How to Save on Back-to-School Essentials

As August comes to a close and September brings my favorite time of the year, (school supply shopping time), I went on a hunt to find the best deals and discovered new ways to spend money as well as earn it! My quest was to find out which back-to-school necessities needed to be purchased new and which could be bought used from local resale stores. Here are the results.

Clothing: Buy NEW and USED. Although many people don’t take into consideration resale or consignment stores as great spots to find back to school clothes, let me tell you, they should! Stores like Plato’s Closet and Spin Again are a consignment shopper’s paradise with racks upon racks of brand name, gently used clothing, for VERY affordable prices. Shopping in resale stores such as these are perfect for seasonal closet staples such as jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies from kids to juniors sizes. At resale stores there’s even opportunity to earn money by bringing in last season clothing items. As long as the items are in good condition and haven’t been collecting dust in your closet for too long, most resale stores will purchase the clothes and provide you with serious bank to shop! I understand, though, that the feeling of purchasing brand new clothes to wear on the first day of school is one of a kind, so make sure to splurge on a few new items that no one else will have.

School supplies: Buy NEW. It is difficult to find used school supplies, so if you do buy new, instead of spending $4.99 on that glittered Hello Kitty folder, opt for plain folders for a fraction of the price and have your kids decorate them with stickers or their own drawings. It will get those creative juices for the upcoming school year and add a personal touch. The most affordable school supplies can be found dollar stores, and are often times the same exact products that larger stores carry. You can also try buying used supplies, especially electronics like calculators, on websites like Amazon.com or Craigslist.com.

Backpacks: Buy NEW. I think we can all say that the backpack is the quintessential manifestation of our child’s outward personality, so buy new. Whether your child goes crazy for Justin Bieber or Batman let them choose their own backpack that they will feel great showing off to their fellow classmates. This backpack should stay in good condition for the whole year, so it’s better to spend the extra few bucks for that peace of mind. Next year, when you kid says, "Justin Bieber was so last year," consider donating the backpack. There are several online websites and organizations that take backpack donations.

Look at back-to-school shopping not as another thing to accomplish in a short amount of time before soccer practice ends, but as a mission to find the best deals and items. Good luck shopping and have a great school year!