14 Secret Joys Of Back-To-School Shopping

Everyone knows the best part of going back to school is the shopping. And if you sign up with Ibotta, you get paid to do it!

1. Finally reading all the back-to-school catalogs that have been piling up...for inspiration.

Michael Coghlan (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: mikecogh / Shutterstock

And mainly for help, because it's been a long summer, and you've forgotten what you need.

Wait, you hate catalogs? Got it.

2. Putting those back-to-school catalogs straight into the trash where they belong.

Thinkstock / Michael Coghlan CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: mikecogh

You've got this. You don't need catalogs.

3. Getting your friends together for a shopping day.

20th Century Fox Television / Via rebloggy.com

Because you're going to need support.

4. Buying new pencils. Pencils with tips so pointy they would pop balloons.

Summer Skyes 11 (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: summerskyephotography

You're going to display these on your desk like a bouquet of flowers, because they look and smell so good.

5. And maybe also some glitter pens..."just in case."

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You'll definitely need these for something.

6. New clothes. Lots of new clothes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs25mL0vouk&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs25mL0vouk&feature=youtu.be

You want to look sharp on your first day back. You want to impress.

7. Perusing all the fancy healthy recipe books and deciding you're going to do homemade everything this year.

Courtesy of Lorimer Street Kitchen / lorimerkitchen.com / Via lorimerkitchen.com

Deep down you know that you'll go back to buying packet granola bars pretty quickly, but it's fun to dream.

8. But then treating yourself to whatever you want for lunch, because shopping is hard work.

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You treat yo self. You're still on summer break!

9. Getting yourself a fresh notebook.

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And some fancy pens with which you will write profound thoughts in the notebook.

10. Discovering that scented erasers are still a thing.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-gift-macarons-vanilla-scented-erasers-set-of-6/28862205?ean=0879426006312&sourceid=Q000000633&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-SpecialtyProductsBN-_-Q000000633-_-879426006312&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Shopping+Home+Gift_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=S1042&k_clickid=3x1042&kpid=879426006312

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-gift-macarons-vanilla-scented-erasers-set-of-6/28862205?ean=0879426006312&sourceid=Q000000633&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-SpecialtyProductsBN-_-Q000000633-_-879426006312&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Shopping+Home+Gift_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=S1042&k_clickid=3x1042&kpid=879426006312

And now they're fancier than ever!

11. Discovering that scented shoelaces are a thing now too!

Pojoslaw / Getty Images

Yep, you'll take some of those. Shoelaces that smell like cupcakes? You'll take three.

12. Accidentally dropping a few things you don't need into the cart.

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There were so many good sales! It was too hard to resist!

13. But still leaving and realizing you have money left to buy dinner.

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You could have done without buying those scented things, but you won't lose sleep over it.

14. Getting home and organizing everything neatly, ready for the school year.

Juhan Sonin (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: juhansonin

And pretending it's going to stay this organized for longer than, say, two hours.

Ibotta is a free app that pays you cash back whenever (and wherever) you shop. Download the app here and start earning some back-to-school cash!

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There you have it. The 15th secret joy of back-to-school shopping.