Every parent can probably agree that saving money on back-to-school shopping is important. A quick search will yield countless articles with many of the same tips. But I’ve got a simple trick I use to ensure I always pay less for our school supplies!
Although it’s common knowledge to shop the sales, reuse what you can, and shop thrift stores, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on these ideas and see if there’s anything new that can save you money. You can read more about these money-saving tips below:
- Tax Free Back to School Weekends
- Back to School Money Saving Clothing Hacks
- Why Your Child Doesn’t Need New School Supplies
But, there is one way to save money that many parents don’t know. Keep reading for more information!
MY FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL MONEY SAVING HACK
The one thing I do every single year that saves me money on everything I buy for back to school is to buy and use…
Discounted gift cards
That’s it. That is the one thing I can do to guarantee that I never pay full price for anything. Not only that, but when I can find a great deal and combine that with my discounted gift cards, I save even more money! If you’ve never used them before, you probably have a few questions. Allow me to help answer these for you.
ARE THEY LEGIT?
Absolutely. But don’t just purchase from any site. Make sure you use one with a strong reputation. The only one I use is Raise. I use them because they stand behind every transaction. I purchased a card that never arrived and they refunded my money—no questions asked!
CAN YOU USE THEM ANYWHERE?
Some of the cards state that they are valid for redemption only in the store or online. It is important that you read the fine print before you place your order. When searching, you can narrow down the results by physical cards vs. electronic codes.
The physical cards are sometimes plastic and other times are a printable version that comes to you on paper. Both work the same way as the barcode can be scanned. The electronic ones will include the number you will enter into your account at checkout.
ARE THE CARDS FOR STORES WHERE I’LL SHOP?
There are hundreds of retailers available. Some of my favorites include Target, Kohl’s, and The Children’s Place. You can filter your search for just about anything you need. If a retailer is out of stock for some reason, set up an alert so you are notified the moment one is available for purchase.
HOW MUCH ARE THEY DISCOUNTED?
The amount of the discount varies, but you can find them marked down as much as 4%-5% off the face value. Many of them are discounted at around 1%-2%.
Make sure that you sign up for the site’s email newsletter, as they sometimes offer additional discounts to subscribers, which can make good deals even better!
There you go! The simple thing I do every time I get ready to go back to school shopping for my kids is use discounted gift cards from Raise. This hack is so simple and can save you money that could be better used for sports gear or family vacations!