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 Giveaway Events and Health Fairs
July 22: Annual School Supply Giveaway at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute
July 22: (Kingsville) Back to School Bash & Wellness Fair at the JK Northway Exposition Center
July 26: Visit the Caring Corner to get items such as clothing, shoes, and hygiene kits.
July 26 – 28: (Victoria) Registration for the Pack the Bus event at Faith Family Church. Giveaway and back to school party on August 5
July 27: Back to School Event and Free Haircuts at Oak Park Elementary 
July 28: Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Tiny Adventures Corpus Christi. For students 3-6 years of age
July 29: LEAD First and Driscoll Children’s Hospital Back to School Health Fair
July 29: Happy Health Back to School Health Fair
July 29: (Victoria) Back to School event at O’Connor Elementary
July 29: (Victoria) C3 Victory Church Back 2 School Event
July 29: Back to school deals at Clean Hair Salon. Teachers 20% off any service and BOGO kids cut and style, 2 for $60.
July 30: (Victoria) Back to School Supply event at Zoom Eyecare
July 31: Back to School Event presented by A1 Sneaker House and The City’s Finest Barbershop
July 31 – August 2: Back to School VBS at Tabernacle of Praise Church
August 5: Operation Safe Return Annual Back-To-School Health & Safety Fair
August 5: Beach Safety Back to School, Backpack and Lunchbox Giveaway at La Palmera Shopping Mall, presented by the Je’Sani Smith Foundation
August 5: Funeraria Del Angel back to school bash.
August 5: Back to School Ice Cream Bar from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center
August 6: Back to School Bash presented by The Block CC
August 12: FREE Shoes for kids from First Blessing Shoe Ministry & Second Baptist Church
Back to School Donation Events
Ongoing: School Supplies Drive for families at The Purple Door
July 22: Back to School Drive and Car Show at Marcos Pizza Airline & Saratoga. FREE cheezy bread with donation.
August 2: Nate’s Next Kid Up Chick-Fil-A Night. Join Nate’s Next Kid Up and Chick-Fil-A Saratoga to raise money that will go towards purchasing school supplies for the kids at CASA of the Coastal Bend among other organizations.
August 5: Sames Ford is hosting a CASA Back to School Supply Drive. Donations dropped off will be given to Coastal Bend youth in foster care.
August 5: Donate school supplies and get your sweat on at the Camp Gladiator Back to School Sweat and Supply Drive. All donations will be given to the United Way.
August 5: (Victoria) Pack The Bus event and back to school party with Faith Family Church.
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 Purple Door is hosting a back to school drive, supplies, shoes and clothes are all needed. Donations can be dropped off in 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 55,000 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.
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 11 – August 13. 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 $17.94* making each box $1.50. 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!
