Bingzhen Hong/iStock.com
A Deloitte survey estimates that parents will spend $31.3 billion on back-to-school expenses this fall. Rising costs may lead parents to pay more for school supplies and other expenses, such as extracurricular activities. One in three parents surveyed said they can’t afford back-to-school shopping and plan to cut back on the cost of groceries and other everyday items. Some parents plan to go into debt.
One way parents can save money on back-to-school shopping is to check out warehouse stores like Costco. Warehouse stores offer great deals on a variety of everyday items, but they also have some great deals for parents who want to spend their money wisely. Here are some ways you can save at Costco as you tackle your back-to-school shopping:
Trending now: 6 things the middle class should sell to boost their savings
Read more: 6 Money Moves You Must Make If You Want to Become Wealthy
Great deals on electronics
“For students in grades 6-8, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 11-inch Wi-Fi Tablet 64GB. It’s a great beginner tablet with thousands of apps to choose from and child safety features,” says Kendria Smith, owner and parent at RE.DIRECT.
For high school students, we recommend the 14-inch MacBook Pro laptop with the Apple M3 Pro chip, 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, 18GB memory and 1TB SSD storage. It’s also the computer she uses every day for work. She especially likes the long battery life, which is great for teens who tend to spend their time surfing the web.
Read next: 5 unnecessary bills to stop paying in 2024
It’s a one-stop shop
“Costco is a great way to have a one-stop shop for all the back-to-school essentials we need, eliminating the stress of having to make multiple trips to different stores in the nine hours before school starts,” said Jasmine Bloemhoff, a spokesperson and mother of five.
She said buying general school supplies like backpacks, printer paper, notebooks, new socks for gym classes and even hand sanitizer and tissues to help teachers stock classrooms is very economical for families with multiple children.
You can also buy in bulk
“Buying in bulk and stocking up can save you a ton of money,” Smith says. For example, he explains, Costco has the ultimate school supply kit, a 40-piece pack perfect for stocking your home with essential school supplies or packing a backpack full of everything you need for a successful back-to-school season.
This pack comes with a variety of glues, highlighters, erasers, pencils, pens, and markers in a warehouse for just $9.99. This alone can save you a ton of money, and by buying multiples of the same items, you can have a stockpile on hand when, in a few months’ time, your kids suddenly let you know they need supplies for a project that needs to be turned in that morning.
Costco offers great deals on everyday items
When it comes to back-to-school shopping, school supplies may be at the top of the list, but don’t forget about the everyday essentials needed to keep your household running smoothly and your kids looking their best every day. Smith loves Costco for her back-to-school shopping because she can buy fruits and veggies, as well as her infant multivitamin (SmartyPants USDA Organic Kids & Toddler Formula Multivitamin, 180 Vegetarian Gummies), in bulk.
All of these are essential for children’s health to build up immunity in preparation for being in close proximity to other children who may be sick. Parents often have to take their own sick leave while their child is home sick, which can lead to loss of income over time. So there’s no reason not to be as proactive as possible.
Costco passes savings on to members
One of the reasons why shopping at Costco is so cheap, even with the annual membership fee, is because the big retailer doesn’t shy away from sharing the wealth. Costco buys all of its products in bulk from select vendors, which allows it to keep prices lower than other competitors. Costco also has sales every month and sends out flyers, so keep an eye on your mail for great deals. You can even save an additional 50-75% off already low-priced items.
We also pride ourselves on offering high-quality products from our store brand, Kirkland Signature, at even lower prices than other brands.
Costco is your go-to place for back to school shopping. Whether you’re looking for snack packs for your lunch or tissues for the classroom, you’re sure to find it all at Costco.
More from GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Parent: 5 Ways Shopping at Costco Can Save You Money on Back-to-School Shopping
