Back-to-school shopping can put a real dent in a family’s budget and create a carbon footprint a mile wide. To save money on school supplies, why not set up a swap with your neighbors and friends? You’ll save money and 

* Check the kids’ supplies list. Most kids will bring home a list from school, or you’ll be able to download one from the school’s web site. Ask your child to cross off what you already have or don’t want to buy, then circle what’s left. When you go swapping (or shopping), work from the list.

• Make an inventory of what you already have. Most families have enough pencils, crayons, glue, tape and markers left over from the previous year to start the new year just fine. In fact, many of us have way too much of this stuff. Figure out what your kids need now, then put aside the extras for later in the year when you need to restock. Box up your extras so they’re easy to exchange.

* Set up a swap in your front yard or garage. Invite neighbors who have their own items to swap. Designate different tables for pens and pencils, crayons and markers, paper and folders, lunch boxes, backpacks, and sporting gear. Ask that everything that’s brought be clean and usable. When it comes to lunch boxes, ask that they be metal, plastic free of phthalates and PVC, or cloth. People should bring their own reusable bags to cart their swapped items home in.

* Donate leftovers to a day-care center, or to a charity that provides school supplies to kids in need.

If you still need to go shopping when the swap is over…

• Ask for greener options. Many school supply stores now carry supplies made from recycled, non-toxic materials. But if you don’t find eco-friendly products at the store, let the manager know and ask him/her to order green for your future purchases.

• Rent or borrow. When it comes to musical instruments, sporting equipment, and tools for one-time classes like home economics or woodworking, figure out which items your child can rent or borrow.  This is particularly good for musical instruments – do you really want to buy a tuba just because your child is giving it a try this year?

• Remember the 3 Rs. Reduce (buy less, share, borrow, rent); reuse (think durable lunch boxes and water bottles), recycle (paper, plastic, electronics).

LOOKING FOR ECO-FRIENDLY SCHOOL SUPPLIES? WE HAVE LOTS IN OUR AMAZON STORE!

The post Save Money on School Supplies & Go Green: Swap appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Where to start?

* Ignore the huge supply lists that come home in kids’ backpacks. Over at the blog Green Talk, “Thrifty is the New Green for Back to School Supplies” reminds parents to check their “voluminous” stashes of pens, pencils, crayons and paper leftover from last year before buying new. SAVINGS:  $25-$50/child

*  Use last year’s backpacks and lunch boxes. (Mindful Momma notes in “The Price We Pay for Back 2School Cool that kids do just fine with gear they’ve used before.) SAVINGS:  $50-$125/child, depending on backpack.

*  Shop yard sales and thrift stores for back-to-school clothes. SAVINGS:  $100 – $250/child, depending on your usual clothes budget.

* Borrow sports equipment and rent musical instruments. Is your daughter trying hockey for the first time? Not sure if your son is a budding violinist or just likes to hear the bow scratch? Borrow skates or rent the violin until you’re sure a purchase makes sense. SAVINGS:  $50 – $250.

Total Savings: $225 – $675 per child.

For more great ideas that save money and spare the planet, drop in on the Green Moms Carnival over at SurelyYouNest.

The post Going Back to School? Go Green To Save Hundreds of Dollars appeared first on Big Green Purse.