Back to school shopping on a budget
Back to school season is upon us, which can only mean one thing: back to school shopping. As kids, it’s often the most exciting part of starting the new school year, but as parents, it can be stressful and expensive. While all kids should have the tools to help them succeed at school, it shouldn’t mean you have to break the bank when it comes to shopping for school supplies. If you’re financially struggling or just looking to save some money this semester, here are some tips and resources you can check out. If you’re in a position to help or donate, we’ve also added some ways you can support your community.
Ways to save money
Save on technology. For many kids this semester, distance learning will require high-speed internet, laptops and other expensive devices. Check our get tech ready article for some affordable options.
Make use of what you already have. Do a sweep of the house to check for any hidden treasures. Similarly, recycle and repurpose household items such as forgotten notebooks or old paperwork as school supplies or drawing material.
Make a list of the essentials and stick to it. This will streamline and prioritise the items you actually need while helping you avoid impulsive purchases. No child needs a multipack of glitter paint. And neither do you ;)
Make use of your local amenities. Get a library card to access free books and movies or check out your local historical monument for a free history lesson. Who doesn’t love free stuff?
Buy second hand. This is a great money-saving hack, especially for costly items that will only be needed for a year. Things like textbooks, workbooks or even clothing. Check garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops.
Be savvy when online-shopping. Find discounts by following stores on Twitter and Facebook, or subscribe to their newsletters. Many companies promote discount codes to their followers in advance of sales. Sites like coupons.com also offer great discounts.
Invest in practical and multi-purpose supplies. For example, use a whiteboard at home to reduce paper wastage.
Ask relatives or friends who might have unwanted stationary or other school supplies.
Organizations that provide free school supplies
Kids in Need Foundation
Kids in Need Foundation (KINF) provides free supplies to under-resourced schools. They currently have 42 established resources centres across the US and provide over $100 million in resources each year. In 2019, they served over 5 million students and over 200,000 teachers.
They have multiple programs targeted at teachers and students in need, or donors interested in giving back. Their SupplyATeacher initiative provides teachers with two large boxes filled with a semester’s worth of essential school supplies. The application period for this program is happening right now, so if you’re a teacher in need or an invested parent, sign up now! Alternatively, if you’re able to donate or interested in setting up a give-back initiative within your community, you can also do this through KINF.
Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade
If you’re a military family, Operation Homefront holds nationwide events that distributes backpacks filled with school supplies for military kids. Check their Summer 2020 schedule to find an event near you.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America launched its Back2School campaign to help kids and teens get the supplies they need for school. They’ve partnered up with some of the biggest national retailers such as CVS, Coca-cola, and Microsoft to collect and distribute school supplies for kids across the country. Check your local branch to find out how you may benefit from this initiative.
Feed The Children
Feed The Children offers a program that supplies teachers with free books, stationary and other classroom necessities. They currently operate from 5 Teacher Stores located in Indiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. In 2019, the scheme benefited 809,000 students across 458 school districts by hosting more than 24,000 teacher visits and providing them with approximately $4.7 million in teaching supplies as well as books valued at $7.6 million. It’s worth looking into if you’re a teacher and based in the same area.
