Each fall, it is time to get ready for school. The kids may not be ready to go back, but ask parents and they may have a different take on that. However, one thing they both know is that it is time to get school supplies. If your budget is tight, it can be stressful as you try to figure out how to pay for shoes, clothes, backpacks, and all of the supplies they need.
The truth is, you don’t need to buy your child new supplies. Of course, they will need pencils and other things that have been long since used up. However, one way to save a good deal on school supply costs is to recycle school supplies. This is a great way to not only save money but bring new life to items that normally may have been cast aside!
Read more:
- 10 Ways to Celebrate Back to School
- Easing Back into Your Daily School Routine
- 30 Days of Kid Approved Lunch Ideas
RECYCLE YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO SAVE MONEY
Binders
Take the binder from last year and scrub it clean from marks and smudges. If you find that the outside is ripped or torn, pick up some fun colored duct tape and create some designs to cover it up! Add some stickers to the binder and you’ll have a one of a kind binder – that cost you very little money!
Notebooks
If you ever look at these when they come home at the end of the year, it seems there is always papers left in it unused. Rip out all of the used papers and toss them into the recycling bin. If it is a spiral book, clean out the paper from inside of the spiral. If there is still half of the book left, you can send that to school with your kids to use again.
Backpack
There is no need to buy a new backpack every single year. If you spend MORE up front and purchase a quality backpack, you will end up saving money in the long term. If your kids do need a new one, wait until mid-September and then buy one as they will be on sale and reduced for quick sale. Just use some fun duct tape or fabric scraps to repair tears and rips until you can get them a new one.
Pencil case
Every year kids seem to need a pencil case. Rather than buy a new one, just find last year’s box and clean it up. If the kids want to make it personal, use washi tape or stickers to give it their own special touch.
Pencils
These get sent home at the end of the school year. Rather than buying new ones, just sharpen them and add a cap eraser. You’ll have pencils that still have a lot of writing left in them!
Lunchbox
Don’t run out and buy a new lunchbox. Instead, just wash with a mild soap and water and allow it air dry. If it is ripped, you might be able to stitch it to make it look new. Invest in a quality lunch storage system that you can use day in and day out.
Scissors
If you ever notice, kids use the same size of scissors for several years in a row. Find last year’s and clean them up.If they are dull, you can sharpen them with a sharpening tool. They will be usable for several years.
Look through last year’s supplies to see what you can clean up and use again. Or, if you find they need to be replaced, wait for a few weeks after school starts and you may find the prices drop even lower than you’ll find during the hot back to school shopping sales!
