How to Buy Cheap School Supplies

If your kids are going back to school this year, you're probably thinking of ways to get cheaper school supplies. It's not just possible to save money on school supplies; it's fairly easy to do. Many stores are eager to sell school supplies for cheap just to get you in the door. The trick to getting cheap school supplies is to buy them when you don't need them, then stockpile them. Stockpiling school supplies doesn't just save you money. It makes finding school supplies easier and more convenient, too, because you can find many of the school supplies you need at home in your stash.

To get started finding cheap school supplies, check the websites of your children's schools to find their school supply lists. Also refer back to previous years' school supply lists for clues on what to buy. Ignore the school's recommendations for name-brand school supplies. Instead, only use them as a guide as to what to buy.

You'll need to start shopping for cheap school supplies about a month or two before school starts. Check your local newspaper for flyers advertising deep discounts on school supplies. Then go to the grocery store where you regularly shop, as well as other local grocery stores, office supply stores, dollar stores and drug stores. For school supplies your kids use regularly, purchase the maximum number of school supplies that the store allows. The commonly used school supplies you can buy for cheap include glue, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, #2 pencils, pens, erasers, folders, spiral notebooks, notebook paper and markers. School supplies such as manila paper, construction paper and 3- and 5-subject notebooks typically don't sell for cheap. However, stores tend to run out of these school supplies, so if you do find them at a discount, purchase a few extras.

If you find a cheap school supply that is larger than the one requested by the school, you can purchase it instead. For example, if the school requested packages of 16 crayons and the store has the 24 crayon packages on sale at a deep discount, then buy the 24 crayon packs. Even if they're smaller, you may get a bargain. For example, if the school requests .77 oz glue sticks, and the stores have .21 oz glue sticks for cheap, you may save money by buying a larger quantity of the smaller glue sticks. Also, don't forget to look for the best prices on facial tissues, baby wipes, paper towels and hand sanitizer. Whenever your school requests school supplies that you don't have in your stash, check ahead of time to see if your local stores have them on sale. Then purchase at least a few extras of these supplies for future school years.

Create a space in your home where you can store the cheap school supplies. An area of unused closet or shelf space works well. Make sure that you organize the supplies well. For best results, place them in categories. For example, create a category for pens, pencils, crayons and markers, another category for glue, another for folders and another for paper and spiral notebooks.

Keep these supplies on hand to use when needed. Even if you purchase significantly more school supplies than you need, you will still save time and money. Any excess school supplies you don't use can be used as office supplies or craft supplies. If you're sure you will no longer need your extra supplies, you can donate them to a worthwhile charity that gives free school supplies to the poor.

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