How to save on back-to-school shopping

Back-to-school shopping can feel overwhelming with long lists and rising costs. These tips can help stretch your budget.

Back-to-school shopping can feel overwhelming with long lists and rising costs. These tips can help stretch your budget.

From backpacks to tech to clothing, the back to school shopping list can feel endless and expensive. It's really important more than ever for families to have *** strategy when it comes to back to school shopping and have *** budget in mind. Andrea Warrack, *** consumer savings expert, says one of the best ways to get started is by checking what you already have at home and be sure to get your kids involved. This is *** great budgeting lesson. Teach them opportunity costs. If we save money on these supplies by reusing, we have more to spend towards something else that maybe they really want. If you do need *** new backpack or school clothes, investing in brands with warranties can help save money down the road. Jansport and Herschel backpacks both offer limited lifetime warranties that cover manufacturing defects. Old Navy's kids clothes and Target's Cat and Jack brand also both come with. Lawn money back guarantees. Just make sure to keep your receipts. Spend *** little bit more, get better quality that lasts. For other items, Warrock suggests buying secondhand. Facebook Marketplace and consignment stores are good options for clothing or backpacks. Some retailers like Athleta and H&M even have their own pre-love sites through the resale platform Thread Up, and for tech, you can save with certified refurbished products. This could be for Your laptops, scientific calculators, tablets, um, really think anything that your child would need for school. And one of the easiest ways to save, finding store brands instead of name brands whenever possible. Stores have more power to discount their own brands further. The difference in price is usually about 30 to 50%, so instant way to save and you're really not giving up any quality. Using store apps and loyalty programs can provide even more savings, especially when stacked on cashback offers, and remember to check what rewards your debit or credit card has available. Reporting in Washington, I'm Amy Lowe.

Updated: 3:07 PM CDT Jul 15, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

How to save on back-to-school shopping

Back-to-school shopping can feel overwhelming with long lists and rising costs. These tips can help stretch your budget.

Updated: 3:07 PM CDT Jul 15, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Back-to-school shopping season is here, and the National Retail Federation says families will spend an average of $858.07 on supplies, clothing and electronics. If you are already feeling the pressure from long supply lists and rising prices, you are not alone.To stretch your budget, consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch suggests starting by taking inventory of what you already have at home and getting your kids involved in the process. "This is a great budgeting lesson," says Woroch. "Teach them opportunity costs. If we save money on these supplies by reusing, we have more to spend towards something else that, maybe, they really want.” For backpacks and school clothes, investing in brands with warranties can help save money down the road. Jansport and Herschel backpacks both offer limited lifetime warranties that cover manufacturing defects. Old Navy kids' clothing, along with Target's Cat & Jack brand, also comes with a one-year guarantee.Woroch also recommends buying secondhand items through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, consignment stores or resale programs from retailers like Athleta and H&M. For tech needs, certified refurbished products can help cut costs.One of the easiest ways to save, Woroch says, is opting for store-brand school supplies instead of name brands whenever possible. "Stores have more power to discount their own brands further," says Woroch. "The difference in price is usually about 30% to 50%, so instant way to save, and you're really not giving up any quality.”Using store apps, loyalty programs and cashback offers can add even more savings. Always remember to check and see what rewards your debit or credit card has available.

Back-to-school shopping season is here, and the says families will spend an average of $858.07 on supplies, clothing and electronics.

If you are already feeling the pressure from long supply lists and rising prices, you are not alone.

To stretch your budget, consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch suggests starting by taking inventory of what you already have at home and getting your kids involved in the process.

"This is a great budgeting lesson," says Woroch. "Teach them opportunity costs. If we save money on these supplies by reusing, we have more to spend towards something else that, maybe, they really want.”

For backpacks and school clothes, investing in brands with warranties can help save money down the road. and backpacks both offer limited lifetime warranties that cover manufacturing defects. kids' clothing, along with , also comes with a one-year guarantee.

Woroch also recommends buying secondhand items through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, consignment stores or resale programs from retailers like and . For tech needs, certified refurbished products can help cut costs.

One of the easiest ways to save, Woroch says, is opting for store-brand school supplies instead of name brands whenever possible. "Stores have more power to discount their own brands further," says Woroch. "The difference in price is usually about 30% to 50%, so instant way to save, and you're really not giving up any quality.”

Using store apps, loyalty programs and cashback offers can add even more savings. Always remember to check and see what rewards your debit or credit card has available.

��vlog