What's in Your Backpack? Saving on Must-Have Back-to-School Essentials

Can you believe it's time to start thinking about back-to-school? Luckily, PayPal makes it easy to save on all the backpack essentials your kids need to start the school year successfully AND support your favorite causes at the same time.

Not only do I need to make sure my kids are ready for a brand new year, as a teacher I also need to make sure that I have everything I need. School-provided lists make buying supplies easy, but there are other essential items to think about. This year I'm making it easier on myself by downloading the PayPal mobile app and taking advantage of PayPal's Giving Fund. PayPal is also saving me money on the things we need that go beyond basic school supplies. Here's how I saved on this year's back-to-school essentials for both my kids and me using PayPal's back-to-school deals for members and what I did with the money I saved:

Essential #1: New School Clothes

It feels good to start the school year with a few new items of clothing. I like to shop for clothes online because I can comparison shop at a wide variety of stores quickly. Check out PayPal's One Touch to make it even easier. Choose to "stay logged in" for the same device and browser to avoid the need to type in your credit card information or re-enter usernames and passwords while making online purchases.

Essential #2: Technology

Since keeping up with the latest technology can get expensive, use PayPal to complete your purchase and take advantage of the option to shop with PayPal Credit for Back-to-School. This means you can divide your payments up over time or take advantage of special financing offers that allow you more time to pay.

Essential #3: Time to Relax Before School Starts

This is our favorite. Both adults and kids need time to recharge and connect before things get busy. Be sure to check PayPal for their current member deals to save on entertainment. Check back often for new offers.

Though I love shopping, I saved the BEST PART for last ...

Use the money you've saved to make a donation using PayPal's Giving Fund. 100% of the proceeds go to selected partnering charity organizations like Let Girls Learn, YMCA, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Donations made through PayPal's Giving Fund get a 1% match from PayPal August 12th through August 31st, 2016.

Hope your school year gets off to a great start!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.