How to Save Money This Back to School Season

What you do and don’t need.

With the back to school season fast approaching, you’re going to have to start thinking about all the things you'll need for classes this year (sorry, you can't avoid it for much longer). 

The problem: It can often get a bit pricey, and even if your parents are covering the bill for your school supplies, we’re sure they’re going to want to do whatever they can to make the dent in their wallets a little less severe.

To save both you and your fam money this year, we’ve put together a list of things you should consider trying out as you gather all your supplies.

Not only will these hints save you money, but most are also super helpful for the planet and reducing waste, so it’s a win-win situation.

Let’s get into it.

Reuse.

The first thing you’ll want to do—before you even think about making a trip to Officeworks—is to reuse what you already have from last year.

This can be anything from your laptop, calculators, pens, pencils and even your school uniform. If it still fits and meets school dress codes, there’s absolutely no need to throw it out.

Go through your old pencil case, sharpen down some pencils from last year, test some old pens and start putting together a new stationery kit with what you already have lying around at home ‘cos it’s completely free!

Shop online.

For those items you have run out and need to buy brand new, try shopping from home rather than making your way to your local Kmart (we're all guilty).

By shopping around on different sites, you’ll have the convenience of getting the best price without physically having to go to each store to find out the cost.

You’re way more likely to discover stock of a sale item and you’ll get to skip that back to school rush, which can be a total nightmare. 

You can also save some money by using discount codes that are floating around all over the internet or even browse our range of Student Edge deals. 

Write a list.

Just like when you’re going grocery shopping and you're wanting to avoid overspending, you’ll want to write a list.

In general, writing a list and sticking to it will mean that you only buy what you need. Even the government’s money smart website agrees.

Your school may provide you with a booklist and this is a great start. Take this list and tick off all the things that you already have or can get second-hand and then write a new list with everything else that is left.

Not only will this help you save money, but it will also ensure you keep track of exactly how much you’re spending and what kind of budgets you should set for yourself.

Buy second-hand.

A lot of the time you can find a bunch of pre-loved items that cover what you need for back to school.

Whether you’re getting your cousin's old school uniform or you're purchasing book bags and calculators from Facebook Marketplace, this is a great way to save money and the landfill.

You can also by refurbished tech if you need a laptop for your studies. There are heaps of great websites that offer quality second-hand electronics for super affordable prices.

Browse your local op-shop, scroll on Gumtree and check out some second-hand websites—it’ll save you more than you think!

Use the library.

The scariest thing on your booklist is usually textbooks. If there’s anything that’s going to break the bank (and your back) it’ll be textbooks.

One of the best options when it comes to academic texts is to utilise your local or school library as much as possible. It’s literally free.

Idk about you but that definitely beats paying $250 for one book.

If you get unlucky and all the copies of the book that you’re looking for have already been borrowed, you can also try to buy textbooks second-hand.

Second-hand textbooks often go for really cheap prices because the original owner will never need it again.

Older editions are also a fine option if that’s all you can find, just make sure it still has all the information you'll need to ace your exams.

Buy high-quality for things that need to last.

When it comes to shoes, backpacks, laptops and other necessities that you’ll only want to buy once, do your best to buy high-quality.

Sure, this might be kind of pricey upfront but long-term it will save you big bucks because it will likely be the only time you need to purchase it.

Quality items tend to last a lot longer than cheap items made with poor quality materials, so do your best to find a deal or a discount code on a really good quality pair of shoes that should keep your feet happy all year round.

Label everything.

If you’re in the habit of losing your stationery or letting your mates borrow your pencils, this one’s for you.

Get your parents to put name labels on all of your school supplies. Yes, even your uniform, bag, pens and everything else.

This way, if an item does get lost, anyone who may come across it will know who to return it to and you won’t be stuck having to repurchase a bunch of missing or borrowed school supplies.

Bring a packed lunch.

If you don’t already bring a packed lunch to school, you’re missing out.

While the canteen is great and a cheese toastie always hits the spot, the canteen is super expensive.

In the new year, why not make a habit of packing lunch to bring with you? This option is obviously cheaper than the canteen but it’s also likely to be way healthier.

The beauty of bringing your own lunch is that you’ll get to eat whatever you want (within your school’s allergy guidelines of course).

Have a chat with your parents and figure out what they’re willing to add to the weekly shopping list so that you can lunch it up at school with something you actually look forward to eating.

Consider your transport options.

As a student you will have access to cheap and reliable forms of transport.

If driving to school is costing you or your parents too much money on fuel and servicing, consider offering to take public transport or riding a bike.

Choosing alternatives to a car is a great way to help the planet too, by lowering emissions and the amount of traffic on the road that can cause congestion.

You can even apply for a student concession card if you want to catch the bus or train. Plus, some sates also provide subsidies to assist school students to travel to and from school.

If you live close enough, try riding your bike, skateboard or scooter to class every day. This is awesome because it’s free, creates no emissions and is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air.

Whether you're heading from primary school to high school or just moving up to the next year, school supplies can get expensive. 

Do what you can to save some dollars and share some of these tips with your parents if they're wanting a few handy hints too.

Header Image: JackF via Getty Images