Where to Save on Back to School Supplies List Items

The economy and higher unemployment figures across the nation have some parents dreaming of ways to save on back to school supplies for their kids. If your list looks like mine, the list of back to school supplies that you are expected to send to school with your child in September is very extensive. However, in a tight economy several retailers are stepping up to the plate and offering some bargains on back to school supplies that leave more cash in a parent's wallet. Here are a few of the ways that I have found to save money on the back to school supplies on my list.

Staples saves on back to school supplies list items via loss leaders/Easy Rebate program

Parents need to give Staples a second look if they are bypassing it in favor of their local Walmart. In recent weeks, Staples has offered some good sales on essential back to school supplies such as pencils, pens, rulers, erasers, etc. A few weeks ago, they offered the full price of a backpack back for Staples Rewards members. Grabbing the loss leaders, essentially cherry picking, enables parents to save money. Read the fine print and buy the maximum. If you are a teacher, be aware that ad limits may not apply to you and you may be able to gather as many as 15 of an item at the rock bottom price.

Also worth looking at are back to school supplies that are on Easy Rebate for the full price back. Though you are laying out the full price at the cash register, Easy Rebates come fairly quickly and you won't be out that cash for long. Shopping this weekend for some back to school items in states like Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and others will also ensure that your back to school supplies can be gotten without paying sales tax so long as they are eligible items.

Staples tips: Check Staples.com for a sneak peek into the next week's ad. A link to next week's ad is sourced below and lists a fantastic deal on 1 subject notebooks - they will be on sale next week for just 1 cent each, limit 6. Need dry erase markers? Get the ones that will be free after Easy Rebate. Keep your Sunday paper ad as there is a coupon for $5 off $50 purchase and in-store ads do not contain that coupon. Take your receipts home and immediately enter them to get credit for your purchases before you have a chance to misplace them in the hustle and bustle of back to school shopping.

CVS saves on back to school supplies by offering them on their Extra Bucks program

CVS shoppers have been cashing in on many free back to school items on their supply list by buying them at CVS instead of other stores. In the past few weeks, I have gotten several items free after Extra Bucks. Basically, I buy the product for full price at the register and then once I pay, the Extra Bucks are generated on my receipt. I save those Extra Bucks for the next week's sale and snag other back to school supplies for free or cheap by rolling those original Extra Bucks onto the next purchase, essentially creating a chain. Recent purchases for me included wide ruled paper, pencils, memo notebooks, and pens. Keep in mind that as the school year wears on, you may be asked or expected to send extra supplies in to your child's teacher or you may need glue for home use for homework. So even if your school supply list only includes 3 boxes of pencils, if they will be free, pick them up anyway.

CVS tips: Watch the sale dates on back to school supplies as this year they have been on sale for three days only: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. After Tuesday, no Extra Bucks will be generated. Also, grab the limit if you can. If there is one left and the limit is two, ask for a rain check. I was recently able to get a rain check for an item that was not in stock. The rain check had a space for the event code so that when I did purchase the item, the cashier would be able to input the code to generate my Extra Bucks on the rain checked item. Shop early as I have found that many items sell out quickly.

Sources:

Personal experience

http://staples.shoplocal.com/staples/default.aspx?action=entryflash&adref=staples_right_hand_nav&cm_sp=merchandising-_-weekly%20ad%20right%20rail-_-weekly%20ad%20right%20rail