It may seem hard to believe that school will be starting in just a few short weeks. Although many people may feel that it’s still a bit too early to start shopping for school supplies, shopping now can help you earn some major frugal shopper points. This time of the year can be really hard on the budget, especially if you have children in secondary school. All the same, there’s some simple ways you can get more out of your school supply budget, so you don’t have to dip into savings or your entertainment budget. With these few helpful tips, you can get the supplies out of the way so you can worry about your child’s wardrobe and other school related costs.

1. Don’t Wait for the List
Every year, teachers take their time to come up with a list of supplies your student is going to need throughout the year. If your child’s future teacher waits too long then there’s a good chance you could miss out on some major deals. So, why wait? If your student has been in school already then you probably have a pretty good idea of most of the things they’re going to need. For instance, pens, paper, pencils and a backpack are pretty much a given. These items can be bought best in bulk and will ensure you already have the basic supplies your student needs. Of course, you should always stock up on tissues and other odds and ends that always seem to make the list whenever they hit the sales rack. This can be throughout the year, so watch out for the best deals. When it comes to folders, crayons and notebooks, you may want to hold out for the list as it would be a shame to buy the wrong color of something.

2. Shop at Home
Your home may be the answer you’re looking for to save big time on school supplies. Before you prepare to spend lots of money on school supplies, you may want to look around the house first. Sometimes, you’ll be able to find the right amount of pencils and pens to suit your child’s school supply list. Often, school supplies from previous years go unused, such as notebooks, paper packages, map colors and highlighters. Don’t feel bad about tossing these items in your child’s backpack as it will save you money and prevent you from wasting the item. You may also want to consider reusing lightly used folders and binders, as this will help cut down on most of your spending. Of course, skipping out on new backpacks and lunch pails can also save a lot. Make sure you check them out thoroughly to ensure they won’t break mid-semester. With all of the supplies you find in your own home, you’ll be surprised as to how little you need to buy at the store.

3. Coupons
Before you start your school supply shopping adventure, make sure you look for the best coupons around. Usually, your local stores should start sending out coupons for school supplies fairly early, but it also may do you some good to browse around online to see if there’s any more you can print out. One place to look for great deals is on a manufacture’s page. Often they will post direct savings that will work at any store. You should also pay attention to double coupon deals, which will help save you even more on the supplies. If you can combine your best coupons on top of a sales price, then you should walk away with a bundle of school supplies for a whole lot less than you planned.

4. Dollar Store
When it comes to school supplies, you may want to skip out on the department store and head straight for your local dollar store to see what deals they have to offer you. Dollar stores can offer huge savings on school supplies, especially if they’re a one dollar or less store. This will allow you to get nice pens and pencils for a fraction of the cost of other stores. Usually, you will be able to buy a few packages of paper, several notebooks and folders, plus a binder without breaking the $10 mark. Another thing to look for when you shop at the dollar store is lunch boxes. They may not be the sturdiest of lunch boxes, but they’ll safely transport your child’s food from point A to point B without forcing you to waste paper or plastic bags. Of course, the one thing you should probably avoid from the dollar store is backpacks. Whereas many dollar stores will offer them for around $10, you may find yourself shopping for a new backpack many different times during the school year.

5. Second Hand
Don’t think twice about using second hand items for your child in school. One of the best places to shop is a thrift store as they will often place gently used school supplies on a special display. Usually, these items will be zip-up binders, lunch boxes and backpacks but you may also find packs of paper and other items that people have donated to help out. When it comes to the thrift store, you may be surprised at some of the items you may find. For instance, you may fall in love with a vintage lunchbox that is right up your child’s alley. Also, they may have backpacks that are in great shape. Of course, you could also shop yard sales for these items. Another good way to get what you need is to ask friends and family if they have old items. Sometimes kids will end up with several themed backpacks or lunchboxes that simply collect dust. Don’t forget to pass down supplies from sibling to sibling too as this will help cut down on the price, especially if you have kids that follow the same interests.

6. Go Generic
Another mistake that many people make quite frequently is they will buy expensive name brand products. Most of the time, this won’t do you any good because they tend to be double to triple the cost of other supplies. One of the worst name brand things you can buy is tissues for the class. Most teachers ask for two or three of these boxes, which really adds up in the long run. You should also look for crayons, markers and colored pencils in a generic brand. Of course, some items that are off brand may not work as well, such as glue sticks. However, if you know your child isn’t going to be using their own supplies, or if they’re in the early stages of school, then the off brand shouldn’t make a difference. Also, you may want to skip out on buying themed products. Anything with your child’s favorite character on it is going to cost a bit more than the other supplies. This can really wear into the budget and may be frustrating when you find out your student has to share supplies with the entire class. Instead of shopping for themes, try to pick out items in their favorite colors which will make it easier for both of you if you find out your student doesn’t get to keep the expensive character pencils for themselves.

7. Don’t Skimp on the Backpack
When it comes to school supplies, the backpack is going to be the one area where you’re going to want to concentrate the majority of the budget. Sure, it may seem wrong to buy a pricey backpack and cheap supplies, but you’ll be thankful when you don’t have to buy two or three backpacks during the school year. It seems like every year, kids come home with heavier backpacks, even in the early grades! So, you’ll need something that stands up to the wear and tear of your child’s epic homework assignments. When it comes to older kids, you may really want to splurge. If you buy a hefty backpack you could end up not having to buy another backpack for the rest of the middle and high school careers. Sure, it may not be fashionable for them, but a trustworthy backpack will ensure they won’t have to suffer the embarrassment of all of their school supplies falling out of the bottom of their bag. Make sure to check out stitching when you shop and look for reviews.

8. Bulk Buys
When it comes to school supplies, try to shop in bulk whenever you can. This comes in handy when you have more than one child, but it will also save you money on the supplies you need for your own home or office. If you can find a great bulk deal on paper then you may not have to worry about buying it again for a couple of years, especially since most students only go through a package or two during their school year. You may also want to find pens and pencils like this as they always seem to go missing. This will help prevent you from having to constantly buy them and will even offer a supply for the home. Other items to look for in bulk stores are folders, notebooks, extra staples and subject separators. You may also want to give the kids a few study aids like post it notes or index cards. The more you can find on sale at a bulk store, the less you will have to worry about during the school year, so don’t hesitate when it comes to these types of buys.

9. Talk to the Teacher
If you’re really having a hard time coming up with a budget for school supplies, then you can always wait until the first day of school and talk to the teacher. Sometimes, the teacher will be able to cut you some slack on some of the items that may not be necessary, such as the 3 boxes of tissues or large canister of popsicle sticks. The teacher may also be able to offer some insight as to when your child will need specific supplies. For instance, if the students won’t be working with scissors and glue for a few months then it may be okay to pass up on these items until you’ve gotten the other supplies in order. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should send your child to school with next to nothing. Make sure to pack a paper and pen or pencil as well as anything they will need to get through lunch on the first day.

10. Look for Aid Programs
Another way to save on school supplies, if you simply don’t have the money for them, is to look for an aid program that can help out. There’s actually more than you think, so you may not have to look for long. One common one is theNational Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources, which won’t just help with school supplies but can give your school a little aid in the sports and recreation department too. If this program isn’t available to you then you may want to call your local community center to see what you can find. Sometimes local charities will be able to donate school supplies for your children. Also, churches are another great resource that can help out your school supply dilemma without any questions asked.

A new school year is already going to be stressful on you and your children, so don’t let the school supply problem take your frustration to an all new level. With these ten tips, you should be able to find the best way to save money on school supplies, so your budget won’t be sent into the red.