Saving on School Supplies 2024

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

June 29: Back to School Bash at the Jk Northway Coliseum Kingsville

Various Dates and Locations Driscoll Back to School events

July 10: Church Unlimited Westside Missions Backpack Giveaway Corpus Christi

July 20: Operation Safe Return Annual Back-To-School Health & Safety Fair

July 21: Church of Hope Backpack Giveaway Corpus Christi

July 21: Back to School Bash Orange Grove

July 23: Lemonade Day Back to School Bash Corpus Christi

July 26: Ready, Set, Glow event by Dat Good Good Corpus Christi

July 27: LEAD First and Driscoll Children’s Hospital Back to School Health Fair Corpus Christi

July 27: Nate’s Next Kid Up Back to School Giveaway Corpus Christi

July 27: Movin’ and Groovin’ Back to School Event Victoria 

July 27: Back to School Drive Victoria

July 27: Back to School Giveaway Kingsville

July 28: Drew’s World Back to School Giveaway Corpus Christi

July 29: Back to School event at O’Connor Elementary Victoria

July 31: Back to School Night Corpus Christi

July 31: Backpack / School Supply Giveaway at Retama Part Baptist Church Kingsville

August 1: BYOB (Bring Your Own Backpack) at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi

August 1: Back to School Ice Cream Bar from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center Corpus Christi

August 3: Back 2 Back Backpack Giveaway from Hot Z95 Corpus Christi

August 3: Back To School Event at The Suite on Moore Portland

August 4: Back to School Backpack Giveaway by KIXS 108 at Toyota of Victoria Victoria

August 4: School Supply Giveaway at Calallen Baptist Church Corpus Christi

August 4: Back to School Drive – FREE haircuts and school supplies at Victory Barbershop Victoria

August 7: Back to School Giveaway RMB Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall B 1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd. Robstown

August 10: Registration for the Pack the Bus event at Faith Family Church. Giveaway and back to school party on August 10 Victoria

August 10: Back to School Free Haircut Corpus Christi

August 10: FREE Shoes for kids from First Blessing Shoe Ministry & Second Baptist Church Corpus Christi

Back to School Donation Events 

Ongoing: School Supplies Drive for families at The Purple Door

July 1 – 31: School supplies are needed for children in foster care in Corpus Christi. Supplies can be dropped off at different locations in Portland and Corpus Christi. You can also donate money online.

July 21: Back to School for CASA sponsored by La Posada Foundation

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.

July 25: Snow Cone & School Supply Drive Corpus Christi

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 9  – August 11. 2024. 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!