7 Money Saving Back to School Hacks

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk Wireless. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pencils, backpacks and folders a plenty, back-to-school season is here! These seven tips will help you get back to school smarter than ever with these money savings hacks!

Back-to-school is the second largest retail period of the year^[1], and smart shoppers know that the deals are for not only traditional school supplies, but clothing and electronics too. If you are patient, you can find some of the best deals around. Follow these tips to get the most bang for your buck as you head into your next school year.

Be willing to pay a little extra for things that you will need again and again

Backpacks are a perfect example of an item that you will need year after year. Depending on the age of your child and their every changing whim, the $10 baby shark backpack may be the way to go. But, I have been happiest when spending a bit more and buying high quality backpacks for my kids that they use year after year.

Other examples of items that you will want to invest in are good quality shoes, coats, umbrellas, pencil boxes, or lunch boxes. There will be more of a cost up front, but it will be worth it when you aren’t buying new items every year.

Shop online before heading to a store

Shopping online for back-to-school allows you to compare items side by side. It is also much easier to stay on track with what you are looking for, and with the help of your smartphone, you can shop for supplies from the palm of your hand whenever is most convenient during your busy schedule.. Use all the extra options available when shopping online like searching for online coupons, sizing charts, or lightly used items.

My children grow so quickly and I have found some awesome deals on clearance sections (in-store and online) or neighbors selling nice things that their children only wore for a short time. Get creative and use the resources at your fingertips!

Keep tech in mind and save big

We’re all familiar with traditional back-to-school items, especially parents. But back-to-school season is a great time to find deals on all your shopping needs, including tech. You can find laptops, cell phones, tablets and desktops for great deals at this time of year too!

You can find great deals on smartphones during back-to-school season! For a limited time, Straight Talk Wireless is offering a$200 discount on a Samsung Galaxy S9, or you can get a new iPhone 6s for only $8 per month*.

I love this option for introducing phone responsibility to my son, too. He is just starting to learn about being responsible with a phone, so an affordable and reliable service is perfect for him. We love the idea of having a “family phone” that can be used for special occasions and times that he is babysitting.

Straight Talk Wireless not only lets you save on the latest and greatest smartphones, but you’ll also have nationwide coverage on America’s largest and most dependable 4G LTE† networks for up to half the cost when compared to major carriers. Thanks to Straight Talk, I can stay connected with my son and have extra funds to put toward my end-of-summer plans.

For more information on Straight Talk Wireless, visit StraightTalk.com.

Follow the teacher’s recommended list

I have too often made the mistake of buying school supplies early, whether it is buying something that I don’t really need, buying the wrong type, or impulse buying because school supplies are so stinking cute! JUST WAIT. It is more fun to have a list to check off and know that the things you are buying are truly the things your kids will need.

Shop your closet/drawer first

Before I ever open a browser or head to the store, I will do some home shopping from the supplies we already have on hand. You may be surprised at how many extra glue sticks you actually have hiding in the craft drawer.

Teachers love receiving extra tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and cleansing wipes. I like to check our stock of those items too. This gives me an opportunity to talk to my kids about donating and everyone pitching in to the classroom to make it better!

Talk to the neighbors

The more you know, the more you know. Talk to parents in your area who have children older than yours or have been in a similar situation. It could be that you could save money on instruments, books, sports equipment, or you don’t really need to buy a new binder for Mr. Hobbs class. I have been helped out so many times by parents who have allowed me to buy something used from them or told me what my kids will really need.

Clothing sales

My favorite time to buy clothes is right before a big push or right after. You will beat the crowds and have a wider selection. I just shopped some clearance racks a couple weeks ago and found a bunch of long sleeved shirts that will be perfect leading into fall and winter. I know a lot of people aren’t thinking about long sleeves in the middle of summer, but if you think ahead you will save a lot of money!

What are some ways that you like to save money with back-to-school shopping?

Check out our at home back to school banquet to have some fun preparing with your kids!

[1]Mintel, Back-to-School Shopping, 2019; NRF Annual Consumer Spending Survey

Additional 1 time upfront payment of $20 or $50 may be required based on payment history. Lease-to-own transaction. iPhone 6s (32GB) retail cost: $149. Total cost after 24 30-day payments of $8: $192 with excellent payment history; $212 with average payment history; $242 with poor payment history. Final payment more in NC. Taxes and applicable fees may apply. No ownership until all payments made. Early purchase options available. Customers exercising early purchase option will receive a credit in the amount of upfront payment. Straight Talk wireless service required and additional. Straight Talk is not a party to the lease transaction with SmartPay. Not available in CA, MN, NJ, WI, and WY. May end lease and return phone at any time.

*See Terms and Conditions at StraightTalk.com

“Up to half the cost” is based on a comparison of the monthly cost of the $45 Straight Talk Unlimited Plan and the monthly cost of a comparable no-contract, single line plan with unlimited talk, text and data on the top two carriers. Excludes taxes, fees, autopay discounts and limited time pricing. Source: Competitor websites, April 2019.

† Actual availability, coverage and speed may vary. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.