As fall approaches, many families head out to buy back to school items. With the cost of school clothes, supplies, and books, sending a child back to class in the fall can put a real dent in a family's budget. Instead of spending more money than you need to this year, check out these three back to school savings tips for families!

1) Take an Inventory of Last Year's School Items

Have you ever purchased school supplies for your child and then come home to find that you already had those supplies in an upstairs closet? Buying items that you don't really need can cause you to waste your hard-earned money. Before you go to the store this fall, look through your closets and storage spaces to see what you already have.

Your child may still fit in some of his or her clothes from last year. You may have a few extra notebooks left over from the previous school term. If your teen is going off to college, he or she may be able to get by with one of the used laptop computers you already own. Taking an inventory of what you have can help you avoid needless purchases.

2) Start Shopping Early

Many of the best back to school sales are offered early in the season - around early July. This is usually the best time to start scouring sales flyers for deals. If you're one of the first shoppers in the door, you could grab some great doorbuster deals, including notebooks, pencils, and crayons for a few cents each!

When you shop the early back to school sales, you also give yourself plenty of time to make returns as you need. If you find a better price at another store, you may be able to take advantage of a price-matching offer to get a discount on your original price.

3) Buy Second Hand

Consignment stores and sales have gained popularity over the past few years - and with good reason. At these stores, you can buy gently used items for several dollars cheaper than if you purchased the same items new. Some used school supplies, such as textbooks and backpacks, may be available for a far lower price than you'd have to pay in store.

Children's consignment sales are another option for saving on back to school shopping. Shopping at one of these sales may allow you to buy clothing for several ages at a time, which could save you money in the future. You may even be able to bring your children's used items and sell them to other shoppers!

Sending your kids back to school doesn't have to mean spending more than you can afford. If you take an inventory of what you own, shop early sales, and buy second hand when possible, you'll get through the back to school shopping season with your budget intact!