Back-To-School Budget Hacks For Parents In South Carolina

Managing all the back-to-school expenses at once can feel overwhelming, especially when you're also juggling rent, gas, food, and other essential costs. That’s why we’ve put together some helpful tips that we hope will make this time easier and help you navigate it without too much financial stress.

This guide from Carolina Payday Loans, Inc. provides back-to-school budget tips for South Carolina to help you afford new school supplies. If a financial emergency has prevented you from buying supplies for your child, we will also explain how you can get a quick financial boost with a payday loan.

6 Back-To-School Budget Tips In South Carolina

Your children are ready to start their new school year and enjoy their new teachers, friends, and experiences. However, your heart sinks when they hand you their school shopping list and realize they don’t have almost anything on the list.

Handling these back-to-school expenses on top of everything else you need to afford can seem difficult, but there are effective ways to handle these costs with budgeting hacks.

The following are six tips for affording back-to-school supplies this fall:

1. Create A Budget

The advantage of preparing for school is that these expenses usually don't happen unexpectedly. You can start saving months ahead of time so that the financial burden isn't all in one month.

Back-to-school shopping typically ranges from $50 to $100 every year. You can use this amount as a benchmark when deciding how much to set aside during the year.

Go through all the items that you already have at home, and you might find out that you don’t need to buy that many new school supplies after all. In any case, don’t forget to prioritize necessities first. For example, if you live in a warm area, you may not need to invest in jackets until late fall. Ideally, you would also want to start budgeting for school lunches and transportation costs.

2. Shop With A List

Most schools will provide you with a list of what your kid will need. There will likely be a lot of overlap with the items you already have at home, so be sure to cross out the unnecessary ones. By the way, don’t forget to include the things that your child might need for any extracurricular activities.

Also, consider including reusable containers in your list. In such a case, you wouldn’t have to use a bunch of plastic bags to pack your kid’s lunch, and the long-term savings will be worth it.

Here are some back-to-school supplies that you would want to put on your list:

• Pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and highlights
• Notebooks and journals
• Binders with three-hole paper
• Backpacks and lunchboxes
• New clothes

3. Search For The Best Deal

Many stores and online shopping apps offer back-to-school savings deals that let you buy supplies at discounted prices. Instead of paying full price, you can save money by shopping for sales or using coupons to lower the cost.

There are quite a few ways to make sure you’re not overspending on back-to-school supplies:

• Use apps like ShopSavvy to have a quick look at the prices in different stores
• Pay attention to fliers and ads, as you might discover great deals on seasonal items
• When shopping online, compare the prices in a few different shops – it might be better to get some of the items from one store and the rest from another retailer
• Use coupon apps to find all the current offers and discounts

4. Shop During The Sales Tax Holiday

In South Carolina, during the annual Tax-Free Weekend, many items are exempt from the state’s 6% sales tax and any local taxes. In 2024, shoppers saved over $1.3 million in sales tax. However, the holiday usually lasts only a few days, so don’t miss it.

You may be able to find great deals on clothing, accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers, and many other items.

5. Buy in Bulk

Buying certain items in bulk can lead to significant savings. In fact, you may be able to save up to 30% by carefully comparing the bulk deals and selecting the most affordable option.

Here are the items that you might want to buy in bulk to save money:

• Pens and pencils
• Folders
• Notebooks and paper
• Erasers and pencil sharpeners
• Craft supplies
• Hand sanitizer

By the way, you can join forces with friends and neighbors who have school-age kids to save even more. You can pool your resources to get the best deals and distribute the supplies to all of your kids.

6. Find Out If You’re Eligible For Any Benefits

If you can't afford school supplies this year, you could qualify for financial help from the government. Use the benefit finder tool on usa.gov to learn which benefits your family might be eligible for and how you can apply.

If you’re on a low income, you may also be able to get free back-to-school supplies from charitable organizations, churches, and other helpful organizations.

How Can A Payday Loan Help With Back-To-School Expenses?

Imagine this: you've been trying to stretch your budget to cover back-to-school expenses when suddenly an emergency occurs. Whether it’s a surprise medical bill or a crucial car repair, you just don’t have enough free money to handle the problem.

This is when you might want to consider taking out a payday loan to borrow up to $550 from a future paycheck. If a less-than-perfect credit score is the only thing that is stopping you, you can get a cash advance with bad credit or no credit. Your income level and ability to repay the loan are what matter, so you can borrow a bad credit payday loan.

One thing to keep in mind: payday loans should only be used for emergencies. Back-to-school costs typically wouldn’t qualify as an emergency. However, if a financial emergency like medical bills has prevented you from affording school supplies, a payday advance can be helpful.

The Step-By-Step South Carolina Payday Loan Guide

To get approved for a payday loan in South Carolina, you will need the following required items: a state-issued photo ID, your most recent pay stub, and a blank check from an active checking account in your name. These help you prove your income, identity, age, and financial situation.

As long as you have these, you can start the payday advance approval process. We have just a few steps to complete, which you can finish the same day you apply.

Here are the steps involved in getting approved for a cash advance in South Carolina:

• Complete our online form with your basic information (full name, zip code, and contact information)
• Answer a phone call from a loan specialist to discuss payday loan terms
• Bring your required items to the nearest South Carolina store for verification
• If approved, sign the loan agreement to finalize the payday loan process
• Receive your payday advance cash the same day you apply or by the next business day

Pay For Emergencies With A Payday Loan – Borrow Up To $550 Today!

Qualify for the emergency cash you need today with Carolina Payday Loans, Inc. You can receive a payday loan regardless of your credit score. Get fast access to cash to afford emergency expenses today.

To get started right now, fill out the online inquiry form, and we’ll soon contact you. Come into a South Carolina store today to get approved within 30 minutes!

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.