The Update

Back to School Shopping on a Budget

It’s time for back-to-school shopping! This year’s back-to-school season requires shoppers to try sticking to their budgets, and purchase everything on their lists, without breaking the bank. Here’s how to shop for school safely while on a budget.

Set a Budget

Like all expensive times of year, it’s a good idea to set a realistic budget for covering all your expenses during the back-to-school shopping season. Take some time to look through your kids’ school supply lists, jot down any other necessities you need to purchase for them now, like clothing items, backpacks, and devices, and set a reasonable budget you can stick to realistically. If you dare, you can take it one step further and assign a dollar amount to each category.

Order Online

While nothing compares to shopping in person, if you’re trying to avoid crowded stores and frequently touched inventory, your best bet is to shop online. Staples, Best Buy, and Home Depot offer a wide selection of school supplies, backpacks, and electronics on their websites as well. Most big brands offer quick and cost-free delivery when you spend a minimum amount. Also, when shopping remotely, comparison shopping for the lowest price is as simple as clicking on and viewing a couple of different tabs.

Shop the Sales

Don’t throw out any flyers that land in your mailbox this summer! Retailers tend to place different back-to-school items on sale each weekend throughout the summer, and if you’re a careful shopper, you can take advantage of them all. You’ll need to know when each store is having a sale on which item, so be sure to check out their sites or flip through the sale flyers to find the best bargains leading up to school starting. Don't forget to check in on New Mexico's Tax Free Shopping holiday! APS schedule has changed this year (2023), so you may need to wait on some supplies in order to shop during the tax free holiday. 

Pair Up With a Friend

If you’d prefer not to spend too much time and energy on shopping for school supplies, but you still want to save money, consider pairing up with another parent. You can split the supply list between the two of you, with each parent buying items for the kids in both families. This way, one of you can run across town to the store with the crazy deals on crayons, pencils, and glue, while the other picks out binders and notebooks at the store selling these items at the lowest price. 

Take Advantage of Your RGCU Rewards

When you go back to school shopping, use your RGCU Debit Card and earn reward points! These points can be redeemed for cash back, merchandise, and more! If you're going to buy school supplies, you might as well be rewarded!