Back-to-School Savings Guide: Stock up on School Supplies Without Breaking the Bank

The much anticipated yet stress-inducing season of back-to-school chaos is upon us once again. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the promise of undisturbed cups of coffee, and the sweet sound of silence echo in the distance. But before you start doing your happy kid-free dance, let's dive into some tips on preparing for the first day of school without completely emptying your pockets.

Let's talk about the shopping list. You know, the one that your kid's teacher sent you with a million items that you have to buy, like 24 pencils, 10 glue sticks, 5 notebooks, 3 folders, 2 scissors, and a partridge in a pear tree. OK, maybe not the last one, but you get the idea. If you've waited till the last sunny days of summer, you may be better served ordering everything online with next day delivery. Perhaps you're lucky, and your school has partnered with companies like The Write Stuff. Like the ultimate school supplies fairy godmother, they whisk away the stress with a pre-packaged box containing everything on your kids' school supply lists. Convenience, meet wallet. Wallet, meet convenience. Worth. Every. Penny.

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However, if you have the time and patience to go à la carte, here are some ways to cut costs and still get everything your kid needs.

• Shop around. Compare prices at different stores and online. You might be surprised by how much you can save by doing some research. For example, I found a pack of 12 pre-sharpened Ticonderaga pencils for $4.55 on Amazon, while the same pack was $2.99 at Staples. That's over 30% saved right there!
• Use coupons and discounts. Look for coupons in newspapers, magazines, flyers, or online. Some stores offer discounts for teachers and students, so it never hurts to see if you qualify. You can also use apps like Ibotta or Rakuten to get cash back on your purchases.
• Buy in bulk. If you have more than one kid, or you're tight with another family whose children will be in the same classes, buying in bulk can save you money and time. You can buy items like pencils, glue sticks, erasers, or paper in large quantities and split them among the kids or store them for later use.
• Reuse and recycle. Before you buy anything new, check what you already have at home. You might be able to reuse some items from last year, like backpacks, lunch boxes, binders, or calculators. At the end of the last school year, our kids brought back several notebooks and folders that were completely unused.
• Swap with other parents. Another way to save money and reduce waste is to swap items with other parents. You can organize a swap party with your friends or neighbors, or join a local online buy nothing or trash to treasure group. You can let people know what you're looking for, and give away items that your kids have outgrown, like clothes, shoes, books, or toys.

Every year, the list gets longer and more expensive, and just when you think you've conquered the list, you find out teachers are raiding their own piggy banks for classroom stuff. They deserve a medal, or at least a lifetime supply of coffee.

The Kids in Need Foundation can swoop in to save the day. Teachers in underserved schools can apply and receive the resources and support they need to succeed. If you're feeling like a philanthropic rockstar yourself, you can hop onto DonorsChoose, the ultimate supply matchmaking website. Teachers put up their supply wishlist, and families dish out the goods. It's school supply shopping, but with extra fuzzy feelings because you know your dough is going to support another child's academic journey.

Our Favorite School Supplies

Gear up with these school supplies that survive the test of time without causing grown-up-sized tantrums. Here are the MVPs that have aced the durability, practicality, and "please don't drive me crazy" tests year after year.

• Backpacks - Enter the Tilami: the heavyweight champ of backpacks. Sure, it's a bit burly, but if rolling backpacks are in the game, this one's the kingpin. With room for a Chromebook, pockets aplenty for tiny treasures, and a genius wheel cover to spare your back from grime, it's a win-win. And for your little learners, the Simple Modern takes the spotlight with medium & large sizes and over 30 different designs. Best of all it comes with chest straps to keep everything secure on their tiny shoulders.

• Lunchboxes - Give it up for Bentgo lunch boxes, the crowd favorite for a reason. A dishwasher-safe tray that keeps food boundaries intact, a leak-proof lid that's user-friendly for even the tiniest fingers, and if you're feeding a teen-sized appetite, opt for the bigger version that holds double the amount of food. They also have Bentgo Kids Chill with a built in freezer pack or Stainless Steel versions for eco-warriors (note: these are only leak-resistant, not leakproof). If you want something light and simple, we're also big fans of these see-through four compartment snack boxes.

• Water bottles - We didn't carry water bottles around with us everywhere growing up, but I guess this next generation will be much better hydrated. The insulated Thermos funtainers are the maestros of spill-proof sipping, even for tots. The lid defends the straw against dust and dirt, and cold drinks stay chilled all day long. Easy peasy to clean, no lurking germs in sight. Everything is dishwasher safe, but hand-wash the bottle if you want to keep the designs dazzling. On the hunt for a similar plastic champion? Keep your eyes peeled, 'cause we're still on that quest as well.
• Waterproof Labels - Because let's face it, kids have a magical way of losing everything! These peel-and-stick, self-laminating wonders are lifesavers for labeling all the essentials—water bottles, lunch boxes, you name it. Whether your little one forgets where they left their stuff (again), these labels make sure it finds its way back home.
• Headphones - School meets the digital age, and even kindergarteners sport tablets. Enter wired headphones, the unsung heroes that don't need a power-up. Since sharing is caring, we also looked for headphones with a sharing port so a buddy, parent, or teacher can listen in. Lil Gadgets headphones are music to tiny ears, and Simolio headphones come in dynamic duos and trios for siblings. Ear candy for all!

Now, let's tackle the epic debate: to splurge or not to splurge on primo school supplies? Brace yourselves, because it turns out your kiddos have high standards too. Ever colored with a non-Crayola crayon? The struggle is real, from the scent to the sketch. Oh, and the travesty of a stubborn, off brand pencil? We've all been there, splintering wood, and broken lead stuck in the sharpener. If you've got the wiggle room in your wallet, save your sanity and invest in the cream of the crop. Here's the hall of fame for brand loyalty:

• Crayola crayons, colored pencils, markers
• Ticonderoga pencils
• Bostitch pencil sharpeners
• Sharpie permanent markers (check out the Sharpie laundry marker for labeling clothes!)
• Expo dry erase markers
• Papermate or Pilot pens
• Elmer's glue
• Fiskars scissors

As your kids embark on their learning adventure armed with top-notch supplies, a big high-five is in order – you've mastered the art of surviving the first day of school without breaking the bank. Here's to the start of another school year!