As back to school season creeps its way into our wallets, most of us are prepared to face rising prices, longer school supplies lists, and chaos, but back to school shopping doesn’t have to be daunting! We’re coming to your rescue as we “supply” you with a list of worry-free, budget friendly back to school shopping tips: school supplies edition.
To all parents, whether you’re a first-time mom, a single parent or a full-house, we see you and we hear you! Our Flipp Tipps are bound to make both your kids, and your wallet happy…
Flipp Tipp #1: Plan in advance and start early
When it comes to back to school shopping, July-October is the peak of the season. Instead of shopping during peak season, plan your shopping lists in advance. Months such as May or June are perfect for snatching the best school supplies deals! Get a head start and maybe even catch on to the latest trends ahead of everyone else 😉
There are many benefits to planning ahead of the season. First, the prices of school supplies often rise the moment before summer holidays are over. Which means that by beating the retailers to it, you’ll be able to catch a bargain on all your kids’ favorites!
By planning in advance, you can ensure that those pastel crayons, that glittery notebook, or cute pencil case are not only in stock, but fairly priced.
Flipp Tipp #2: Shop off-season
If you want to take planning to the next level, prepare to buy next year’s school supplies in November or December. Take advantage of those Black Friday or Boxing Day deals while school supplies are out of season!
Shopping off-season will not only guarantee you first access to your kids’ favorite school supplies, but will save you from all the back to school chaos. Not only will you score fantastic deals, but you’ll de-influence yourself from giving in to purchasing unnecessary items.
With back to school season comes an overwhelming amount of advertisements and goods for sale, which can tempt us to make unnecessary purchases. Instead, shop off-season and focus on buying what you really need!
Flipp Tipp #3: Buy generic or store brands
Generic brands are not only underrated, but carry bargain-priced secret finds! Think Target’s “Up and Up” or “Dealworthy” brands, or for our Canadian readers, think Nofrills “No Name” brand!
Compromising on generic brand names does not mean compromising on trends and quality! In fact, generic brands tend to have the widest variety of school supplies at a competitive price.
Check out the generic brands at your local retailers and save on your entire school supplies checklist!
Flipp Tipp #4: Compare prices using the Flipp app
Comparing prices of school supplies across different retailers and working to secure the best deals can be long and exhausting- but we’ve got you covered!
Download the Flipp app to see what’s on sale at hundreds of stores near you. Our favorite tool is the search feature, which can be used to search your entire school supplies checklist. Don’t forget to put in your zip code or postal code and sort by price (lowest to highest). To learn more searching on Flipp, check out our post Find the best deals with Flipp’s Improved Search Tool.
Then, simply add your selections to your shopping list! – Sit back and watch your shopping list organize itself. When you’re ready to shop in stores, having your list on hand will keep you organized and on track to avoid impulse purchases.
Flipp Tipp #5: Price match your way through shopping
Price matching is a great way to save money on back to school shopping! The best part is, that it can be done all year long, so don’t fret if you missed out on planning in advance.
Price matching can also help you find the hottest school supplies on sale. Often, items go on sale for a limited time only, but the Flipp app can help you keep track of latest deals to make it so you don’t ever go over budget.
Items like laptops, headphones and other technologies are high-priced and often strain our budgets. Price matching can help you find the latest and greatest deals, helping you secure that laptop or tablet for a bargain (there’s no better feeling). If you’re new to price matching and want to learn more, check out our post, Your Ultimate Guide to Price Matching.
Flipp Tipp #6: Take advantage of rewards programs
Our next Flipp Tipp is to take advantage of rewards programs! The majority of rewards programs convert points into store credit (AKA dollars 💵)- Check out CVS Extra Care Rewards, Target’s Circle Rewards, or Walgreens’ myWalgreens program! For our Canadian readers, PC Optimum and Triangle Rewards are great programs worth checking out.
Rewards programs are a handy tool to help you get the best value for your school supplies. Save the points you collect and treat yourself to future purchases!
Flipp Tipp #7: Set a shopping budget and stick to it
When it comes to shopping for school supplies, it’s easy to go over budget. Oftentimes, we stack items in our cart without realizing what our wallets are about to face. This is why setting a budget before your visit to the store is crucial! To set yourself up for success, do research on prices using the Flipp app and different store websites. You’ll have a realistic idea of what you’ll spend before even stepping foot in stores.
We all know that feeling of parent guilt when you’re forced to say no to those overpriced school supplies. To help fight this feeling, work on prioritzing items on your list based on the budget you set. Maybe it’s a no for hard cover notebooks this time, but a yes to those fun sticky notes on sale!
Set a budget that works best for you and stick to it! If you follow the rest of our tips, you might even find yourself staying under budget 😉
Flipp Tipp #8: Re-use school supplies in good condition
Here’s a Tipp: Most of last year’s school supplies can be reused this year! School supplies such as pencils, pens, pencil cases and binders often last a few years in good condition. Instead of repurchasing every item on the list each year, reuse last year’s supplies and prioritize buying what you really need!
Give those supplies a second life and reduce waste while you’re at it!
Flipp Tipp #9: Shop without your kids around
If you’re a parent of little ones who only have the latest trends in mind, one tip (if you’re able to) is to take a solo shopping trip. You’ll save yourself the headache of having to say no to the more expensive supplies!
When shopping solo, forget feeling overwhelmed. Take control of your own budget and surprise the kids with ready-to-use school supplies!
Flipp Tipp #10: Shop the bare necessities first, then shop clearout sales
And to end the list off, our last Flipp Tipp of the day is to keep your shopping list simple! Most of the time, not every item on those lengthy school supplies lists are necessary. To stretch your budget even further, shop the essentials first and take your time scouting prices for items that are not needed immediately. Chances are that stores will put most items on deeper clearance discounts a few weeks after the school year begins.
This back to school season, check off the items on your school supplies shopping list by following our Flipp Tipps! Rest assured, both your kids and your wallet will be happy.
Don’t let the stress of back to school get the best of you, and instead, reap the satisfaction of staying within budget and finding the best deals!
Happy Saving!
