When Is the Best Time to Start Back-to-School Shopping?
School may be out for summer, but it won't be long before back-to-school sales are back in session. Yes, it seems as though shopping seasons start earlier each year, but when it comes to back-to-school shopping for your kids, this is one you don't want to skip.
An estimated 80% of consumers are expecting to see higher prices this year, according to a 2023 survey conducted by the National Retail Federation (NRF). In this same survey, 45% of consumers are planning to do more comparative shopping online and shop sales more often to save. Judging by this, it's possible that this year's back-to-school sales might look a lot more like Black Friday.
Even if the start of the new school year seems far away now, planning to get your kids' back-to-school shopping out of the way in the early days of summer is a smart strategy for saving big.
When does back-to-school shopping start?
Back-to-school shopping typically starts in early-to-mid July, right after the July 4 holiday. Shopping holidays like July 4 and Prime Day are some of the best times to stock up on school supplies and dorm room decor that you know your children will need for the year ahead. And now, you can get a bunch of back-to-school deals during Prime Day.
What products should I buy for back-to-school shopping?
Check with your child's school district to make sure you have the most up-to-date list of school supplies for their grade level.
Along with the usual classroom essentials like pens and graphing calculators, you'll also want to shop back-to-school sales for new clothes, as well — according to the aforementioned NRF survey, more consumers are expecting higher prices on clothes and accessories this year than on school supplies.
Are school supplies covered under sales tax holidays?
Certain states have sales tax holidays that allow consumers to buy particular categories of products up to a certain dollar amount tax-free. The following states have sales tax holidays in 2023 that pertain to school supplies, clothing, books, and/or electronics like laptops and tablets:
Alabama: July 21-23
Arkansas: August 5-6
Connecticut: August 20-26
Iowa: August 4-5
Maryland: August 13-19
Mississippi: July 28-29
Missouri: August 4-6
New Jersey: August 26-September 4
New Mexico: August 4-6
Ohio: August 4-6
Oklahoma: August 4-6
South Carolina: August 4-6
Tennessee: July 28-30
Texas: August 11-13
West Virginia: August 4-7
How can I help families who can't afford school supplies?
The Kids in Need Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports families, teachers, and schools by giving them the supplies and resources kids need for the classroom. You can get involved by donating money or new school supplies directly, hosting a school supply drive, or sponsoring a Backpack Build, which sends at least 100 students brand-new backpacks filled with the supplies they need.
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