3 tips for making Back to School a breeze with Walmart.

The first time I ever did back to school shopping as a mom was when Hannah started kindergarten.  I loaded my 3 kids (all 5 and under) into the car and we headed to the store with a massive supply list from the school.  I had no idea what I was doing.  Two and a half hours and several hundred dollars later, I was making my way back to the car with 3 grumpy kids, a cart overloaded with pencils and glusticks, and one seriously frazzled mom.  Like I was almost in tears.  I’ve dreaded back to school shopping ever since.

And yet that is basically how I’ve done it every year, big old list, crowded stores, grumpy kids, frazzled mom.

That is, until last year, when I finally cracked the code and figured out how to do back to school shopping like a pro.  Now I save myself so much time and money, and the process is quick, easy and painless.  Today I’m sharing my three tips for making back to school shopping a breeze.

Boys backpacks.  Ava’s Backpack. Hannah’s backpack.  School supplies.

more cute backpack options:

shop school supplies here.

Tip #1: Consolidate your lists.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the store fumbling around with three different lists trying to make sure I don’t forget anything, or have the right number of everything.  I end up going back and forth and it’s very inefficient.  And then I always forget something!  Get everything onto one master list with the number you need of each item.  It will save you so much time and keep you so much more organized.

Tip #2: Order online, and order from Walmart.  I don’t know why it took me so dang long to figure out that I can buy all our back to school supplies online and have them shipped right to my door(!) but it was a game changer.  I will never go back to school shopping in store again.  It is so easy to just sit down with your (now consolidated) list and just add each item you need and the number you need to your cart.  I got it done in a fraction of the time.

Believe me when I tell you that Walmart is THE BEST option for back to school shopping for your time and wallet.  Last year I figured out that it would have cost me almost twice as much as what I paid shopping anywhere else but Walmart.  You are getting the exact same items at a much better deal.  Their prices literally cannot be beat.

Walmart also has a great super user friendly back to school page, (it’s even got options for shopping by school age)  and it’s very convenient and easy to navigate.  I love that I can get all the school supplies, backpacks, and even a few outfit basics (loving the new Wonder Nation line!) ordered for all my kids in one quick and easy order.  And when you spend over $35 you get free 2-day shipping with Walmart.  Last year, I had some of the items on my doorstep within a day.  You can also select “pick-up in store” if you need your stuff faster and all your items will be waiting for you when you get there, no muss, no fuss.

Hannah and Ava’s: shirts. shorts. Carter’s shorts and shirt Ethan’s shorts and shirt.

Tip #3: Get your kids involved.  Back to school shopping is a lot of work, but the good news is, you can delegate!  ;-) But seriously though.  Let your kids help you with the process.  Have them sit down at the computer with you and help you pick out their backpacks, have them help you search for the different items on the list, and complete the order.  When the box arrives, give them each their individual list and have them do the sorting and load their own backpacks.  It’s good counting practice for littler kids too!

 Getting your kids involved in the process will help get them excited to go back to school, it also helps them take more ownership over their things, which means they’re more likely to take better care of them. (Which means less clean up for you, and less lost, broken, damaged items.)  I also think it’s helpful for kids to see and understand what things cost, it makes them more conscious and less wasteful.  If it takes half an hour doing an extra chore to earn $2 and a backpack costs $20, they’re going to appreciate their things even more and take better care of them.

Back to School can be such a headache, but the great thing is, it doesn’t have to be!  I’m always so grateful for brands like Walmart who make these things so much easier for parents.  So back to school is no longer something I dread, but a fun part of motherhood I can share with my kids!

What tips do you have for making back to school a breeze?

*This post was created in Partnership with Walmart.  Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make moms’ lives easier.