The Dollar Tree: Your Back to School Supply Secret Weapon

I wish I could say I look forward to "back to school" shopping like many moms, but the only thing I look forward to is my ten year old going back to school and not having to pay for summer camps and daycare! Shopping on the other hand is still my nemesis. The Wal-Marts and Targets of the world are packed with frantic families shopping for all different kind of school supplies and clothes and standing in lines the size of the bread lines from the depression. What's a mom to do if she wants great value and quality but less people and smaller lines? Well you may have something in town called The Dollar Store, The Dollar Tree, or 99 cent store that is waiting for your visit and has some nice surprises for you. I just finished my son's school supply shopping there and was able to tackle 95% of the list and buy some greeting cards, get the cat pan liners for just a dollar, and even found Sour Patch Kids candy for my hard work. That candy is like $2-$3 at Hollywood Video! So what school supplies was I able to cross off my list? I found the following:

• 1" 3 Ring Binder

• Dividers for 10 subjects

• 3 hole pencil pouch

• 3 pkg notebook paper wide ruled

• 4 doz #2 pencils yellow

• 2 red pens

• Fine point black sharpie pen

• Box of tissue

• Ruler

• 2 spiral notebooks

• 1 pkg baby wipes

• Crayons

• Bottle of hand sanitizer

• Felt-tip markers (colored)

• Scissors

• 2 glue sticks

• 1 pkg pencil head erasers

The only items I couldn't find on the list were a 2" 3 ring binder, backpack, and a drawing notebook. Good news was I already had those from last year so didn't need to make a separate trip. I could've ordered them online as well if I didn't want to brave a different store. So for all of my son's school supplies I only ended up spending a total of $22.00. I'm pretty impressed with that and I think others would be as well! The items were also in a row labeled school supplies like they would be at a major chain store so it didn't take any more time or effort. It took a lot less time in the line and I was able to buy 10 greeting cards I needed for $10. Where can you buy really nice greeting cards for just $1?

So when you're tired of standing in line, listening to screaming kids and fighting for parking at Wal-Mart or Target, remember your local Dollar Store is just around the corner.