IIn this time of high inflation, everything seems to cost more. This is also true of back-to-school expenses, which will be purchased in the coming weeks. As parents across the country prepare to buy all the supplies required for the next school year, the question on their minds is whether there is a way to save money. This list of needed supplies can be a drain on budgets, but these tips for cutting costs can make a real difference to the bottom line.

Determine What You Need
Back-to-school is big business and the retailers are there to sell to you as much as you are willing to buy. Most schools will provide a list of school supplies that are needed for each class. This is a good place to start. Gathering any supplies you already have at home will reduce costs. From there you can take your list and start looking for the best deal.

Shop Multiple Stores
It is very convenient to get everything at one place. However, that may cost you more money in the long run. Stores will often have one or two “loss leaders.” For example, one retailer may sell loose leaf paper for 50 cents per package and binders for a dollar a piece, but then their other supplies are more expensive. If you do a little research, you can identify which stores have sale prices on the items you need and only buy what is on sale at each store.

Consider Buying Off-Brand or Generic
For some supplies there are relatively few choices between brands. Other items may be offered at varying prices by several different brands. While some generic items may have quality issues, a lot will be relatively similar to the brand names. When shopping, it can save you some money if you are willing to sacrifice on the things that aren’t really that important to you.

Delay What You Can
We live in a time when seasonal items are sold at higher prices when everyone is buying them and then discounted once the rush has passed. If your kids still have their backpack and lunch box from last year but they are worn out and need to be replaced, you might want to use them for the first few weeks of school and then buy new ones when the store puts these items on clearance. You can save significantly by just waiting a few weeks.

Back-to-school shopping can be an expensive endeavor, but by being smart you can save a few dollars. Maybe you can even save enough to take the kids out for ice cream after the shopping is done!