Back to school is quickly coming for many of us. School supplies seem to get more expensive each year so we wanted to put together some tips and tricks on how to save money for the back to school season.

Back to School Donation and Giveaway Events

• School supplies are needed for children in foster care in Corpus Christi. Supplies can be dropped off at six different locations in Corpus Christi. You can also donate money online. 

The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library in Beeville is collecting back to school supplies for Beeville schools.

• LEAD First is hosting a back to school health fair on Saturday, July 30. Students must be present to receive a backpack.
• Councilman Ben Molina is hosting the Prepped for Success School Supplies Drive. You can drop off school supplies at any fire station throughout Corpus Christi. 
• The United Way of the Coastal Bend is hosting Operation Supply our Students (SOS.) Your monetary donation helps provide school supplies to more than 25,000 students at 43 public school districts in 10 Coastal Bend counties. You can also purchase and donate school supplies at participating H-E-B stores. 
• The Calallen After School Care is having a Back to School Bash on August 8. There will be free haircuts and school supplies given out. 
• The Veranda Apartments in Corpus Christi are hosting a school supply drive July 23-31. 
• The Purple Door is hosting a back to school drive. Donations can be dropped off in Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Beeville, Sinton or Alice. 
• Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson is hosting a school supply drive and ride on July 28. Bring $5 worth of school supplies to be donated to The Purple Door. 
• Donate school supplies and get your sweat on at the FREE Camp Gladiator Back to School Sweat and Supply Drive on August 6. All donations will be given to the United Way. 
• Sames Ford is hosting a CASA Back to School Supply Drive on July 30. Donations dropped off will be given to Coastal Bend youth in foster care.

• Visit the Caring Corner to get items such as clothing, shoes, and hygiene kits on July 27 and 28. 

Clean Hair Salon is offering 2 for $50 kids hair cuts from July 26 – August 7

Cano Health is doing a school supply drive for kindergarten – 5th graders on August 3 from 10 am – 2 pm. 

KM Premier Real Estate is having a back to school giveaway on August 5 starting at 4 pm at multiple locations.

Driscoll is hosting a backpack give away that is FREE to Alice ISD elementary students on August 5 at various times.

Multiple Whataburger locations are having backpack giveaway events on August 6th. This event is for ages 12 and under.

Touched by Money is hosting a school supply giveaway on August 7, 12 pm – 2 pm. They are also providing haircuts and braids to children.

Abel Herrero is hosting their 10th annual school supply giveaway on August 10 4 pm – 6 pm. This is a drive through event and children must be present.

Other Tips and Tricks

• Shop at your house first. Check out your stash of school supplies left over from last year before going to the stores. You can save a lot of money by not buying a new lunch box and backpack every year, no matter how much your child wants one with the latest pop culture icon.
• Shop at garage sales and thrift stores. These places can be a treasure trove for back to school items like lunch boxes, backpacks and of course clothes and shoes.
• Do a supply and clothing swap. Gather your friends and family to swap supplies, gently used clothing and shoes. Maybe even swap some pre-made crockpot meals to make the first week of school that much easier.
• Shop during Texas’ tax free weekend. This year’s tax free weekend is August 5 – August 7. During this weekend, shoppers are exempt from paying sales tax. Here is a list of clothing and footwear and school supplies that are eligible.
• Compare prices. If you have the time, fill your online shopping cart with your supply list at multiple stores to compare prices. If you don’t want to make trips to multiple stores, ask a friend to pick up certain supplies at one store and you’ll do the same for them at another. Also, check out this post from last year where Jenn shares tons of tips of being back to school on a budget!
• Shop at the dollar store especially on disposable items like paper towels and tissues.

• Split Bulk Shopping. A 12 pack of Kleenex tissues at SAMS Club is $12.98* making each box $1.08. This is cheaper than buying a single box at any other store, but who needs 12 boxes of tissues? Get together with 5 other families and each student gets their required 2 boxes of tissues while paying a lower price per box. *at time of publication
• Look at weekly ads, coupons, in-app sales, and “buy X get a gift card” deals. 
• Use cash back apps and browser extensions. Things like Rakuten, Honey, Ibotta and Fetch Rewards give you money back on purchases that you were going to make anyways. Camel Camel Camel will show you the price of an item over time to make sure you’re buying at the lowest rate.
• Shop sales for next year. Watch stores the weeks after the start of school for things to go on mega discount. Even if you don’t know your child’s exact supply list, stocking up on things like pencils, markers and notebooks is always a safe bet.

How do are you saving money this year?

Share your tips in the comments!