It’s officially Back to School season and while most of you are pouring over school supply shopping lists we wanted to remind you that you can save a lot of money on your back to school needs by shopping at yard sales.
School supplies and back-to-school clothing can be expensive and since our goal is to save you money (and indulge your yard sale addiction) we’ve put together a list of five items that you can (and should!) buy at a yard sale for all of your back-to-school needs.
Clothing
Back-to-school clothing is expensive and school-aged children tend to outgrow clothing quickly. You can save yourself a lot of money by buying second-hand clothing at a yard sale. As with all purchases, you’ll want to make sure to give the clothing the 8 point yard sale inspection to make sure the item doesn’t have any rips, stains or holes in the clothing.
If your school requires a uniform, local yard sales are a great way to find used uniforms at a great price. School uniforms can be expensive, so even if you find used uniforms in a size bigger than you need, it’s still a good idea to buy them now and hang onto them until your child grows into it.
Backpacks
Backpacks are another item that we see frequently at yard sales. Kids regularly outgrow their backpacks or decide they need a new design. Because new backpacks can cost up to $50, you’ll be saving yourself lots of money by buying one second-hand at a yard sale.
Some of the imperfections you should look out for are broken zippers, frayed straps or holes in the bag.
School Supplies
Without fail, you can usually find pens, pencils, colored pencils, and markers at a yard sale. You’ll save yourself a trip to the store by buying these from a yard sale. Ask the yard sale host if she’d be willing to do a single bundle price on the school supplies to get an even better deal.
Books
You can save a lot of money by buying age appropriate books for your children at a yard sale instead of buying brand new in store. Children’s reading books typically average anywhere between $.25-$1.00 at a yard sale, which means you can stock up for the school year for just a few dollars.
Sports Equipment
If your child plays school sports it might be a good idea to look for some second-hand equipment. Sports equipment can cost several hundred dollars when buying brand new, but you can usually find used equipment at yard sale for a fraction of the retail cost.
What back to school items do you buy at yard sales? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment!
