Back-to-school shopping tips to save money

Back-to-school shopping can get expensive quickly.

According to the National Retail Federation, families with K-12 students are expected to spend an average of $863.81 this school year, for a total of $43.3 billion nationwide. Families with college students are projected to spend even more—an average of $1,437.81, totaling $103.5 billion.

Those costs can add up quickly, but there are several ways to stretch your budget before filling your cart.

Shop your home first

Before buying anything new, take inventory of what you already have.

Brie Schwartz, editorial commerce director for Good Housekeeping, recommends checking last year’s backpacks, binders, folders, calculators and other supplies before automatically replacing them.

“Odds are the backpack will probably still be in good condition,” Schwartz said. “Instead of reinvesting in a new one, buy a cute bag charm, which is really popular this year, which will give your child the opportunity to personalize without buying an entirely different backpack.”

Skip the pre-packaged school supply kits

Those all-in-one school supply boxes may be convenient, but they aren’t always the cheapest option.

“Maybe they’ll save you the headache,” Schwartz said. “They’re definitely not going to save you money.”

Instead, she recommends purchasing notebooks, folders, pencils and other classroom supplies individually at retailers such as Target or Walmart, where shoppers can compare prices and buy only what they actually need.

Save on laptops and tech

Technology is often one of the biggest back-to-school expenses.

If you’re buying a laptop or tablet, consider shopping for manufacturer-certified refurbished devices, which are typically inspected, tested, repaired if necessary and backed by a warranty.

Before you check out, visit the manufacturer’s website and look for an education store or student pricing. Many major tech companies offer exclusive discounts for students and educators during the back-to-school season. For example, Apple’s Education Store is currently offering education pricing on qualifying Macs and iPads, along with a gift card worth up to $150.

Start with the basics when shopping for clothes

It can be tempting to buy an entirely new wardrobe before school starts, but Schwartz says parents should resist that urge and treat shopping like building a mini capsule collection.

“Your kid will get to school. They’ll start seeing trendy things on other children, and they’ll probably want that,” she said. “So, I would say don’t go nuts buying a ton of things.”

You can also stretch your clothing budget by shopping resale marketplaces such as Poshmark, eBay and Facebook Marketplace or joining a local Buy Nothing group.

Compare prices before you buy

Before making a purchase, compare prices across multiple retailers and check an item’s price history.

Google Shopping lets shoppers compare prices and, for many products, view historical pricing across retailers. Amazon shoppers can also use price-history tools, including Amazon’s built-in price history feature and third-party services such as CamelCamelCamel. CamelMart, created by the same developers, provides historical pricing for Walmart products.

Looking at an item’s pricing history can help you determine whether today’s discount is truly a bargain or simply a return to a previous sale price.

Understand price-matching policies

Take a few minutes to review the retailer’s price-matching or price-adjustment policy.

Policies vary widely. For example, Target no longer matches competitors’ prices, but it will adjust the price if an eligible item goes on sale at your local Target store or on Target.com within 14 days of your purchase. Walmart will match the price of identical items sold on Walmart.com for purchases made in its stores. Staples, Best Buy and Office Depot also offer price matching on many qualifying items from competing retailers.

No matter where you shop, save your receipt and read the fine print. Price-matching policies often include restrictions on eligible products, competing retailers and the amount of time you have to request a refund or adjustment.

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