5 Money Saving Tips: How to Buy School Supplies in Bulk

We all know that those brand new school supplies that look so cool right now will be used up, discarded, broken or simply need to be replaced at least one, if not two times this year. As parents we also know that many of these school supplies are also going to be needed at home in order to complete homework assignments, school projects and even science fairs. Maybe your family like ours needs to buy school supplies for more than one student. Whatever your needs there are some tips and tricks that you should know in order to save money and still buy your school supplies in bulk and be ready for any educational need your student may have, long before that last minute 7:00 at night scream, "Mom I need a poster board, markers, stickers and glitter for this project and it's due tomorrow!"

Ads can add up with back to school savings

Watch the Sunday papers, inserts, and coupons for money saving sales. Not every store will have a sale each week on school supplies, but when they do stock up. For example normally a bottle of Elmer's Glue may cost .89-$1.49 per bottle. With this week's Walmart advertisement I was able to pick up the two bottles I needed for my daughter for school as well as a few extra bottles for the home all for the price of .25 each.

Clipping coupons really cuts the cost of back to school supplies

Make sure to clip those coupons from the Sunday paper and many online sites like SmartSource.com and Coupons.com. You may not need these school supply items coupons right away, but it's good to have those coupons available to you whenever you are shopping. Be sure to carry your school supply coupons with you all the time. You never know when you will come across an opportunity to really stock up.

Stack up those back to school supply savings

Many stores like Walgreen's and Target allow you to "stack" your coupon savings. This means they allow you to combine both the store coupon with a manufacturer coupon. How does this work? Often you will see the coupon for pens at Walgreen's for .99 for the back to school special. Grab your manufacturer coupon for the exact same pens and now you can really stock up and stack up the savings allowing you to buy more at one time and spend a whole lot less.

Don't discount "discount" stores

Stores like Family Dollar, Big Lots, The Dollar Store and Dollar General often offer great deals on name brand supplies or you can stock up on the off brand school supply products like pencils, glue sticks, scissors and pens. Even tissues and hand sanitizer can be found for a steal allowing teachers and parents to really add up the savings and the supplies for the new school year.

Don't forget the "Staples"

Believe it or not stores like Staples, Office Max and Office Depot, and even warehouse stores like Sam's and Costco can help you purchase your school supplies in bulk and save money too. Stores may offer larger packs of the supplies you need or discounts based on the number of packages that you buy. Be sure to check out the savings there both online and in the stores when you need to bulk up on school supplies like poster boards, pens, markers, dry erase markers and erasers and so much more.

Avoid the last minute school supply woes, the high prices of school supplies later on in the year or even make a donation to a worthy school supply drive while saving money and stocking up on all those supplies that both your home and your student will need with these easy to use money saving tips. After all, less is more!