We buy school supplies for a backpack giveaway at church. Every Sunday, especially in August, I check the ads in the newspaper and on line to see who has the deals. I also watch for 75% off clearance at the big box store where I work. It helps to befriend the price change team!

By dela on 8/14/2009

Stock up on school supplies when they go on clearance!

By Nicole on 8/14/2009

I buy clothes for my 2 girls a year ahead when they go on sale at the end of seasons.  I save sooo much money (I don't spend over $5 for a shirt, $7 for jeans, and $10 for a dress...and usually much less than that).  Then, when it's time to go back to school (or the beginning of summer), we just pull out the shopping bags, and they have a whole new (cheap!) wardrobe.  It's so fun to go through! 

By Emily on 8/15/2009

Definitely watch for clearanced school items throughout the year, and also watch when retailers have school supplies free after rebate or for super cheap like a penny!

By KELLEY on 8/16/2009

It's a good idea to buy school supplies now while stores have them cheap. For example Crayola 24 ct. colors are well over $1 during the year but you can get them for 20 cents right now at Wal-Mart. I buy several for use during school and for play. The tablets and other supplies are really cheap right now, but if you have to restock during the year you'll pay way more so buy lots now. I even have things left over from previous years to use now.

By Amber on 8/17/2009

If you look for online coupons or in store coupons you can get school supplies for really cheap at Walgreens, dvs and longs drugs. We also shopped at Savers which is a thrift store but they have brand new stuff with the tags still on all the time. Or Ross stores have things for really cheap as well.

By Mary on 8/18/2009

I buy all school supplies now while they are on sale, then I pick up extras that I know we will run out of when the clerance sales hit. I only buy new shoes and a first day of school outfit before school starts then we buy clothes as the weather changes and items go on sale. This way I am not spending money on clothes that wont get worn for anohter month or two and I dont risk my kids growing out of them before they get to wear them. I find my best deals at places like old navy and second hand shops that sell new clothes.

By Shannon on 8/18/2009

i get all my Stuff a year ahead... last year i got backpacks for $2 each ... and i also buy clothing for next year...  it saves a LOT... Kohls has great cleance summer stuff and 30% off very cheap.....

By MERIMA on 8/18/2009

being a mother and a child development teacher and budget cuts on supplies it is I can find many things about a month or so berfore school actually starts. Targert usually has the best back to school supplies for last minute shoppers. Also friendly business' such as Office Max and Staples sometimes have penny and dollar sales all the way through September. Also another word of advice to not over buy products. Often teachers have their own list of thing they want the student to buy and then one learns that you end up with a lot of useless supplies, as well as needless spending. One can usually get buy with just the necessities.

By Angela on 8/19/2009

I've gotten a lot of free school supplies at CVS Pharmacy. I have to pay for them upfront but they give me back a coupon for the full price that I can use on anything in the store. All I pay is the tax. You need a CVS card.

By debbie on 8/19/2009

Yard sales if you enjoy going to them are a great place to find these when it's NOT back-to-school time. I know when my youngest graduated college and I had a yard sale ALL my excess stuff was sold quickly.

By Sue on 8/19/2009

Always check office supply stores. I bought packs of paper 150 sheets for 10 cents each.

By terri on 8/19/2009

• Emily said:

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  I buy clothes for my 2 girls a year ahead when they go on sale at the end of seasons.  I save sooo much money (I dont spend over $5 for a shirt, $7 for jeans, and $10 for a dress...and usually much less than that).  Then, when its time to go back to school (or the beginning of summer), we just pull out the shopping bags, and they have a whole new (cheap!) wardrobe.  Its so fun to go through! 

  ---

How old are your girls? Because this does not last forever at least for me it didn't, My girls after the older one was a certain age and hanging out with the other girls in school do not want to wear what I was picking out anymore because rhe other girls wore better and more expensive stuff then as my other two seen her doing this would not want to wear things I had bought either, So good luck but this does not last for to long unless you are strict and force them to wear what you want them to but it was not worth wasting money and yelling about so I gave in as long as the clothes are not to provocitive or cut wrong, Well have a great school year and hope you can keep saving on shopping. mom1966

By Margaret on 8/19/2009

Because I am a teacher, I enjoy school supply shopping.  I also pick up clearanced or sale items to have on hand when students cannot afford certain supplies.  Office Max, Office Depot, Staples, Target and Walmart all are having great school supply deals right now.  Even my local grocery stores clearance out school supplies because they are anxious to get their Halloween items on those shelves.KC in MN

By Patty on 8/19/2009

For Back to School supply shopping I have joined there email list, therefore I know what is going to be put on sale the Friday before the Sunday sale. Therefore I can plan accordingly. When Staples, Office Max, Office Depot & Walmart put there school supplies on sale I go to them early because they tend to run out fast. These stores also price match as well. Just take the sale paper to the store and you can get the same sale at Walmart that Staples have on sale as long as the store carry the product & size. Be at the stores when the doors opens because the lines are much shorter. As for clothes buying them a size or two bigger when stores mark them down is a great way to save money. And if your child can no longer wear something you can always pass it on to another child her age or size, especially when you only paid $2.00 or $3.00 for it. You can buy your Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, etc this way as well especially if you have a large family!

By Cat on 8/19/2009

We've been able to get a lot of school supplies at the Dollar Giant and Family Dollar. Family Dollar clearenced out a ton of school supplies when they went to remodel. We also got a free backpack and a lunchbox for 2$ at Toys R Us because we received a gift card from a toy purchase.We have a Target gift card from a deal that they ran so we have backup money that way for any last minute extra supplies like hand sanitizer or kleenex.

By Leslie on 8/19/2009

• Cat said:

  ---

  For Back to School supply shopping I have joined there email list, therefore I know what is going to be put on sale the Friday before the Sunday sale. Therefore I can plan accordingly. When Staples, Office Max, Office Depot & Walmart put there school supplies on sale I go to them early because they tend to run out fast. These stores also price match as well. Just take the sale paper to the store and you can get the same sale at Walmart that Staples have on sale as long as the store carry the product & size. Be at the stores when the doors opens because the lines are much shorter. As for clothes buying them a size or two bigger when stores mark them down is a great way to save money. And if your child can no longer wear something you can always pass it on to another child her age or size, especially when you only paid $2.00 or $3.00 for it. You can buy your Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, etc this way as well especially if you have a large family!

  ---

Wow!!!!! Sounds great. Could I ask you what email list you are talking about that you joined so you know whats on sale the Friday before the sale starts on Sun? I'd really like to be able to plan ahead like you do. I know about price matching but have never tried it but I am going to try it tomarrow when I go shopping. Have you ever tried price matching with the WalMart grocery department with other grocery stores ad? I am wondering if they do and also if WalMart honors other stores coupons in their ads. I also have been buying Xmas/birthday  presents whenever deals come up. I have got a lot of them through trial offers. Anywho...... if you could let me/us know what emailing site you are referring to and just exactly the process of price matching - you know the how to step by  step go through that process. I know that I for one would greatly appreciate it.

By Sharon on 8/19/2009

• Margaret said:

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  • Emily said:

    ---

    I buy clothes for my 2 girls a year ahead when they go on sale at the end of seasons.  I save sooo much money (I dont spend over $5 for a shirt, $7 for jeans, and $10 for a dress...and usually much less than that).  Then, when its time to go back to school (or the beginning of summer), we just pull out the shopping bags, and they have a whole new (cheap!) wardrobe.  Its so fun to go through! 

    ---

  How old are your girls? Because this does not last forever at least for me it didnt, My girls after the older one was a certain age and hanging out with the other girls in school do not want to wear what I was picking out anymore because rhe other girls wore better and more expensive stuff then as my other two seen her doing this would not want to wear things I had bought either, So good luck but this does not last for to long unless you are strict and force them to wear what you want them to but it was not worth wasting money and yelling about so I gave in as long as the clothes are not to provocitive or cut wrong, Well have a great school year and hope you can keep saving on shopping. mom1966
  

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An idea since I am mom of a teenager... I making him work to buy the clothes he wants.  I did it when I was a teenager by babysitting and then later working at a doctor office after school.  He used to mow yards but now works at Whataburger.  Just a suggestion, I hope I don't offend you.  Take care and good luck.

By Maria on 8/19/2009

• Margaret said:

  ---

  • Emily said:

    ---

    I buy clothes for my 2 girls a year ahead when they go on sale at the end of seasons.  I save sooo much money (I dont spend over $5 for a shirt, $7 for jeans, and $10 for a dress...and usually much less than that).  Then, when its time to go back to school (or the beginning of summer), we just pull out the shopping bags, and they have a whole new (cheap!) wardrobe.  Its so fun to go through! 

    ---

  How old are your girls? Because this does not last forever at least for me it didnt, My girls after the older one was a certain age and hanging out with the other girls in school do not want to wear what I was picking out anymore because rhe other girls wore better and more expensive stuff then as my other two seen her doing this would not want to wear things I had bought either, So good luck but this does not last for to long unless you are strict and force them to wear what you want them to but it was not worth wasting money and yelling about so I gave in as long as the clothes are not to provocitive or cut wrong, Well have a great school year and hope you can keep saving on shopping. mom1966
  

  ---

I have a suggestion that worked with my teenage son who wanted more expensive clothes that my budget can allow right now as I am going to school.  I had him work to get the clothes he wants.  I did it myself when I was his age by babysitting and then when I was older, I worked at a doctor's office.  He used to mow yards but now he works at Whataburger (fast food place in TX).  I hope this idea helps and doesn't offend you.  Take care and good luck.

By Maria on 8/19/2009

At some schools you can get a grade level supply list in May for the fall.  I watch the ads and pick up supplies for my daughter who is a kindergarten teacher.  Some times I pick up the sale items and put them in the collecting bin at the store or at the church.  Recently I heard of a family whose parent had lost a job due to downsizing.  My family found a supply list for their school and filled 95% with the sale items.  Delivered the supplies two weeks before school started.  Collected the pennies and turn them in for a gift card.  This freed up money for the family yet the kids could get the special items they wanted. 

By Julie on 8/19/2009

I buy ahead of time. I always pick up clothes for my 11 yr old a year ahead at the season ending clearances. Love those so much! I do know that he will not want to do that for much longer but right now it still works for us.My 17 yr old daughter has a job so she buys the things for herself that I can not afford. I always give her a nice amount that goes towards clothes during the summer and if she thinks she needs a pair of Silvers that is fine but she will not have any more money to buy andything else. i leave it up to her. Also I always keep a lookout for any kind of discount , sale or coupon and use them if I can. They help so much!Karla

By Karla on 8/20/2009

At the childrens place you get a point for every dollar you sepnd. After 75 dollars you get a ten dollar gift card. This hels as well.

By Amanda on 8/20/2009

sorry, this helps as well

By Amanda on 8/20/2009

I find that going to a Dollar tree store helps with school supplies and it's very inexpensive for the basics.  I also agree about shopping at the end of season sales.  You save tons.

By Diana on 8/20/2009