Back-to-School on a Budget: How Employee Discounts Help Parents Prepare

The back-to-school season pushes parents' stress levels to the max. Shopping for clothes and school supplies, getting sports physicals, and even taking time for slick new haircuts, the to-do list goes on, and the cost keeps rising.

Unlike other budget line items, parents can’t cut much of the back-to-school demands. That’s why employee discounts and work perks are so important to working parents. Let's talk about how employee perks programs extend discounts, exclusive pricing can support work life balance, and unique offers to employees help stretch their budgets and improve the employee experience.

1. Stay Healthy and Strong Year-Round

Maximize your traditional health benefits with corporate wellness solutions and discounts on gym memberships, a smart wellness program, or even classic financial perks. Shop for new glasses using your discounts and take it to the next level with your health or flexible savings account. In doing so, your pretax health savings go even further with your Working Advantage perks.

Explore available discounts for expensive investments like orthodontia. Localized offers may extend a free consultation or discounts on services. These discounts make replacing broken glasses or purchasing a backup pair easier on the budget, which makes it easier on team members working to save in an up-and-down economy.

2. Get Kids’ Gear On Point

School supply lists seem to get longer and more expensive as kids grow older. We suggest leveraging your employee discounts in a category with big benefits: office supplies.

Your employer may extend its corporate rate through your program, offering massive discounts unavailable to the public. A supply-focused benefits package can help you stack savings with in-store promotions and bulk deals, making savings even simpler for parents. And while the kids might be the ones utilizing the cool-new-accessories, your business will be boosting employee satisfaction and employee morale thanks to the big savings.

School tech gear like laptops may be exclusive to the school, but other supplies can be bought at a discount. Over-the-ear headphones are standard essentials for kids starting as early as kindergarten and aren’t included in pre-packaged school supply boxes, making them a simple yet unique perk that supports early learning and budget balancing.

3. Rock Lunchtime

Get the meal prep essentials needed for your kids’ lunchtime favorites to stay fresh and look cool. From lunchboxes to thermoses to personalized water bottles, they’ll have the lunch gear they need this school year, which is a great perk for keeping them happy throughout the year.

Upgrade to personalized gear or design custom labels to avoid losses. This small investment using your discount can save even more in the long run.

Year-round, use your employee discount platform to save on food for home and school. Get employee pricing on your bulk store membership and get the best price on lunch favorites and treats. Support your busy schedule with prepared meals, quick breakfast bites, and single-serving snacks. Making them smart, healthy food options is like a hidden wellness benefit for those looking to make health a priority.

4. Make Fashion Budget-Friendly

As a kid, back-to-school shopping may have been a highlight of the end of summer. But as a parent, the dollar signs add up. Shop for school fashions and uniform essentials using employer discount programs to save big.

Stack employee discounts with sales and coupon codes to save even more. Shop early to get the best deals and avoid costly shipping expenses. With these discounts, you can say ‘yes’ more while you save.

If the go-to styles for the school year aren’t offered on your discount suite, don’t sweat it. Every dollar you save elsewhere makes room for the hottest sneakers, special-release water jug, or stylish backpack. The best thing about a perks program is that it can often be tailored to your specific needs, so your engagement in it feels more natural.

5. Elevate Their Education After Hours

Outfit your home with a study area supportive of your kids’ learning. Shop organizational solutions for their artwork, study guides, and past assessments, keeping treasures secure and learning history at hand.

Schedule tutoring for your child’s grade or in a specific subject area using your discounts. This can help enhance your child’s learning and reduce the pressure to squeeze in extra study time at home. While parents will be involved in their child’s studies, expert support can keep them focused and teach positive learning traits. These additional perks will help children thrive, so they can hone every unique talent.

Invest in extracurricular learning that supports their endeavors. From music classes to STEM studies and even robotics, specialized studies expand their horizons. As kids get older, check out discounts on standardized testing and driver’s education to get ready for the next level.

6. Support Athletic Pursuits

Sports gear is expensive and rarely provided by even the nicest school. Outfit your kids with the best in sports gear, safety equipment, and training supplies to get them in the game.

Athletic shoes are essential, but rarely make it past one season. Shop for shoes, sweat-wicking training clothes, and equipment on your discount platform. Every dollar you save can go toward sports registration, training camps, and spirit wear.

7. Keep the Family Truckster Running

A busy family needs reliable transportation to stay on schedule, so use your discounts and commuter benefits to maintain your vehicles. Stay on top of routine maintenance with discounted service and get ahead of major issues.

When it’s time to replace big-ticket items like a battery or tires, shop at your big-box store using your discounted membership. By tapping into member-only pricing, you get more for your money while keeping your car roadworthy.

Start the School Year Strong

The school year is hectic, so make it easier on yourself with support from your workplace benefits. To raise children, it takes a village, and your employee benefits program plays an important role in yours. Maximize your employee perks to support your life and your kids as you prepare for the back-to-school season.