Back to School on a Budget

The biggest tip for any back to school shopper on a budget is to buy only what you need and nothing else. While it is nice to be able to get the things you want, if you can't afford them - you can't buy them. For basic school supplies, it's best to go to a store like Target or Kmart. You can also buy clothes at such places for very affordable prices. There are also bargain outlet places like Big Lots or Ollies.

If you really need clothes and are an older student with money, a good place to get some clothes is eBay. I love to buy skirts from Ann Taylor, and they're normally not more than ten dollars. There are also online sites like overstock.com or bidz.com as well. If you don't like to shop online, you can always just price compare online. It's a lot simpler and faster than going from store to store to get the best price.

The second biggest tip is to price compare. Why spend more money on those back to school items than you need to? To find the best prices, you can look at circulars, window shop, or look at prices online. When you go shopping, it's important to know what stores are having sales and which sales are the best. While it may seem like a little thing, saving a little bit here and there can add up.

The third tip is to try and find people with extra stuff. If you know people who have gently worn hand me downs, why not take them? Sometimes you may even find people with extra notebooks, erasers, pencils, etc. that they never used. Sometimes primary and middle schools will have extra materials to give to students. You may even try asking a church for extra school supplies since many churches collect donations for students. Best of luck to you and may you or yours have a very successful school year!