and outlet discount stores stock notebooks, paper and writing utensils for a fraction of the cost of traditional school supply companies and retailers.

Shopping at a discount store for the basic necessities required in class is a way to get more for any budget you have set for school supplies this year.

Thinking ahead of time before you make any school supply purchases is a great way to reduce the overall costs necessary to get the pencils, pens and paper you need for your child’s school year.

The more you search for deals before you make your purchase, the easier it is to save money and get the supplies you need for a fraction of the traditional retail price.

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Lisa Goodson is a high school guidance counselor who enjoys sharing tips with parents and students regarding education. Lisa also recommends checking out some of the most affordable online education degrees for those looking to get a career in education and may require the flexiblity and affordability of online programs.