The hot, hot days of Summer are quickly coming to a close, and you know what that means…. the first day of school is quickly approaching! First days vary during August from district to district, but one thing remains the same for all moms in Greater Louisville – searching for school supplies and all the best back-to-school savings!
Back-to-school shopping can get pricey as the dollars start racking up with every piece of clothing, bookbag, lunchbox, pencil, crayon, stick of glue, and pack of paper. We’ve all been there, and we all dread this time of year. Whether this is your first back-to-school season, or you’re a seasoned pro looking for some helpful back-to-school savings tips, the team at LMC is here for you as always!
REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE
One way to save money on school supplies shopping is to use the handy reduce-reuse-recycle philosophy that is also good for the environment. As a former head of sales and marketing for a national environmental solutions company and fellow lover of our planet, these three words are always music to my ears.
Certain things like backpacks, lunchboxes, and binders can be reused from year to year. If you buy quality, sturdy ones from the beginning, they are good for many years. Maybe your kid is like mine (she’s in 8th grade now), and she wanted something new to reflect each year’s fad and her ever-evolving interests. Want to know how you can spice things up for them? Buy a fun new keychain or a patch to put on their existing bookbag. For those binders or folders, cover small stains or little tears with stickers. These tiny things cost WAY less than buying new each school year.
Did you hold onto everything they brought home at the end of last school year? Count how many pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. are still left and usable and only buy what you still need from the new school year’s supplies list. Keep a dedicated place in a closet or drawer somewhere in your house to hold onto all those extras each year. Many of the quantities teachers require don’t match up with how many items are in a single package. Only needed three glue sticks, but four came in the package? Drop those in your supplies spot at home and save them for next year! (If you’re in a position to be generous, donate all those extras to the classroom – the teachers will love you for it!).
STOCK UP ON THE SAVINGS!
You can’t reuse or recycle everything of course, so here are our top recommendations for ways to save on school supplies and clothing for the new year:
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
With technology at our fingertips, make sure to browse sales and digital coupons at stores near you before heading out to start shopping. Some common places that always have the best deals on school supplies are –
- Wal-Mart – an excellent source for affordable back-to-school EVERYTHING (avoid the craziness by going as early as you can; they even have a search function to find your school’s supply list!)
- Amazon – all the affordable school supplies you can imagine (delivered right to your door)!
- Staples – you can usually find deals for $1 or less!
- Target – often offers deals (make sure to check your Target Circle) for basic supplies and back-to-school clothing
CLOTHING & UNIFORMS
- Kohl’s has a wide array of clothes and uniforms, with deals starting at really great prices. Plus, earn Kohl’s cash through July 23rd! You can even save time by taking advantage of their fast & free pickup.
- JCPenny has back-to-school savings starting at $10 and under.
- Macy’s features in-store and online deals on clothing for all ages, plus you can save 40-50% on back-to-school specials through Sunday, July 22nd.
- Old Navy’s Back-to-School Shop – If your kid’s school requires uniforms, this can be tough sometimes. My daughter’s schools required uniforms from preschool through 4th grade. Old Navy became my go-to year after year for the best deals and the highest quality (she was a tomboy to her core!).
Looking to save even more – and do right by the environment? Consider thrifting! We’ve had some great resources written by our Contributors (fellow Derby City mamas) over the years:
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DONATIONS
Catholic Charities of Louisville, the YMCA of Central KY, Welcome House Northern Kentucky and Stuff the Bus SOKY all usually do school supply drives every year to help those families in need across the Kentuckiana area. If you’re in need, see how you can get donations for your family! If you’re in a position to help others, donate what you can to all the supply drives happening around town.
We’ll be on the air with WHAS11 on July 30th to talk about all these tips as well, so make sure to tune in! And, they’ve partnered with Kroger for a 2023 school supply drive now through July 30th as well with three convenient locations to donate (and an online option).
