School supplies, shoes, clothes, backpacks, and snacks are EXPENSIVE! Summer was fun, but we are only days away from school starting again. Follow these quick tips to save and even get money back while back-to-school shopping.
Cash Back Apps
Ibotta, Honey, and Retail Me Not are the three apps/sites I use, and they have been great. While they are very efficient, I personally enjoy using them on the computer rather than on my phone. When selecting an item, it will alert you about other sites with a lower price. At check out, it will show cash back percentages and any coupons to save money. It is a BIG WIN! I often earn at least $0.25 back per app with a coupon of at least 10% off.
These apps allow you to redeem as cash on your debit cards or gift cards in any store you like (HINT, HINT: Starbucks money).
Research
Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to be hard. Research is worth it from time to time. Don’t be afraid to look around the sites to find the best deals. In my case, I purchased supplies from two stores, and clothes and backpacks from different sites. We often go straight to Walmart or Target and forget there’s more out there. You would be surprised to find so many other stores offer various discounts, sales, and free shipping.
Re-sale and Recycle
If you have items in good condition and you want to sell them, go for it! Do a sale of the items on social media to gain funds for the upcoming expenses. Donate any items that you don’t sell to others in need.
Recycle! Always look at possible ideas to recycle items that you have around. Supplies, clothing, and more can be recycled. Gather everything and see what you can put in the pile to donate, the pile to throw away, and the pile to use. This will be beneficial, especially if you have younger kids who may be able to use that old pair of pants or polos that your oldest left looking pretty good.
Pay Plan Apps
These apps allow you to make purchases in payment plans every two weeks or so. They don’t charge interest. If you don’t have credit cards, have a tight budget, or don’t want to spend so much at once, these will help! Make a purchase, give an initial down payment, and then schedule your payments for the following weeks accordingly. These are really helpful, and some of them are available to use in-store and not just online.
After Pay, ZIP, and Sezzle allow you to download a digital card on your Apple Pay or Google Wallet. You can use them to pay at the store (as long as it’s an approved store by them).
Back-to-school shopping shouldn’t be this stressful. I really hope these quick tips can help you not feel like you’re drowning in expenses as our kiddos are heading back to school. Enjoy, have fun, and know that you’re covered!
Originally published July 2022.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
