It’s my favorite time of the year – back to school! As a mom, it hits two of my loves: shopping and finding a great bargain. But as a working, busy mom of three, I don’t have time to run around to all the stores to get the best buy on everything, so here’s how I got the school shopping done quickly this year.
1. Save Yourself Money by Taking at Home Inventory
I started by going to my cupboard of supplies. I usually buy more than we need and stash it for my boys to refresh their supplies throughout the year. But after several years of doing this, the cupboard is full! So I shopped here first and found several things off their list right on my own shelf!
2. Compare Online Stores to Find the Best Deals
When online shopping I love to always compare different sites to see what the best deal truly is, and since I don’t have to drive to 3 or more different places I can do it easily and quickly on my computer. I open three tabs on my computer…Walmart, Amazon, and Target…and decide to compare the prices at each place and was surprised by the deals I found! I had no expectations for finding great deals at Amazon and I was wrong…almost half-off of highlighters, mechanical pencils, glue sticks, and even those Ticonderoga pencils for my picky child. Also, I found a great deal on a graphing calculator for the Precalculus child ($38!!!). And with FREE 2-day Prime shipping how can you go wrong?
3. Schedule a Pickup
I love the deals at Walmart, but….confession time….I really hate shopping there. The crowds, the lines, the parking – just not my jam. But I love doing pick-up there! Covered, shaded parking reserved just for me…my things brought to my car and loaded – it’s just so wonderful! No crowds, no line….just me and my worship music waiting for my items in the comfort of my air-conditioned car. Pick-up shopping at crazy Walmart earns an easy gold star!
4. Finish off with Some Good-old Fashion In-Person Shopping with your Kids
This gives you the chance to still get that back-to-school shopping trip quality time with your child and gives you a chance to build memories that last without the long list of supplies and stress to get it all done in one day. Leave some of the fun items like binders, lunch boxes, and backpacks for in-person shopping so that your child can pick out the design they want. This will be a much more fun experience with the bulk of the supplies already taken care of. Maybe even throw in a trip to our nearest ice cream store to build on the time you get to have with your child before they go back to school!
For in-person shopping Target wins it for me – the store closest to my house…not too big and not too small. I took the fellas with me for the things they really wanted to pick out – backpacks, lunch boxes, fun folders, planners.
Then we were done – celebration time. Easy, quick, painless school shopping…gotta love it! What earns you a gold star in school shopping? Share all your tips and tricks in the comments!
