5 Easy Money-Saving Tips for Back-to-School
1. Get Money Back Online
When you shop online, you can sign up for rebates that give you cash back for every order. Rakuten, Ibotta, and BeFrugal are some of the top cashback sites that reward you for shopping at your favorite stores (or your kids’ favorite stores).
2. Sign Up For Rewards Programs
Many stores offer rewards programs that are free to join. By joining these programs, you can get access to the best in-store sales, cashback, and personalized coupons.
3. Check What You Have Before You Shop
Checking to see what you have before going to the mall is an easy way to save money (and clean out your drawers at the same time). While you may not have new clothes in the latest styles tucked away, you might find basics like socks, undershirts, notebooks that were never used, etc.
4. Buy Refurbished/Open Box
If your kids need new devices for school, buying refurbished or open-box phones and laptops can save you hundreds of dollars. Many refurbished items come with a guarantee or certification, while open box items are electronics that have been opened but returned. Depending on where you shop, there are different levels of open box, like Excellent, Fair, etc. Even if you buy just one device this way, you can save a lot. (And no one needs to be the wiser.)
5. Don’t Rush to Buy
While school supplies are usually on sale in July and August, you can get better deals on clothes if you wait until September. After all, your child doesn’t need an entire new wardrobe for the first day, just one new outfit. The rest can be bought in September. If you really want to plan ahead, you can even buy summer clothes for the next year.
Saving Can Be Fun
Saving money doesn’t have to be a bummer. In fact, there’s nothing quite like the rush of getting a good deal and then telling all your friends about it! So if you’re able to shop wisely AND get the things your kids want, it’s a win-win situation.
