Where and When You Buy Your Kid's School Supplies?

Since my husband works for Wal-Mart and we get a discount I always go there. I go right about a week after the 4th of July-when the 4th stuff is gone and they have all the school supplies out, I don't want to fight the crowds! I have also learned to pay attention, I found construction paper in the art supplies cheaper-for a larger package than what they had in the school supplies section, also we were supposed to bring 4 pkgs of glue sticks-in the school supplies they only had 2 packs, when you go the the art supplies you can get a 6 pack and spend less $. Also all the pencils went into the same bucket, so nothing fancy.

My understanding has been that Walmart has the best prices on a lot of things, and also maybe Target. But Wally's has been selling school supplies since JULY (!), so they may be running low now. As for "fancy stuff," my daughter-in-law says she generally gets standard equipment for my granddaughters - oh, maybe a fancy pencil or something, but "fancy" wears off quickly where school supplies are concerned. If the girls want to spend their own money on something a little fancy, that's another matter. She buys them good backpacks, though, because she doesn't want to replace them before the school year is out.

We are very lucky at our school district and only have to give a $30 supply fee when school starts. It makes it so nice that all the kids have the same supplies and we don't have to worry about driving around trying to find everything. I did buy my daughter a $38.00 backpack and $12 lunch box, she's in 1st grade.

My daughter isn't scholl age yet, but I recenetly read an article saying that Walgreen's prices are better on a lot of the back to school items than Target & Walmart.

I saw a mother in front of my in line at Walmart that compared school supplies' prices. I thought it was genius!!

I try to wait for the tax free weekend (usually 1st weekend in Aug), but we were out of town for it this year. Target/Walmart - but they can start to run out of things if you wait till 1 week before school starts. By then, if I'm still missing a few items, I can count on Office Depot or Staples. They are usually higher priced, but for the few last things I need to get it's not too bad.
When a deal is really good - get lots! By Dec or Jan a lot of those crayons/pencils/markers are broken, worn down, lost, drying up and need to be replaced. I hardly had to get anything this year because I got enough last year to just about cover everything. Sure it takes up a little closet space, but we use it all up sooner or later.

I buy all our supplies as soon as I get the list. generally I get good standard stuff, crayons, markers , art stuff I buy name brand. I don't buy the " recycled " filler paper it does not stand up to erasers as well as the normal stuff.
I buy at walmart and target.

Walmart has the cheapest prices. Notebooks for .15 cents and crayons for .25 cents.

When I was buying school supplies, I'd always shop the sales and buy the least expensive items. No store has a monopoly on the lowest prices, but Walmart says they will match any competitor's printed sale prices.

I bought the fancy pencils at my local "99 Cents Only" store. Some store always has pencils for less than 5 cents each. This year I've seen a package of 24 for $.50. When I needed them, I buy enough for the entire year. I've seen spiral notebooks at Straples for $0.01 each. I buy crayons either right after Christmas, or in the going back to school sales. I bought filler paper for $.35 for a packge of 150. I bought a case of computer/copy paper for $24.99 for a box (10 reams).

When my kids were old enough I give them a clothes budget and give them the money. I told them where the sales were and reminded them they had to buy for the entire school year. Some of my kids spent all their money right away and bought "designer lable" clothes and then cried when they found out they had to wear those clothes over and over again during the year. Some of my other kids saw and learned. They chose to go to Salivation Army, Good Will, and Desseret Industries and paid for their "designer label" and non-"designer lable" clothers there.

Good Luck to you and yours.

I buy basic stuff (pencils, glue, glue sticks, book covers, crayons) when they're on sale in August. Then if the teacher sends a list, I go and get what I'm missing. Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens.

Walmart - 3am great prices - no lines :)

Our PTO takes care of the school supplies for us. We write them a check at the end of the year and the school supplies are waiting in the classroom for the kids on the first day of the next year. It's great because all the kids get the same stuff so there's no jealousy over who has the cutest pencils and it's so much easier for us. The first year I assumed the PTO was overpriced so I took the list and went out and bought it myself. After 4 different stores in search of the right size paper I realized that I had already spent as much money as it would have cost me through the PTO and I had wasted a lot of time.

Good luck,
K.

Bookbag, lunch box, and pencils/pens I let him pick.

The other stuff I usually get at Walmart or Target when its all $.25 - $2. I also go to Staples when they have their $.01 and $.05 sales.

Our school also does the Staples SchoolKits that you can pay for at the end of one year and its waiting for you in the classroom in the fall. I priced it out last year and the kits were actually cheaper. Our lists have slightly changed since when we ordered so I may still have to run out and buy a few things.

Certain things that are on the list are not so easy to find or are simply not sold at Wal-Mart, Target or Office Depot and when that occurs I go to a Teacher Supply Store and buy it there. They are usually cheap. Of course things like crayons, pencils, and glue (more commonly asked for supplies) are cheaper at Wal-Mart or Target. I generally don't buy really fancy stuff except for certain things that I know will get a lot of use and that have to stand up to it like a pencil bag. I bought a cheap one in which the zipper ended up not closing which resulted in supplies falling everywhere and I had to end up buying a better one anyway. I should have just bought the one that was slightly more and avoided the hassles, but lesson learned for me and now I evaluate the use before I buy. Hope this helps.

Toys R Us is having a great sale this week - but one, get two free on crayola markers and crayons. It's a great way to stock up on supplies!

I GOT A GREAT deal in a sharpener and all i did was atach a string to my dughter and son mason and clarie's bookbag and so far they did not loose it.The last time they lost it was they were 5 and now thery are 9.I am so HAPPY!!!!!

I buy all the basics at Staples ahead of time and just keep a stash of things my daughter uses.

When school starts, the teachers give out their own list so I usually turn that in by the end of the first week.......In high school they get a grade if they do or do not turn in supplies which include........tissues for all 7 classes, 12 AAA batteries for Geometry, Expo markers for 3 teachers, etc.

Good luck