Before rushing out to buy new school supplies for back-to-school, take inventory of last year's items that can be reused or recycled.
You'll find many are easy to retrieve and repurpose.
Simple fixes like mending a schoolbag, sharpening used colored pencils, continuing in notebooks with just a few pages filled, or using up nearly empty glue bottles go a long way.
To boost your child's creativity and make their gear recess-ready, decorate old supplies with stickers, cut-outs, or sewn-on patches.
Do you recycle your kids' school supplies? Share your tips in the comments below.
Reusing at least half of your school supplies each year is a proven, effective way to cut back-to-school spending.
Your budget shrinks effortlessly. As a parent who's built this habit, I've learned to make saving fun with my kids—the more supplies we collect annually, the faster our back-to-school costs drop.
