Looking for tips for back-to-school? When the kids head back to school, it can be both a relief and a whole lot of stress. Relief because we all know kids at the end of summer are cagey and need the routine of school. And stress because it is time to purchase all of those school supplies.

5 Tips for Back-to-School Shopping

How much will those supplies cost? In 2010, the average family spent about $600 a year on school supplies. If you are looking to avoid the massive bill, we have a few tips that should help you with your back-to-school shopping.

1. Use What You Already Have

Go through their backpacks from last year, dig through the junk drawer, and go over the office. Chances are you will discover you already have some of the items on your child’s school supply list. You can even see if there are items at work you can take without it causing trouble. With many offices going paperless, there are extra supplies going unused.

2. Go Thrifting

Backpacks and clothes are two items you can easily find at thrift stores that are great for back to school. However, you might also get lucky with things like binders and pencil bags. Everything 90s is popular right now, so if you spot some vintage Lisa Frank, grab it.

3. Dollar Stores and Bulk Shopping

Which option is best for you will depend on how many children you have. The dollar store is great for smaller families since you can get all the supplies you need for about 20 dollars or less per kid. If, however, you have a larger family or you want to split supplies with extended family members and friends, bulk shopping might net you a better deal. However, we don’t mean heading to bulk stores. Instead, look on eBay for deals.

4. Know Your Tax Holiday

Most states will have a tax holiday before school starts, and sometimes individual cities will offer even better deals. Take advantage of this time by saving your shopping for this particular weekend. In most cases, even thrift stores are allowed to participate.

5. Use Coupons and Deals

Even if you are not a couponer, now is the time of year to give it a go. In addition to coupons, look for deals in stores, such as 2-for-1 deals, to stretch your dollars as far as possible.