7 ways to save money on back-to-school shopping

Back-to-school shopping taps into all kinds of nostalgia for parents: the thrill of a crisp backpack, the possibility in a new notebook, the satisfaction in a handful of perfectly sharpened pencils. It can be exciting and invigorating! It can also tap into something else: your wallet. The effects of inflation may have you feeling a squeeze, and every year it somehow seems like the kids need more things. But with everyone finally back in the classroom after a few disrupted years, it feels right to embrace all the tiny joys, including fresh erasers and shiny lunch boxes. It adds up though—and you don’t need a math lesson to tell you that.

Before you set out to stock up, we’ve got some smart tips on how to save money for back-to-school shopping—and the best ones start with your PC Money™ Account and PC® Mastercard®. Don’t have an account yet? Apply today. (opens in a new window)

1. Take inventory
Scour the house for forgotten and misplaced items. A perfectly good lunch bag may have been smushed into the back of the cupboard. Bring it back to life with a quick wash and wipe down. A full set of coloured pencils—easy to cobble together after checking in two different drawers and a random basket. You may also find some decent erasers and a pair of scissors while you’re at it.

2. Earn points on every dollar
Collecting PC Optimum™ points when you spend money, then redeeming them, is there an easier way to save? With a PC® Mastercard® you’ll earn up to 30 PC Optimum™ points¹ for every dollar you spend at participating stores, like No Frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Loblaws® and Maxi®, and up to 45 points for every dollar² spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix®. With a PC Money™ Account, you’ll earn up to 10 points per dollar³. Put all those points to work by redeeming⁴ them toward back-to-school essentials at participating stores to lower your bill.

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3. Don’t spend money to spend money: Choose the right payment option and you’re already saving—why would you pay a bank to be able to use your own funds? PC® Mastercard® holders pay no annual fee⁵, while the PC Money™ Account has no monthly fee⁶ and no caps on points, no catches—other banks may charge you to use your own money, but the PC Money™ Account rewards you.

4. List and resist: Once you’ve gathered all the back-to-school gear you already have and determined where the gaps are, make a list of essentials. You’re more likely to stay on budget and avoid pricey impulse purchases when you stick to that list.

5. Shop and pay strategically: The PC Money™ Account is ideal for everyday spending on school snacks, sunscreen and notebooks. With its points earning potential, a PC® Mastercard® can really kick points collecting into high gear when you use it to cover big-ticket items like laptops and cellphones.

6. Supply swap: Maybe you have a binder surplus, or the bulk deal on water bottles was too good to pass up. Arrange a trade with friends to save money because they found a bargain on lunch boxes. It’s a win-win.

7. Reward yourself: Remember all those points you earned on the things you needed by paying strategically with your PC Money™ Account and PC® Mastercard®? Reward yourself and redeem them on something you really want. Ideally, it’s something best enjoyed in silence, once everyone has gone off to school.

Sign up for a PC Money™ Account (opens in a new window) and a PC® Mastercard® (opens in a new window) and start saving more on back to school today.