For kids who are in their second or higher year of college, there may not be as great a need to purchase a lot of supplies but textbooks and clothing will still be an expense. For kids just going off to college for the first time, clothes, books, and whole dorm accessories will be necessary. It can be a huge expenses, especially to parents who are having trouble keeping up with tuition costs. Even grade school and high school parents are finding it hard to keep up with school supply lists, extra curricular registration fees and other kid-related expenses.

Here are some tips to help students cut back-to-school spending and still have all they need:

Look Around Your Home
Before you go spending a ton of cash on all things new, look around the house for supplies you already have. If your kids have been in school for awhile, there are probably some pencils and notebooks stashed somewhere you have forgotten about. For bigger items needed for dorm life, what you don’t have, your friends and family might.

Shop In the Yard
This is the high point of yard sale season. There are always yard or garage sales being advertised in communities. This is a great way to find dorm-sized refrigerators, carpets, and decorations. Pay attention to any sales announcing college or student-related stuff. Sellers usually like to highlight these items for a quick sale. You can also look around in the classifieds over several weeks and see what comes up.

Moving Sales
If you live in or near a college town, the best time to hit a moving sale is when school ends and students who are not returning want to get rid of their wares. If you missed a move out sale at the dorm, look for other moving sales around your neighborhood. When people are moving, you usually have a great opportunity for negotiating prices you want to pay because at that point people just want to get rid of their stuff so they don’t have to move it.

Shop For Plain Value
While marketing experts know just how to lure in your kids with the fancy versions of everything, you need to shop for the plainer items that can usually cost half of what a character-themed version does. For smaller kids who may not understand why they can’t have the “cooler” version, purchase a few packs of stickers they can use to decorate folders and notebooks and such.

Bulk Up on Supplies
If you have multiple kids in school, save money by shopping at a wholesale club where you can buy school supplies in bulk. If you only have one or two kids, get with another mom and split the cost and the supplies.

Go For a Refurb
If your child needs a computer or cell phone or other electronic item, look for refurbished goods online.

Check With the School
For bigger ticket items, check with your child’s school and see if they have any deals or promotions going where students are eligible for discounts.

Going to College With Less was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are 5 ways to save on the new school year:

Backpacks

The trick is to wait until after the school year has started. Typically, September is the first time you will find some deep discounts on backpacks and other school gear. By September, stores are already thinking about Christmas so they want to get rid of as much as possible. If you want the optimum deal for a book bag, check out the tags on the bag for companies that offer lifetime warranties. There are several companies that will replace a bag that has been ripped or gets a busted zipper for no cost to you but postage. If you happen to find a really great clearance deal, buy more than one bag at a time to keep on hand for later in the year as many kids tend to be rough on backpacks and book bags.

Lunch Boxes

If you plan to save more money by having kids bring lunch from home rather than buy it, grab a lunch bag or box also in September when they go on clearance. You can also look for plain lunch bags at the dollar store. While most kids want a character-themed item, you can purchase a pack of stickers and have the kids decorate their own lunch bag with their favorite character. There are also appliqués that can easily be hot-glued onto the lunch bag or box.

Supply List

While stores like Walmart offer the convenience of school supply lists as well as the necessary supplies, the same stuff will most likely be available at the local dollar store at considerably less cost. Just like with the lunch bag, stickers can spruce up a plain pencil box in no time at all. You will also get a better deal on notebooks, paper, and other school supplies than most other stores without having to wait for the sales.

Book Fees

If your school requires you to pay for books and other fees, you may want to consider asking for help. Many local and county programs can offer advise or assistance for paying these fees. With the economy the way it is, families who think they will not qualify may be surprised to learn that they can actually get help covering the essential fees involved with some schools.

Lunch

Some children may qualify for a reduced or free lunch program through their school. Parents who face financial difficulties should speak with the school district and obtain the qualifications necessary for participating in the programs to ensure their children get healthy meals each day. Many families are involved in the reduced lunch program and there is certainly no shame in making sure your child is fed.

5 Ways to Find Back to School Bargains was created by and is property of American Consumer News.