Summer’s almost over, meaning that the beginning of 2023-2024 School year is just around the corner. Are you ready for the back-to-school expenses?

We’ve compiled a few tricks for you to enjoy the most back-to-school savings with only a little bit of effort. Read on to find out how to save thousands for the coming school year:

1. Make a list and plan your expenses

Before hitting the stores to shop for back to school items, make a list and stick to it. Go through the things you already have and assess which ones can be used for another school year, and which ones need replacing.

Laura Rowley, writer of the Money and Happiness column for Yahoo! Finance, recommends that you go through your clothing inventory and create a shopping list of what you need to buy from there. “For clothing, focus on five to seven well-made, easy-care basic items and change the look by mixing in a few less expensive pieces,” she says.

Pieces you can consider include tank tops, colorful T-shirts, and items like belts and bracelets. “Kids usually don’t outgrow the accessories,” she says, so accessories you buy this summer could last your kids for a longer time than other clothing items.

Also take into consideration the needs they will have for the grade level they’re attending, and budget accordingly. Armed with a list of what you truly need, you can head to the shops knowing that you won’t overspend.

2. Focus your saving on the biggest items

Because of all the back-to-school sales, it’s not hard to find ways to save.  Sometimes, you can get caught up in trying to save a few pesos on things like crayons, pencils, paper, and other little things. You might end up spending way too much time and only saving very little.

To make the best use of your time and effort, concentrate your back-to-school savings on the most expensive items you have to buy for your kids.

These will likely be items like computers, backpacks, shoes, and other big-ticket purchases. You’ll spend the same amount of time saving thousands on a new laptop as you will saving 10 pesos on a pack of pencils.

Lots of these big-ticket items go on sale in the weeks before school starts. So if you don’t want to expend a lot of effort just to save a little bit of money, focus on saving money on the most expensive items on your shopping list.

3. Use those credit card deals

If you’ve got a credit card, you’ll be able to enjoy promos that will let you save on back to school expenses. Some cards offer 1-month billing holiday at  0% installment.

Check your credit card provider’s website for the latest back-to-school deals. If you don’t have one yet, we can help you apply for a credit card that’s perfect for your lifestyle. All it takes is just a few clicks.

4. Swap with other parents

Other parents are looking to save this school year too, and they may have some of the things you need, and vice versa. Make things easier on yourselves and organize a swap with your fellow parents. Lay down a few ground rules so that the swap doesn’t descend into chaos. Set a few limits on how many items each person can take.  Ideally, nobody walks away with an armful of free stuff while only contributing two things to the swap.

Bring items like clothes that no longer fit your kids, last year’s textbooks they no longer need. Basically, whatever else is just lying around the house that none of your kids are using any more that can be reused by someone else. At the end of the day, you may find that your shopping load is reduced because you’ve gotten a lot of the necessary items from the swap.

5. Involve your kids

Back-to-school shopping is a great way to teach your kids about the importance of differentiating their wants from their needs. If they want a ridiculously expensive set of crayons, show them that a standard box would give them the same thing, but cost less. They can then use the remaining amount to buy other necessary school items.

Explain the concept of a budget to them so they understand why it’s important to think about how much things cost. Show it affects the family financially, before they throw them in the shopping cart. Not only will you save money, but your kids will learn a thing or two about personal finance. They can carry on these good habits as they grow older. To help you out, you can also read our article on teaching your kids good money habits.

6. Take advantage of student discounts

Student discounts aren’t just for the jeepney — you’d be surprised how much you can save just by using a student discount at certain establishments.

When you’ve chosen which shops to hit to get the back-to-school stuff you need, ask the staff if there are any student discounts available. Just asking could save you a lot of money on your expenses.

The start of the school year doesn’t have to mean the start of huge spending. With these smart moves for back-to-school saving, you can make June 1’s expenses easier on your wallet, so you can concentrate on what’s important: helping your children do the best they can at school.

Need more tips on how to manage your money? We have a wide collection of money management articles that can guide you on how to get control over your financial life.

This article was first published in May 2015 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.

The post Enjoy Back-To-School Savings With These 6 Tips appeared first on iMoney.ph.