Back to School Savings - Part 2

An interesting article posted on About.com reveals some fascinating trends when it comes to back to school consumer intentions. From this article I also learned that the back to school shopping season is second only to Christmas! This being the case, I'm sure parents and back-to-schoolers are already feeling the burden of a large price tag as the school year draws near. In part one of our Back to School Savings we focused mainly on school supplies. Here, in part 2, let's broaden the spectrum a bit and take a look some other back to school necessities along with our suggestions on where to find frugal friendly prices.

1. First and foremost: Take the hand-me-down or re-use route when available. Backpacks, lunch boxes, 3-ring binders, calculators, rulers, scissors, pencil boxes, and clothing are all items that have dodged technological obsoleteness (it's a word, I looked it up ;) lol) and can be re-used for at least a few years. Remember to save these items if your back-to-schooler has a younger sibling that might be heading to school in the future.
2. If you or your student do need some new clothes for the school year, don't be fooled by in-store sales. Shop online where you can take advantage of some great back to school discounts as well as plenty of back to school coupon codes which keep rolling in through the end of September. Hatley and Rascals2Rockstars are great sites to visit for younger back to schoolers, and both retailers offer coupon codes for 15% off your entire order. If your child's school requires a uniform, stop by Cookie's Kids where you'll find a nice selection plus 10% off your uniform order. Older students, check out Alloy or CCS for some fresh diggs. After the school year starts is the best time to shop in-store sales.
3. Having a new pair of shoes was always the most important item on my back to school list (I know right; forget books, supplies, and learning. Gotta have my new shoes!). TriCity New Balance is the place to shop for casual and athletic shoes, especially with their free shipping and 10% off back to school offer. For more contemporary or laid back footwear, stop by Etnies where you'll find style matched with terrific prices, for boys and girls of all ages. Plus, take 15% off and get free shipping on your entire order with their back to school coupon code.
4. Another popular retailer worth mentioning for back to school shopping is Kohls. Although they don't currently have any online coupon codes, their in-store and online prices are hard to beat, and they carry some really fashionable styles. I personally love their (huge) selection of jeans and khakis, as well as their selection of short & long sleeve button-downs, but you'll find styles ranging from athletic to business-casual. Kohls' broad selection of budget friendly footwear is hard to beat as well.
5. I heard on the radio the other day that some schools are requesting ("requiring") parents and students to add items like hand soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, paper towels, and toilet paper to their back to school lists. I understand that many education budgets are suffering right now, but aren't ours as well? Unless you're a member of the PTA, School Board, or other educational organization, don't waste your money. These items are the school's responsibility, and rest assured that they will be in the classroom.

Well, hopefully this helps you along the way as you tread towards another school year. Keep your eye on CouponShack's Back to School Savings for all the latest deals and coupons, and enjoy the remaining days of your summer vacation!

Posted by Ryan on July 26, 2010     Tags: Back to School


blog comments powered by Disqus