Back-to-school season can be an exciting time for families, but preparing for a new school year can also come with a long list of things to buy. Between school supplies, clothing, lunch items and everything else children need, those purchases can add up quickly.
Whether you’re shopping for a child heading to daycare, a kindergartner starting school or a high school student, there are simple ways to prepare for the year ahead while making the most of what you already have. Reusing items from previous years, shopping secondhand and planning meals can help families save money while reducing waste.
Start With What You Already Have
Before heading to the store, take inventory of the supplies and clothing you already have at home. Check backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles, pencils, notebooks, folders and other supplies from previous years.
You may be surprised by how many items are still in good condition and ready to be used again.
Look through your child’s school supply list and compare it with what you already have. Once you know what you need, you can avoid buying duplicates and focus your budget on the items that are actually necessary.
The same approach can work for families with younger children, too. Before buying new daycare or preschool supplies, check to see what you already have at home or what your child has outgrown that could be reused for another purpose.
Shop Your Closet First
Kids grow quickly, but that does not mean every back-to-school wardrobe needs to be brand new.
Before shopping for clothes, take a look at what your child already has. Clothing that still fits and is in good condition can often be worn for another school year. You can also check whether siblings, friends, family members or neighbors have clothing their children have outgrown that could be passed along.
When you do need to shop, consider secondhand options. Thrift stores, consignment shops, children’s resale stores and online resale platforms offer a variety of gently used clothing and other items, often at lower prices than buying new. You can find everything from everyday clothing and shoes to winter coats, special-occasion outfits and sports equipment.
Shopping secondhand can be especially helpful for children who grow quickly or need clothing for a new season. It can also be a good option for items that may only be needed for a short time.
You can also help extend the life of the clothes your children already own by repairing small holes, replacing buttons or finding creative ways to reuse clothing that is no longer wearable. When clothing is no longer usable, look for local textile recycling options before putting it in the trash.
Make the Most of Back-to-School Savings
If you do need to purchase new supplies, clothing or other essentials, look for ways to stretch your budget. Compare prices, shop sales and consider buying certain items in larger quantities when you know your family will use them throughout the year.
Keep an eye out for sales and promotions at stores throughout the season, including secondhand and resale stores. Many children’s resale stores offer discounts and special promotions around back-to-school time, and some offer reduced prices on gently used clothing throughout the year.
For example, stores such as Once Upon a Child buy and sell gently used children’s clothing, shoes, toys and other items. Families can shop for secondhand items at a lower cost and, when children outgrow their belongings, sell or pass them along so they can be used by another family.
The most sustainable purchase is often the one you do not need to make. Before shopping, check your closets and storage areas, review your child’s school supply list and make a list of what you actually need. Then, look for opportunities to borrow, swap or shop secondhand before buying new.
Pack Lunches With What You Have
Back-to-school lunches are another area where small changes can reduce waste and save money.
Instead of buying individually packaged snacks, consider purchasing larger packages and portioning snacks into reusable containers. Reusable water bottles and lunch containers can also help reduce the amount of single-use packaging your family goes through during the school year.
Leftovers can make easy lunches, too. When preparing dinner, consider making enough for an extra serving or two that can be packed for lunch the next day. Meal prepping can also help families use the food they already have at home and make busy school mornings a little easier.
For example, leftover roasted vegetables can be added to a wrap, extra chicken can become a sandwich or salad, and cooked pasta can be turned into a quick lunch. Planning ahead can help prevent food from being forgotten in the refrigerator and eventually thrown away.
Families can also look for ways to save money on groceries while helping prevent food waste. The Flashfood app connects shoppers with participating grocery stores that offer discounted food that is nearing its best-by date or is surplus. Depending on what’s available, shoppers can find items such as fresh produce, meat and other groceries at discounts of up to 50%.
Check the Flashfood app to see whether participating stores are available in your area. Buying food that might otherwise go unsold can help families save money while keeping good food out of the landfill.
SWACO’s Save More Than Food program also offers great recipes to help families reduce food waste at home. Planning meals, using what you already have and finding creative ways to use leftovers can help save both food and money.
Give Your Old Items a Second Life
When your child no longer needs something, consider whether someone else could use it before throwing it away.
Backpacks, lunch bags, clothing, school supplies, sports equipment and other gently used items may be useful to another family. Consider donating them to a local nonprofit or thrift store, or pass them along to friends, family or neighbors.
You can also look for opportunities to swap or resell items. Online resale platforms make it possible to connect with other families looking for clothing, toys, sports equipment and other items. A clothing or school supply swap with other parents can also be a simple way to clear out items your family no longer needs while finding something useful for your children.
Keeping usable items in circulation helps reduce waste and can make back-to-school shopping more affordable for everyone.
Make Reuse Part of the Routine
Reducing waste during the school year is not just about what you buy in August. Small habits throughout the year can make a difference.
Encourage children to take care of their belongings so they last longer. Label lunch containers and water bottles to help prevent them from getting lost. Keep a designated spot at home for backpacks and school supplies so items are easier to find and less likely to be replaced unnecessarily.
When something does break, see if it can be repaired before replacing it. When your child outgrows an item, pass it along to someone who can use it.
A More Sustainable School Year Starts at Home
Preparing for a new school year does not have to mean starting from scratch. Before buying something new, ask yourself: Can we reuse something we already have? Can we borrow it? Can we find it secondhand?
When you do need to shop, use your school supply list to buy only what you need, look for opportunities to save and choose durable items that can last beyond one school year.
By making the most of what you already have, accepting and passing along items when you can, reducing food waste, choosing reuse and keeping usable items in circulation, families can start the school year with less waste and more savings.
