It may only be the end of July, but many kids start school next month.  And with the start of school comes the rush to buy students all the school supplies and clothes they need. But before you head out to the stores, Katie Bossler, a financial counselor with GreenPath Financial Wellness, has some money saving tips for back to school savings.

Bossler says you should take inventory of what your child currently has that could be reused during the school year.

She says shopping around for the best deals is also a good idea.  You don’t have to buy everything at one store.

And Bossler advises to avoid buying items with cartoon characters on them, which generally cost 20-30% more than their generic counterparts.

“Think about getting those basic school supplies and then have your kids decorate them.  You know, get stickers or have them draw on it, something to have the cartoon characters there but with a much cheaper price tag.  The other suggestion is to shop on your own.  I think anyone with kids knows you’re going to spend a lot more if they are there with you so have that list in hand and consider taking that trip on your own.”

Bossler says it’s also a good idea to talk to your kids and identify need to haves versus want to haves. These tips for back to school savings should help with preparation.

GreenPath Financial Wellness is a nationwide, non-profit financial counseling and education organization.

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