The first day of school is right around the corner. It’s back-to-school shopping season! This time is another shopping frenzy for both parents and kids. But how do you achieve your back-to-school goals?
Looking for new notebooks, shoes, and electronics? Don’t rush to make your back to school purchase! Here are some of the best back-to-school shopping hacks to remember before you buy some supplies.
Even before back to school season, try to memorize the prices of school supplies to compare if they’re actually cheaper during August. You can download an app to help you in remembering the prices of notebooks, pencils, etc.
This way, you’ll know when the best time to buy school supplies is and where to find the best deals.
If you want to stock up supplies for the whole year, be ready to shop not once, but more than once to get the best deals. You need to schedule another trip to the school supplies shop this summer.
Check out the store nearest you and check the school supplies prices as early as July. Mid-August, you can start with your first set. Come September, you can make other rounds at shops that mostly have a clearance sale.
Always be on the lookout for sale or huge discounted items to get a good deal on school supplies. Some retailers offer items at a low price to lure consumers. But if you’re lucky, you can save more money on these huge deals.
Some items such as scissors, calculators, and lunch boxes can’t always be bought in one store. Do not stick to one shop when buying school supplies. Thrift stores are also a great place to find some calculators, clipboards and planners.
You can find cheap items in Japanese stores in Dubai such as Daiso and Miniso for as low as 7 AED. You can also find some notebooks and cheap binders from Day to Day, and pretty much other art supplies your child will need at a cheaper rate.
Stores such as Jashanmal and character shops like Virgin offer great options for school bags and other supplies for kids. But Carrefour and Lulu are also great options if you want cheaper yet quality school bags for your child.
You can also get a good deal on sports brands Adidas, Nike, North Face, Jansport, and other brands of bags in outlet stores. In Dubai, you’ll find a lot of outlet stores for these brands. You can head to Dubai Outlet Mall and Dubai Outlet Mall Village in Jebel Ali for great deals on bags and other items your varsity player will need in school.
Some stores still offer discounted items that void purchase tax when you buy them. Check the store nearest you to grab a good deal!
If you have time and resources, you can even travel to Sharjah and Ajman, where you can buy school supplies in bulk and get it at a cheaper price compared to stores here in Dubai.
Never throw your hypermarket receipts! Always check the back for deals and coupons you can use for shopping. Sometimes they offer up to 15% discount on both food items and school supplies.
Look out for coupons on parenting magazines and online. Huge brands offer great discounts on Facebook in exchange of your liking and sharing their page, or participating in a contest.
If you’re a frequent shopper, it wouldn’t hurt to get yourself a membership card to get reward points every time you shop. Almost all retail stores in Dubai offer these “Shukran” cards. Use those points in school supplies or other essential school items such as shoes and bags.
Most retail outlet sales start in Dubai on a Thursday, marking the start of the weekend. During these times, items on sale run out quickly. This is when most retail shops offer the lowest prices on items.
Not much time to get your shopping done? You can always go for a one-stop shop to get all the school supplies you need. Hypermarkets are the best place to go in Dubai.
Practice matching prices in major hypermarkets and stores to always get the best deal. Comparing prices is a good start to score money savings.
Sometimes, online shops like Souq.com or Noon.com offer great deals than those in retail stores. The best thing about ordering online? They deliver straight to your doorstep for free, sometimes with a minimal charge. You can avoid the hassle of long queues for shopping and do it at the convenience of your own home.
Keep in the loop with the latest deals on brands by subscribing to SMS alerts. They can give you updates on discounted items and seasonal sale. Most clothes brand in Dubai such as H&M, ZARA, Pull & Bear SMS their customers when the next sale is.
You shouldn’t make it a practice to always buy new things every start of the year. Check out classified sites for second-hand items. Check each item before you purchase it. Some items on sale even have warranties valid. Prices are guaranteed to be cheaper than brand new items.
Sometimes, buying gift cards can get you more savings than buying items straight from the store!
Try to get 40% discount on clothes whenever you buy something new for maximum savings.
Even before you buy new school supplies, check your inventory of old school supplies available at home. Not all items should be new.
Buying expensive stuff doesn’t mean the quality is good. Sometimes, the cheaper ones are more durable. Check reviews, if possible. You will probably learn from experience after buying school supplies for some time.
Buying cheap items will cost you less, as of the moment, but it can also cost you more in the long run if they keep on breaking every now and then. You need to invest in good quality materials for electronics such as laptop and calculators.
Sit down with your kids and let them know how much budget you need to spend on certain items. This will help them understand that they can buy what they want, but they have limits. Take them shopping with you and let them look forward to it every year.
It’s easy to splurge on new things but you will also regret it if you buy things that your child doesn’t need. Take a deep breath, stick to your list, and go shop.
Found this article useful? Let us know how you save money with your school supplies shopping.
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