Saving Money During Back to School Time

As a poor college student trying to pay for a wedding and purchase a home, I begin to fret about money and affording the items I need when the new school year approaches. Here are some things I do at the beginning of every school year to save money on all the necessities I need for the upcoming year. 

1. Take advantage of tax free weekend- I am lucky enough to live within minutes of St. Louis where they have a tax free weekend each summer before school starts. I make my school supply list and head over there to save a ton of money on my back to school needs. Find out if you're close to a state that has a tax free weekend by following this link. http://singleparents.about.com/od/cuttingcosts/qt/TaxFreeHoliday.htm

2. When you get your back to school list, start shopping at home- When I have established what items I will be needing for the upcoming school year, I start checking things off my list at home. I go through my desks and pull out all the pens, pencils, highlighters, Sharpies, white out bottles, etc and check to make sure they still work. I pack them into my backpack or pencil case and check those items off the list. There have been several years when I have been able to go without buying pens, pencils, highlighters, or folders. 

3. Instead of paying up to $10 per personalized notebook or $3 per personalized folder, buy some colored permanent markers or paint pens and some stencils and personalize your own school supplies. Students can also personalize binders, notebooks, and folders with stickers or their own photos instead of paying extra. This is also a great activity for kids to do themselves on the last few days of summer.

4. Search online for coupons- I always go to websites like 5star, Mead, BIC, Crayola, Sharpie, Post-it, etc to print off coupons for the items I need.

5. Keep an eye on sale ads- Around back to school time, stores like JC Penny, Kohl's, Shoe Carnival, Old Navy, etc offer extra coupons geared toward back to school savings. In addition, stores like Office Max and Office Depot begin a promotion that saves you up to 25% off anything you can fit into their brown paper promo bag!

6. Use online clubs for your back to school shopping- websites like Swagbucks and Ebates are great during back to school time. You get money back at certain stores like Walmart, Old Navy, Macys, etc. This can make back to school shopping so much easier on your bank account. 

7. Give new looks to school clothes from last year- have some t-shirts or jeans from last school year that just aren't cutting it anymore. Instead of spending money you don't need to spend on brand new school clothing, add beading, patches, tie-dye, sequins, bleach, iron ons, or whatever floats your boat to last years school clothing to make them seem brand new. 

8. Swap clothing- Instead of buying new clothing, invite some friends over and have a clothing swap. 

9. Hit up the back to school clearance racks after school has started- I do this every year and stock up on pens, pencils, highlighters, notebooks, folders, binders, lunch bags, and backpacks that have all been marked down. This way, I can avoid spending more money when I run out of ink in my pens and highlighters, break my backpack, or run out of paper. 

10. Rent textbooks instead of purchasing them- At my university, all undergrad students pay a flat $500 fee every semester to rent textbooks from textbook services. Last semester I looked up all of my textbooks online and found out that purchasing my textbooks for the 5 classes I was taking would have cost me nearly $1800! I think I would rather return my textbooks at the end of the semester and pocket $1300 any day. 

11. Don't pay for the convenience- When it comes to purchasing back to school snacks and school lunch items, do not pay extra for the individually packed fruits, chips, pudding cups, juices, bottled water, etc. Invest in some reusable water bottles, reusable and washable lunch bags, reusable freeze packs, and food storage containers. Many times, you can find great coupons online and in the Sunday paper for these items from brands like Rubbermaid. Purchase larger quantities of the lunch items needed and split them up yourself to save money. 

12. Take advantage of school freebies- The best part about being in college is all the free stuff you get just because people know college students are poor! For example, instead of purchasing a $10 planner for each school year, I just wait until I pick up my textbooks. My university gives out free planners at the beginning of every school year that fit in my backpack and provide optimal writing space for me to keep my class schedule, work schedules, assignments, etc organized. There is also a huge merchant fair every September on campus. Area businesses gather in the quad and offer free food, drinks, water bottles, t-shirts, bags, towels, mugs, cups, pens/ pencils, and coupons for their services. 

Have any back to school money saving tips of your own? Feel free to share them under the comments section!