As we blaze into August, the back-to-school advertising and sales descend with thunder. Even though much of the Pacific Northwest has several weeks until school begins, most national retailers plan their sales and promotions around East coast schools, many of whom begin school early this month. So we are forced to start thinking about buying school supplies just as we’re starting to enjoy the sun.
If you’re strategic about buying your children’s school supplies, you can save big. Here are four tips for spending less on school supplies:
1. Shop with your child’s list in hand.
Don’t try to guess what your child will need. Most school supply lists are available on the school or district website right now.
If you are shopping for more than one child, combine their lists into on master list. The information is much more manageable and you can better see what you need to purchase. I just created a Word doc and re-typed the supplies. I grouped them by school supplies, craft store supplies, and household supplies so I could streamline my shopping.
2. Shop the loss-leaders.
Office Depot, Staples, Walgreens, and Rite Aid typically drop the price on a handful of school supplies every week, trying to get you in the store to buy the rest of your school supply list. (See our up-to-date School Supply Deals list here.)
You will save the most money if you do these “loss leader” deals and then buy the rest of your list instead at Walmart, Target, or Fred Meyer as they have most of what you need at pretty good prices.
In fact, download our special School Supply Price Sheet, complete with all the prices at Walmart, Target, or Fred Meyer, so you can make a plan right now. Just enter your info below and we’ll send it straight to you inbox!
3. Shop for non-school needs as well.
Think about your household, business, homeschool, crafting, and gifting needs as well as your kids’ school supply list.
I typically include what my husband and I will need over the next year for our businesses and our family — white-out, Sharpies, dry erase pens as well as items to give to others — Operation Christmas Child boxes, school supply drives, Christmas gifts, and just having extras on hand to drop by your child’s teacher to help him/her out.
4. Shop NOW.
Early August is when you will find the rock-bottom prices and the best selection. Retailers stop re-stocking most supplies by the end of the month. If you wait until Labor Day to shop, you will be paying retail and might not even be able to find what’s on the list.
Yes, I want you to feel some pressure on this one. Awhile back, we transferred our daughter to a new school at the last minute and I had to shop for her supplies the week after Labor Day. The stores were out of most items and for the items I could find, I had to pay full retail. I am not joking, I could not find 24 count Crayola crayons anywhere.
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I also make a master list for both of my kids supply needs to make sure I get current supplies.
I also take the actual list with me which shows me the needs for older grades. I have found items that my kids needed in a year or two as a price buster or on clearance. This only works if you have space to store it.
I scored on a lot of my kids school supplies by shopping at office depot when their line paper was .25 cents, crayons were .25 cents and then I waited for Walgreens pencil sharpeners were .39 cents this week, I also only paid .99 for a 4 pack of dry erase markers and two free 2 pack of black dry erase markers at Walgreens yesterday. In the past, my husband, the kids and I would go to target and spent over $100 getting the basics! A lot of the other stuff, like sissies and glue, they already had. I hosted a scavanger hunt and told my kids they could get extra snacks if they went through the house finding markers and rulers and other school supplies.
Since it is my Mom’s first year in school, my Mom took us to Fred Meyer for supplies. They had amazing prices this week + the 20% off + Tuesday’s 10% for seniors. I will be returning some items I picked up at Target last week that I thought were decent deals!
Oops… I meant my son’s first year in schoo. My bad.
Kind of off topic but I like to buy crayons, colored pencils, markers and paint. Pair it with some cute coloring books from the dollar store and it makes a nice birthday gift for younger children.
I was going to say the same thing but, for older kids birthdays I add crayons, color pencils, markers, paint, color paper, scissors, glue, stickers, glitter glue and any fun little clearance note books. I put it all in a shoe box that we have decorated to make it look like a craft box. Some times if I have the extra money we add a $5.00 gift card to Michael’s or JoAnn’s with a coupon. (Depending on the child’s age) Then they can get something they bought them selves.
Target & Walmart price match so you can take the ad in to the store & save some time & money. Walmart will also take competitors coupons for items that they sell.
Office depot will also price match, on many items you do not need to bring in the ad. They will call other retailers
I take advantage of the deals and also when I get the cheapies, I typically buy extras and fill 1-2 backpacks and drop off at my child’s school for donations to kids who lack in supplies, getting such great deals allows me to help others, which is important! I also recommend keeping the list with you in your purse/bag and cross of what you buy and what you still need. Everytime you are in a store that carries office/school supplies check out what they have, tonight I got surprised at Albertson’s with a clearance ruler for $.25, down from a few dollars…I wasn’t planning to buy that, but glad I checked! You can often find great deals when you don’t expect to! Walgreen’s has a ton of clearance folders and school supplies (probably last year stock?) and some great deals! And…if you like to stock up or have room too….once school has started, watch for smoking clearance deals and stock up on the things that you need every year…pencils, erasers, etc! I got some amazing deals in the Feb-March run this past year and have held them for this year. If you see freebie school supply deals during the year, pick them up and donate to your childs class! As a teacher in Oregon, we have to buy everything these days…donations are always welcome in my room!
Ok, you’ve succeeded. I am feeling pressure on this, compounded by the fact that I don’t have the money to get these supplies right now…
Hi Rhea! I have some recent posts on FB page, please pm me:-)
I would like to add- shop from your home first! Many times my kids have insisted we are out of tape, notebooks, folders, etc, so I buy more, only to find last year’s leftover supplies stored in the cupboard.
Yes, i agree. I have 4 kids (used to have 6), and I keep plastic baskets labeled school supplies.So, I get them what they need plus double. Then throw the extra in the baskets. I will check the baskets througout the school year when there is a good sale to see what they need.
However, this is the 1st year I saved so dang much, due to shopping now!! YAY for me and YAY for all of you!
This may be obvious, but “shop for non-school needs” also could include stocking stuffers (extra 24 count crayons?, markers?).
I LOVE the stocking stuffers idea!
Great idea, I had not thought of that
Thank you
I agree! This is the first yearr that I (1) shopped sales and (2) shopped early. I spent 75% less than I normmally do… that’s the honest truth.
Good job Mindy! Doesn’t it feel great?!?!?