by Ruth Scalpone

Created on: July 13, 2010

Saving money on back to school clothes for elementary school students can be done when clothes are on sale in many stores in the months before school starts.  Clothes in styles they prefer can be purchased at discount stores (like Target, WalMart or Kmart).  The clothes may exactly fit when purchased, or be a little big, keeping in mind how fast kids grow sometimes. Shoes that fit or are a little big should be of the highest possible quality, since shoes are worn every day.

Saving money on clothes for children in middle (junior high) school is more difficult.  Buying one or two outfits for them to wear in the first days of school is good, especially if they have a friend shopping with them. (Peer pressure.)  The other clothes they want might depend on what other kids at school are wearing.  Outlet stores usually have lower prices on clothes than department stores.

Backpacks are used every day and are worth spending more money on to help avoid shoulder pain in students and to last longer than the less expensive, flimsier ones that are often low priced in “back to school sales”.  Even if the sturdier backpack costs twice as much as other backpacks, it is worth the expense because one of them should last at least one school year, whereas the less expensive ones dig into students’ shoulders and tend to fall apart.  They will need to be replaced during the school year, anyway, so buying the least expensive ones ends up costing as much as buying the more expensive one to begin with.

About a month before school starts, store ads will feature great sale prices on school supplies.  Labels on most things will say where they were made.  If possible, buy things made in the U.S.A.  They may cost more, but quality standards are maintained, so supplies are safer for students to use.  Many things made in other countries have been recalled because they contain ingredients like lead and cadmium. 

Basic supplies for back to school, such as paper and pencils, can be bought when they are on sale a little bit at a time to save money.  All different kinds of stores, including discount stores, dollar stores, drugstores, grocery stores, office supply stores, and hardware stores carry school supplies.  Those supplies may be called something else, like office supplies, but they still can be used in school.  Sales on disinfecting wipes, paper towels, or tissues can be taken advantage of for classrooms, as well as for home.

Teacher lists, usually sent home with students the first week of school, spell out required supplies for students.  If they ask for disinfecting wipes or tissues, the ones bought earlier in the year can be sent in with the student.  It benefits the teachers and school because then the teachers do not have to pay for everything.

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