Next month, millions of children will don backpacks and return to the classroom. 

No matter what grade they’re in, they’ll need school supplies from items as inexpensive as ballpoint pens to high-end items like new computers.

That means you’ll be spending money this August. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to save on back-to-school supplies. Here are a few tips:

Set a Budget
Like all expensive times of year, it’s a good idea to set a 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, backpacks, and devices, and set a reasonable budget. Keep track as you’re purchasing things and make adjustments as needed.

Shop the Sales
Don’t throw out any flyers that land in your mailbox this summer! And save those discount emails, too. 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.

Buddy Up for Bulk Items
If you have a friend who is a member of a wholesale store like BJ’s or Costco, pair up with them. Sometimes you can buy pencils, notebooks and other supplies in bulk and save money when you share the items (and split the cost) with a friend. You may save time, too — 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 them at the lowest price.

Make It a Lesson
Get your kids warmed up for the classroom by involving them in the shopping. Can they help you find the lowest prices, calculate sales taxes and calculate per-item costs on multipacks?

More Advice and Assistance
Join us this coming Wednesday, July 19 for a free webinar: “Preparing Your Finances for Back to School” being hosted by our partners at GreenPath. You can sign up easily at cofcu.org/events.

Plus, while you’re out shopping, grab a few extra supplies for the annual CommonWealth One School Supplies Drive. We are collecting donations at our Northern Virginia area branches until July 26 as part of the Northern VA Family Service School Back-To-School Drive.

We are collecting donations at our Harrisonburg Regional Branch in partnership with United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Tools for School until August 6.