Gear up for a new year!
Get a head start on the back-to-school frenzy by planning in advance and snapping up deals on school items. From stationary to technology and uniforms, we’ll help you hunt down the best school supplies without straining the budget.
In this ultimate guide, we share savvy shopping tricks, explain how to keep track of your back-to-school list, and reveal the best time to get deals with the Cashrewards massive back-to-school campaign. Ease the stress of the start of semester by knowing where to find the best school supplies for less!
How to create a back-to-school supplies checklist?
Start getting organised with this back-to-school guide. Crack open a spreadsheet or a notepad and get ready to plan. Whether you need a few new pens or a backpack bursting with supplies, we've got you covered.
Here’s how to start:
- Study up: Check what is recommended by the school, and the trendy items kids are wearing. Be sure to consult with the experts in the house – your avid student will know what’s popular.
- Reuse, reduce, recycle: Rummage through last years’ school essentials, separate dried-up markers from the ever-lasting plastic rulers, and catalogue what can be reused.
- Divide and conquer: Organise your checklist by distinct categories such as stationery, tech, clothing, and miscellaneous items.
- Consider long-term needs: Can you invest in a more durable tech gadget or backpack that will have a longer lifespan? Thinking beyond the first semester prevents repeat purchases throughout the school year.
- Plan ahead and shop online: Once you know what you need, create a budget and a timeline. As an early bird, you can make the most of sales for back-to-school supplies, and shopping online allows you to easily compare prices from multiple retailers. From practical stationery to must-have tech and sports gear, let’s delve into the best school supplies for an exceptional year!
What back-to-school supplies do you need?
From practical stationery to must-have tech and sports gear, let’s delve into the best school supplies for an exceptional year!
Stationery
Before exploring the wild world of stationery, make a school supplies list. Get as specific as you can. Rollerball or nib tip pens? Red, blue, and black – but don’t forget glitter and gel! Do classes require greylead pencils? 2B versus HB is a hot debate. Better grab both.
Big retailers like Big W and Target have a wide variety of must-have school essentials, but be sure to hit up Smiggle and other shops catering for kids too.
Must-have stationery items for your back-to-school list include:
- Greylead pencils
- Colour pencils
- Pens
- Rubbers
- Rulers
- Highlighters
- Crayons
- Pencil grips
- Scissors
- Plastic folders
- Binders
- Construction paper
- Sharpeners
- Glue sticks
- Pencil case
- Stapler and staples
- White out
- Graph paper
- Subject dividers
- Organiser or planner
Technical items
Welcome to the world of technologically-savvy back-to-school shopping. Tech tools enhance education by making it dynamic and engaging with online lessons and collaborative projects.
When shopping for back-to-school supplies in the tech aisles, prioritise educational value over entertainment. Devices that are travelling to-and-from school need to withstand inevitable bumps and spills. Save money in the long run by shopping for durable tech and sturdy cases.
Keep it age appropriate. Younger kids benefit from touchscreen tablets with intuitive interfaces, while older students need the functionality of a laptop for more complex tasks. Think about your child's need for parental controls and accessibility aids, and if the device will grow with them.
Tech items for your back-to-school list:
- Laptop
- Monitors
- Headphones
- Earbuds
- Tablet
- Printer
- Cases
- USB drives
- Portable charger
- Smartpen
- Graphing calculator app
- eReader
- High-quality webcam
- Smart backpack with built-in charger
Shop technology through Cashrewards for the best deals and cash back on back-to-school supplies.
School uniform & shoes
Before going on a fashion frenzy, refresh yourself on the school’s dress code policy and shop for fashion that is versatile without straying from the guidelines. Stock up on extra pieces to cut down on laundry and choose layers for colder weather.
You might find wriggle room in the uniform policy for your child to add personal touches. Think badges, patches, and accessories like hats or socks from Bonds. Unique hair clips, ribbons, or scrunchies can boost confidence too.
When it comes to sports and fitness, invest in high-quality gear that withstands the wear and tear of active kids from stores like Rebel, Nike or Adidas. Your child can explore colours and styles of sneakers and help you choose.
Get cashback on big brands by shopping fashion via Cashrewards. And don’t forget these back-to-school essentials:
- Running sneakers
- School shoes
- Socks
- Underwear
- T-shirts
- Skirts and trousers
- Sports wear
- Jackets
- Raincoats
- Gumboots
Other school essentials
Sneaky back-to-school supplies often fly under the radar. Browse Cashrewards for deals on these bits and pieces you might otherwise miss. Think cute water bottles and stickers from Typo and sturdy backpack from The North Face.
Some things to remember:
- Backpack
- Gym bag
- Lunchbox
- Desk organisers
- Powerstrips
- Water bottle
- Stickers
- Umbrella
- Tissues and hand sanitiser
- Mini fan
- Pocket-sized planner
- Stain remover pen
- Medication organiser
- Whiteboard or corkboard
When should you buy back-to-school supplies?
The best time is now! Instead of battling the crowds in a last-minute dash, start chipping away at your school’s supply list as soon as possible. Early birds have the advantage of finding the biggest bargains.
Swap chaos for calm and set a reminder to check Cashrewards. Save money and get a head start on your list with Cashrewards' biggest back-to-school campaign.
Where can you buy back-to-school supplies?
If you want to save some money, Cashrewards is the perfect place to shop for your back-to-school supplies. From sports gear to stationery, there are deals from a huge range of brands to choose from. Sign up today and access coupons, promo codes, exclusive sales, and even get cash back on purchases!