Here’s How to Get Some of Your Kids’ School Supplies for Free this Year

Holy cow, is it time for back-to-school shopping already?

Not only is it a pain, but it’s also expensive. The average parent spends nearly $125 on back-to-school supplies per kid per year, according to the National Retail Federation.

Here’s a good way to make it better: Get some of your kids’ school supplies for free.

That’s right, free. When you sign up for a cash-back app called Ibotta, you’ll earn 100% cash back on a variety of school supplies and snacks.

This back-to-school shopping promo is a more generous version of what Ibotta always does, which is earn you cash back when you buy things. Although it’s probably best known for getting you cash back on groceries, wine and beer at your local grocery store, Ibotta is offering this back-to-school bundle through Aug. 31.

The following items are free after rebates: a three-subject spiral notebook, a 12-pack of Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils, an eraser, a box of tissues, a Del Monte fruit cup and all the ingredients you need for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

The rebate items, which have a combined value of at least $20, can easily be purchased online via Ibotta through Walmart, Target, H-E-B or Shipt. You can also buy them in-store at Walmart.

To collect your $20 in free school supplies — a good deal no matter how you look at it — just download the free Ibotta app or browser extension. Your back-to-school offers should appear. Choose which of the four retailers you want to shop at.

You’ll get your 100% cash back within 72 hours of pickup or delivery.

It takes about 30 seconds to download Ibotta on your phone. What, you don’t need free school supplies?

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He buys school supplies for two kids.