Making the Most of Back-to-School Deals

The summer is flying by, and back-to-school is just around the corner. According to a recent study from NerdWallet, more than half of American families with children attending school or college find this time of year financially stressful. And with recently imposed tariffs, school supplies may cost more than they did last year. We’ll take a look at a few ways you could remedy these costs.

Take Stock of What You Have

One of the easiest ways to save money on back-to-school items is by going through the supplies you already have. Your child may have leftover school supplies, like paper and pencils, from the previous school year. You can also reuse school supplies from last year, like backpacks, calculators, or pencil boxes.

Watch for Sales

Many major retailers offer back-to-school deals, so it’s wise to keep tabs on which stores do so and when. Walmart has recently lowered prices on more than 200 items, like backpacks and markers, as part of its back-to-school sale. Other retailers, like Target and Staples, are offering similar discounted and BOGO deals. Keep in mind that some stores also produce weekly ads that highlight discounted products, which could include school supplies. When in store, it’s smart to keep an eye out for marked-down school supplies, as not all sales are advertised.

Buy During Sales Tax Holidays

Some states offer sales tax holidays during back-to-school season. This means that state sales taxes will be exempted from your back-to-school bill, which can save you money. Not all states offer a back-to-school sales tax, and each state differs on when it's offered and what items qualify for a tax exemption. Florida’s sales tax holiday, for example, is August 1-31 and can be applied to clothing, computers and basic school supplies. Keep in mind that some cities and counties impose their own sales taxes, which can still be added to your bill.

Buy Secondhand

There’s nothing wrong with buying school supplies secondhand. Most thrift stores have a small office supply aisle that may sell paper, writing supplies, and other common back-to-school items. Most also sell lightly used clothing. If your child is quickly growing or easily dirties clothing, it may be best to buy them secondhand.

Plan Clothing Purchases

In that same vein, it's wise to buy back-to-school clothing strategically. Wait a few weeks until after school starts so that your child can take stock of the year’s fashion trends. After all, you don’t want to purchase clothing that your child only wears once. While purchasing clothing during the back-to-school season can save you money, there are other opportunities to save throughout the year. You can also purchase discounted clothes around Black Friday, New Year’s and during end-of-season sales.

The back-to-school season shouldn’t put you in debt. But at Gulf Winds Credit Union, you could be rewarded for your back-to-school purchases! Our VISA Platinum Rewards Card can earn you points on every purchase, no matter where you shop. Plus, points can be redeemed upon checkout at Walmart, Walgreens, and other retailers, which could save you even more on back-to-school supplies!