Saving money on back to school is one thing every parent can agree upon. And, if you do a quick search, you will find countless articles, all of which share many of the same tips. But, I’ve got a simple trick I use to ensure I always pay less for our school supplies!
You know to shop the sales, reuse what you can and shop thrift stores. Those are ideas that everyone shares. But, there is one that many of them don’t talk about.
Read more:
- 2010 Tax Free Back to School Weekends
- Back to School Money Saving Clothing Hacks
- Why Your Child Doesn’t Need New School Supplies
MY FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL MONEY SAVING HACK
The one thing I do every single year that saves me money on everything I buy for back to school is…..
Discounted gift cards
That’s it. That is the one thing I can do to guarantee that I never pay full price for anything. Not only that but when I can find a great deal and combine that with my discounted gift cards, I save even more money! If you’ve never used them before, you probably have a few questions. Allow me to help answer these for you.
ARE THEY LEGIT?
Absolutely. But, don’t just purchase from any site. Make sure you use one that has a strong reputation. The only one I use is Raise.
The reason I use them is that they have always stood behind every transaction. I purchased a card that never arrived and they refunded my money. No questions asked!!!
CAN YOU USE THEM ANYWHERE?
Some of the cards state that they are valid for redemption only in the store or online. It is important that you read the fine print before you place your order. When searching you can narrow down the results by physical cards vs. electronic codes.
The physical cards are sometimes plastic and other times are a printable version that comes to you on paper. Both work the same way as the barcode can be scanned. The electronic ones will include the number you will enter into your account at checkout.
ARE THE CARDS FOR STORES WHERE I’LL SHOP?
There are hundreds of retailers available. Some of my favorites include Target, Kohl’s, and The Children’s Place. You can filter your search for just about anything you need. And, if they are out of stock for some reason, set up an alert so you are notified the moment one is available for purchase.
HOW MUCH ARE THEY DISCOUNTED?
The amount of the discount varies, but you can find them marked down as much as 4 – 5% off of the face value. Many of them are discounted at around 1 – 2%.
Make sure that you sign up for the site’s email newsletter as they sometimes offer additional discounts to subscribers, which can make good deals even better!
There you go! The simple thing I do every time I get ready to go back to school shopping for my kids. Using discounted gift cards from Raise. It is the simplest money-saving hack that many don’t know about!!!