The kids will be heading back to school soon. If you haven’t started shopping, now is a great time to hunt for the best bargains and savings you might have missed. Many of the tips and sales below can trim significant costs from your list.
First, check for tax-free shopping days in your state. Many states hold tax-free weekends for back-to-school purchases. If your shopping list is long, the savings from avoiding sales tax can be substantial.
Notable back-to-school deals available the week of July 8–14, 2012 from TARGET
- 2-pocket poly portfolio — $0.50 each
- 2-pocket poly portfolio with prongs — $0.75 each
- 1-subject poly notebooks (wide or college rule) — $0.50 each
- Crayola 10-count markers or 12-count colored pencils — $0.99
- 2-ct Sharpie permanent markers or pocket highlighters — $1.00
- Fiskars 5-inch scissors — 2 for $3.00
- Crayola 12-count dry-erase crayons — sale price
- Wild Notes journal with pen — $4.00 each
- 16-inch licensed backpacks — $13.00 each
- Lunch kits — $7.00 each
- Lunch essentials (bags, water bottles, storage) — $3.00 each
Notable back-to-school deals available the week of July 8–14, 2012 from STAPLES
Staples typically features steep discounts and penny items (often with a minimum purchase requirement). They also frequently offer manufacturer or store coupons to save more at checkout.
- Bic Round Stick Pens — $0.01 with a $5 purchase (limit 2)
- Staples school glue — $0.01 with a $5 purchase (limit 2)
- RoseArt crayons — $0.01 with a $5 purchase (limit 2)
- PaperMate mechanical pencils — $0.25
- Really Useful 0.14 L box — $0.25
- Staples side coil books — $0.50
- Bic dry erase markers — $0.50
- Staples pink block eraser — $0.50
- Slider pencil case — $0.50
- Staples mechanical pencils — $1.00
- Staples mini stapler — $1.00
- Scotch tape — $1.00
- Staples Postscript mechanical pencils (0.5 mm) — $1.00
- Staples glue sticks (4-pack) — $1.00
- Wescott scissors (2-pack) — $1.00
- Rose Art washable markers — $1.00
- Staples pull & seal envelopes (25 ct) — $1.00
- Sharpie 5-pack — $1.00
- Kingston 8GB USB flash drive — $7.99
- 5-pack Staples Strata pens — $2.00
- Crayola washable markers — $2.00
- Staples fashion clipboard — $2.00
Staples rebate deals
- Scotch super glue — free after easy rebate
- Staples multipurpose paper — $0.25 after easy rebate
- HP photo paper — $0.50 after easy rebate
- Backpacks — currently 50% off
Notable back-to-school deals available the week of July 8–14, 2012 from WALMART
If gas or travel is a concern, Walmart often offers free shipping on uniforms and back-to-school supplies. Many of the deepest in-store bargains aren’t available online, so visiting a store can pay off.
Bic’s 45-piece back-to-school kit — $15.00
- Single glue sticks — $0.10 each
- Crayola crayons — $0.20–$0.25 per box
- Composition notebooks — $0.25 each
- Dixon pencils (12 ct) — $0.47
- Index cards — $0.48
- Elmer’s glue — $0.50
- Crayola watercolors — $0.50
- Pencil cap erasers (25 ct) — $0.88
- Crayola colored pencils (12 ct) — $0.97
- Mini stapler — $0.97
- Calculator — $1.00
- Post-It Notes (90 ct) — $1.00
- Sharpie markers (2 pk) — $1.00
- Bic mechanical pencils (6 pk) — $1.00
- Paper Mate pens (10 ct) — $1.00
- Magic tape (300″) — $1.00
- Papermate erasable pens (4 pk) — $2.28
- Georgia Pacific copy paper (500 sheets) — $2.50
- Avery 5-tab edge dividers — $2.50
- Mini water bottle (18 oz.) — $2.50
- Folders (3 pk.) — $2.50
- Fashion folder (1″) — $2.50
- Expo dry erase (4 pk) — $2.50
- Crayola erasable colored pens (12 pk) — $2.97
- Crayola colored pencils (12 pk) — $2.97
Additional Walmart deals (often starting mid-July)
- Multicolor pocket folders — $0.20 or less each
- Crayola crayons — $0.10–$0.25 per box
- Glue sticks — $0.10–$0.25 (4 pk)
- 1-subject notebooks — $0.10–$0.18 each
- Filler paper (wide rule) — $0.50 per pkg
Notable back-to-school deals available the week of July 8–14, 2012 from OfficeMax
OfficeMax often issues printable coupons and in-store flyers with savings like $5 off a $25 purchase. Their weekly ad commonly includes loss-leader items and buy-one-get-one offers.
- 10 free folders with a $5 purchase
- Boise paper (ream of 500) — $0.01 after rewards
- OfficeMax brand glue sticks (4 pk) — $0.25
- Sharpie fine point (12-pack) — $1.00
- OfficeMax wireless college/wide/quad notebook — $1.00
- 1″ binders — $1.00 each
- 1-subject poly notebook — $1.00 each
- Endura Glide dry erase markers (4 pk) — $1.00
- Schoolio 3×5 index cards (100-pack) — $1.00
- 50 ct paper lunch bags — $1.00
BOGO and manufacturer promotions at OfficeMax
Buy one, get 50% off:
- All Bic pens, Wite-Out, and highlighters
- All Crayola products
- All Avery shipping products
- All Post-it products (regularly priced)
OfficeMax neon self-stick note cube (2×2) — $1.00
Notable back-to-school deals available the week of July 8–14, 2012 from KMART
- 2-pocket folders (with prongs) — $0.20 each
- 1-subject notebooks — $0.70 each
- Stretch-to-fit book covers — $0.50 each
- 7-pack pencil top erasers — $0.75 each
- College-ruled filler paper (150 ct) — $0.75
- Wide-ruled filler paper (150 ct) — $0.75
- 10-count #2 pencils — $0.75
- Shatterproof ruler — $0.75
- Fashion/design folders — $0.75
- Pilot Easy Touch pens (3 pk) — $1.00
- Pencil boxes — $1.00 each
Beyond school supplies, watch for grocery sales like lunch meat, which often goes on promotion during back-to-school season and freezes well for later use.
Please share any back-to-school deals you’ve found in the comments below — community tips are one of the best ways to save.
© Can Stock Photo Inc. / Geleol