How to save money on school supplies

I’m something of an expert on saving money on school supplies. I was one of a team of writers who track school supply sales every year for a decade, and I’ve had my tips for saving money on school supplies published on big websites like Good Housekeeping and MSN Money, among many others, and I was interviewed on the topic for this article in the Washington Post. My local TV News stations used to interview me every year to help parents spend less during this oh-so-expensive time of year.

I tell you all that just so you’ll believe me when I say this: the best school supply deals are not always in the usual places you go to save money. When you know a few simple things – including where to look to find the best deals! – you’ll get everything you need and for potentially hundreds of dollars cheaper.

The best school supply deals I see this week

Here we go! The school supply sales have already started! I’ll list the best deals I see on top-quality school supplies. If you’re wondering about a particular store and you don’t see it in my list, please let me know. This year, I’m in a new city with some different stores available to me. I don’t want to sleep on any of the good deals. 😉

Whenever possible, I’ll link to deals with an affiliate link, which means if you use that link to buy something I may receive a small commission from them on the sale (at no cost to you).

Staples: So far, the best sales this week! I stocked up on notebooks and paper folders. Do check your nearest Staples ad, because the deals may vary depending on location. Here’s what I see in my area this week:

limits apply to sale items; ask in your store
paper folders, 2-pocket, no prongs .10 (Wow! Awesome price.)
Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculators $98
Elmers school glue, 4 oz .45
2-pocket poly folders, with holes for 3-ring binder or with fasteners .45
composition notebooks .45
Crayola crayons .45
Staples #2 pencils, 8-pack .39 (I prefer the Ticonderoga brand, but at this price why not pick up a pack and see what you think?)
Crayola markers or colored pencils .95
filler paper, 120 sheets .65
pink wedge erasers, 3-pack .69
1-subject notebooks, 70 pages .25
Five Star 1-subject notebook, 100 sheets $2.95 (This is why I buy generic notebooks. See the huge price difference???)
Bic Round Stic ballpoint pens, 10-pack .99
translucent pencil box .95
1″ standard view binder $2.99
TruRed multipurpose paper (copy paper), 10-ream case $39.99 (works out to $3.99 per ream, which is a great price right now)
coupon: $10 off your in-store purchase of $50 or more
teacher discount: 20% off your in-store purchase all season long (Valid through 9/14/24; see terms and conditions.)

Walgreens:

When Walgreens school supply sales really get going, they have some of the best prices around. But only on the sale items, okay? Don’t buy regular price office supplies there unless you want to overpay.

Earn $5 in-store rewards when you spend $20 or more select back-to-school products. Valid through Aug. 31, 2024 with myWalgreens membership.
Sadly, I don’t see any screamin’ deals here so far this year. Maybe I missed them? It’s been a busy summer!

Kroger:

With digital coupons, you must be signed up for the Kroger rewards card and then make sure you add the coupon to your card. (There will be a button that says “clip.”) Buy the exact eligible items. You can use the coupon ONE time, on up to 5 products in that checkout. So if it’s a really good deal and you have the ability to stock up, go ahead and get 5 of that thing in your one shopping trip.

As with Walgreens, Kroger used to have some serious deals on school supplies, especially if they give us digital coupons to match up with the sales, which does happen sometimes. But this year, I just haven’t seen the deals I used to see.

If you use Kroger fuel points, this could be the best place to shop for most of your items; just be very deliberate so you don’t unwittingly overspend.

Colorblock backpack $11.99
Bic Cristal ballpoint pens, 10-ct $1.29
Elmer’s school glue .59 ea
Paper Mate Pink Pearl eraser .59
Kroger paper towels, 6 rolls, $5.99 w/digital coupon link
Oxford ruled index cards, 100 pk .79
Elmer’s purple glue stick, 3-ct $1 (limit 30)
plastic folders, with pockets or tangs .59 ea (limit 30)
Paper Mate Write Bros medium ball point pens, 10 pk $1
2-pocket folders with pockets and tangs .49 (limit 30)
pencil sharpener .49
kids scissors, blunt or pointed, 5-in .79 (limit 30)
sticky notes cube, 200 ct $1
#2 pencils, 10 ct $1 (not a deal)
Wescott aluminum ruler, 12-in $1 (limit 30) link
plastic ruler .59
cap erasers, 15-ct .59
Avery sheet protectors, standard weight, 10 pk $1
slider pencil box $1 (the other kind of snap box is $1.99, which is not a deal)
Sharpie fine point permanent marker $1 (good deal)

Because Kroger usually has season-long pricing, last week’s deals may also still be valid:
Paper Mate Write Bros. mechanical pencils, 12-pack $1.59 w/digital coupon link (.13 ea)
Elmers disappearing purple glue sticks, 3-pack $1 link (plus there’s a coupon for pickup/delivery customers)
spiral notebook, 1-subject .39 ea link
Sharpie fine point permanent markers, 2-pack $1.49 link (better deal)
Crayola crayons, 24-pack .50 ea link
Crayola colored pencils, 12-pack $1
Crayola markers, 10-pack $1 ea link
Bic Briteliner highlighters, 5-pack $1.99 link
Sharpie highlighters, 5-pack $2.49 link (plus there’s a coupon for pickup/delivery customers)
Ticonderoga sharpened #2 pencils, 18-pack $3.99 link
Oxford ruled 3×5″ index cards, 100-pk .79 link
paper folders, 2-pocket with tangs .49 ea link
Bic Cristal ballpoint pens, 10-pack $1.29 link
Papermate Write Bros ballpoint pens, 10-pack $1 link
Filler paper, 150 sheets $1.29 link
Multipurpose copy paper, 500 sheets $4.99 link
Composition book, 100 sheets $1 link (not a deal)
Expo dry-erase chisel tip markers, 4-pack $4.79 link
Slider storage bags, quart size, 40 bags $3.99 link
Slider storage bags, gallon, 30 bags $3.99 link
Double zipper storage bags, quart, 48 bags $3.39 link
Double zipper storage bags, gallon, 38 bags $3.39 link
Kroger Glimmer paper towels, double roll, select-a-size, 2-pack $2 link
Kroger disinfecting wipes, 75-ct $2.99 link

Walmart: Download your child’s school supply list here at Walmart.com (affiliate link)

Expo dry-erase markers (affiliate link), 12-count $8.97 (This is a really good deal at less than $1 per marker.)
glue sticks, 2-pack .25
Elmer’s purple glue stick .50
composition book .50
index cards, 100-pack .72
5″ kid scissors .74
Sterilite small pencil box .97
1-subject notebooks .45 (Staples has the best deal, followed by Kroger)

Dollar General: They do accept coupons, so if you see a coupon for a back to school item, bring it with you.

Sales valid July 21-27, 2024

glue sticks, 3-ct .50
school glue, 4 oz .50
filler paper, 125 sheets $1
sheet protectors, 20-ct $1
(Crayola markers cost .50 more per pack than at other stores on this list)
Crayola crayons, 24-count .50 each

Office Depot/Office Max:

Crayola crayons, 24-pack .50
composition notebooks, wide-rule, 100 sheets .50
Elmer’s school glue, 4 oz .50
Sharpie fine point permanent marker, 5-pk $4.99

Sam’s Club:

I really, really like the Members Mark brand paper towels, disinfecting wipes, garbage bags, t.p., etc. Most of them are are terrific value and the quality is the same or better than the name brands. During the year, buying these in bulk makes sense; during school supply season, you might get better deals by couponing and shopping the weekly sales. It’s just a matter of being in the right time and place to score an excellent deal.

Members Mark disinfecting wipes, 78 sheets, 4-pack $10.98 (unit price .04 ea sheet)
Clorox disinfecting wipes, 85 sheets, 5-pack $18.78 (unit price .04 ea sheet)
Members Mark paper towels, select-a-size,150 sheets, 15 rolls $19.98 (about $1.33 per roll)
Expo dry erase marker, asstd colors, 18-pack $13.47 link (.75 ea)
Sharpie permanent marker, 24-count $11.98 link (.50 ea)
Ticonderoga unsharpened #2 pencils, 96-count $11.28 link (.12 ea)
Ziploc storage bags, gallon size, 208-count $18.98 link (.09 ea)
Ziploc storage bags, quart size, 216-count $15.68 link (.07 ea)
Members Mark copy paper, 10-ream case $38.98 link (3.89 per ream)
Bic Round Stic, 96-ct $8.68 link (.09 ea)
Scotch Magic Tape, ¾” x 850″, 6 Pack $9.98 link (.02 per ft)

Menards

Menards rebates translate into what is essentially store credit. If you’re a frequent shopper, that can add up; otherwise, it’s not useful for you. I would only purchase the school supply items that are a decent deal even without the rebate. Here are some I saw.

Oxford index card, 3×5, 100 pack .72 (.64 after 11% rebate)
pink erasers, 3-pack .78 (.69 after 11% rebate)
highlighters, 4-pack .89 (.79 after 11% rebate)
index card case .29 (.26 after 11% rebate)
ballpoint pens, 10-pack .55 (.49 after 11% rebate)
push pins, 100-count .78 (.69 after 11% rebate)
paper clips, 100-count .89 (.79 after 11% rebate)
rubber bands, 100-pack 1.29 ($1.15 after rebate)

When is the best time to buy school supplies?

School supply sales start in mid-July, and sometimes even earlier. I assume that’s because retailers want to get a jump on this lucrative back-to-school shopping season. I also assume that the practice of offering loss leaders still works, because most of them still do it, and thank God they do because that equals cheap school supplies for us. One year, my daughter spent $8 and had everything on her list on the first day of school. (She was also interviewed by the local news. Makes a frugal mom’s heart proud!)

This is absolutely the best time to buy school supplies. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. (See the “myths” section below.)

Now, my youngest is all the way through college so I no longer have any kids in school who need backpacks, pencil cases, or dry erase markers. But I still need various office supplies, and this is the best time of year to buy them. Stock up while the prices are low.

A few myths about back-to-school shopping that cost people money

Before we get into the best places to buy cheap school supplies, I’d like to list what I believe are some myths about how to save money on back to school shopping. For some reason, these “tips” get repeated by well-meaning folks every year. I want to set the record straight because I just want you to be able to save the most money and give your kids the greatest memories. And if your kids are grown and gone like mine are, I want you to be able to be WELL stocked with office supplies for the year. You deserve it.

So, here are a few myths we should dispel to help you avoid costly mistakes in your back to school shopping:

Myth: It will cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars you don’t have to send your kids to school. Fact: It could cost you hundreds of dollars, but if you’re willing to penny-pinch with me here, you’ll ‘send your kids to school in style,’ as they say, but within budget. It is possible.
Myth: The dollar stores have the best deals on school supplies. Fact: Dollar stores can be a great place to save money on many, many things, but if you buy your school supplies there in July and August, you’ll probably overpay. You’ll see what I mean when I give you example prices from the stores that have really good school supply deals.
Myth: The school requires that your child have the name brand version of everything. Fact: On some items, name-brand school supplies are truly superior and that’s why teachers will specify the brand. On everything else, generic is grand.
Myth: You should wait until the hype dies down and buy school supplies in September when they’re on clearance. Fact: If there really are clearance sales – and I’ve almost never found them – they will be limited in supply and selection. So, let’s say you get a notebook for .25 instead of .45 (not likely, but let’s say you did). You still need about 800 other things on the list and now none of them are on sale. I definitely, definitely will always take a glance at the clearance shelves, but for additional things. Bonuses. Extras. Not for the main shopping. You’ll overpay, for sure. And also, sometimes clearance prices really aren’t all that good.
Myth: Don’t bring your kids to the store because they’ll want everything and you’ll spend more. Fact: Well, of course they’ll want everything. I want everything too. I definitely want the notebook with the cute kitties on the front cover. I absolutely want the Mead Trapper Keeper. Are you kidding me? But I don’t buy everything I want, because I want the money more than I want the Trapper Keeper. Give your kids an allowance for school supplies, teach them how to shop the sales, then tell them they get to keep any money left over after everything on the list is accounted for. We’ll see how much they care about glitter pencils. It’s likely they’ll take an old chewed up #2 out of the kitchen junk drawer rather than spend their ~~hard-earned~~ money on it.

Real advice for saving money on school supplies (and HOW to implement)

Okay, now that we’ve addressed those misbeliefs we can really get on to saving you big money. Or helping you spend very little money, whichever way you want to phrase it. I don’t know if you can still do it for $8 these days, but why not give it the ol’ college try? Here are tips for saving money on school supplies that absolutely do work. I’ve done them for years.

Don’t buy everything at once.
Don’t buy everything at one store.
Don’t buy everything. Some of it you already have. Some of it can be donated from older siblings, relatives, friends, neighbors. I have also seen over the years a number of charitable organizations offer school supplies, so if you qualify don’t hesitate to take advantage of those programs. It’s better than going in debt or going without.
Don’t buy everything on the shelves. Please save some for the next poor, broke, hopeful parent.
Know your base price.

Don’t buy everything at one store

So, some stores have back-to-school sales every week for a couple of months. In the U.S., those months are July and August, maybe early September. Each week, they mark down a few items really low to get you to come in. So if you want to save the most money, here’s a shopping strategy that has worked for me.

Starting in mid-July, watch the sales in your area, and set aside Sunday mornings to go pick up just those items are that are marked down really low. Do this each week until just before school starts. Then, if anything is missing on your list the weekend before school starts, go to one of the stores with school supply sales and pick up the remaining items.

If that’s the only tip you take away from this article, you’ll save tons of money.

Here’s an example using Ticonderoga pencils, unsharpened, 24-pack. I checked the websites of several different stores and here are the prices I found for the same brand, same package size, and they were all unsharpened (because the sharpened ones could be a different price).

On sale at Kroger in the weekly ad: $3.99
Walmart: $4.47
Walgreens: $7.79
Staples: $5.29
On sale at Office Depot: $4.99 (Reg. $9.89)
Target: $4.49

These prices can and do change, so that’s not to say one store always has the best price on school supplies. This is an example of how widely the price can vary. I also checked Menards, which does have school supply sales this time of year, usually with Menards’ famous “rebate” system. They didn’t show the 24-pack on their website, but an 18-pack after rebate was $4. Clearly, this week the Kroger deal was better.

Next week, maybe Target or Office Depot will have them on sale. (Although Target, like Walmart, these days usually just has one low price throughout the whole back-to-school season until prices go back up to normal.)

You could do the same exercise with glue sticks, pens, crayons, markers and the like. I usually opt for generic and the cheapest possible for paper, like notebooks, filler paper, index cards, and copy paper. I almost never need a particular quality for those. For pens, I have my solid preference: good ol’ Bic cristal, followed by Paper Mate Ink Joy — but that’s just an opinion! What is your favorite pen?

If you don’t have time for that, if you have to buy everything at one time for some reason, then here are my store recommendations: Walmart and Kroger. Those two are consistently the cheapest on school supplies during the back to school sales (not always during the rest of the year). And if I had to pick only one, I think I might even pick Kroger, believe it or not. They’re really competitive this time of year, and if you use fuel points (I don’t any more), then that’s an added reason to shop there.

Stores with the best deals on school supplies

When I tracked the sales in my area for 10+ years, these are the stores that consistently had the best school supply sales:

Walgreens
Kroger
Walmart
Office Max/Office Depot
Staples
Menards

Some stores have limits on how many of each discounted item you can buy. I’m a big fan of leaving some deals on the shelves for the next person, so the limits are fine by me. But I will buy the limit if it’s an item I’ll use up, like paper, pencils, or glue. Less so for things like rulers and pencil sharpeners.

How much should you spend on school supplies?

Of course, it’s important to know the base price of an item so you can determine if a sale is really a sale. I have a school supply price list I go by, but unfortunately it has to be updated every year and I haven’t updated it yet.

Bonus tips to save additional dollars

Coupons can be a help if you can find ones that work with a sale, but beware of the trap of buying things just because it has a coupon. For example, a coupon for Clorox wipes may not beat the price of Members Mark (found at Sam’s Club), and the quality is equal, so there’s no reason to pay more. However, if you do have a coupon, you may try taking it to a Dollar General to see if you can save more, because Dollar General does accept coupons. (This is a possible exception to my rule about dollar stores not being cheaper during bts season.) I do not usually make the time or the effort, but if a coupon fell into my lap as I was passing by a DG, sure, I would stop.

Apps may also help you but in my opinion, these are just a bonus that should work on top of a smart shopping strategy. I would rarely go to a store just to get points or rewards on an app. But if you can scan your receipt after a great budget school supply haul, heck yes!

Even if the list specifies a name brand, it may not be necessary

Teachers are people, just like the rest of us, and sometimes they’ll say “Ziploc bags” when they mean baggies that have a seal at the top, or “Clorox wipes” when they mean disinfecting wipes, or “Kleenex” when they mean facial tissues. In every one of these examples, it is likely that the teacher or school does not mean you have to buy the name brand of that supply. If you can get in touch with someone at the school (difficult to do in the summer, I realize) you can ask. Otherwise, just buy the least expensive reasonable option.

It might be obvious but I should probably clarify one point. What you don’t want to swap out is sandwich baggies if they ask for gallon-size zipper bags or to get baby wipes if they ask for disinfecting wipes. Those aren’t the same items. But buying generic instead of name brand is not usually a problem, with some few exceptions.

School supplies where the name-brand is better quality

Some school supplies really do need to be name brand to get the expected quality out of the item. I am aware of these:

Expo dry erase markers – the generic kind often just don’t work, or dry up quickly. In this case, I’ll look for Expo coupons and try to match them up with a sale, which does happen from time to time – especially at Kroger or one of the Office Supply stores.

Crayola crayons – these are more pigmented and the colors are truer, which is important for kids learning their colors. I have also heard that the Crayola pencils, watercolors, and markers are better. This is fine, because almost all the stores have Crayola on sale during the back-to-school sales for the price that generic is the rest of the year.

Ticonderoga pencils – I guess you could get by with the other kind, but this brand is surprisingly superior. It sharpens better and the eraser actually works. A second in line in my experience is the Office Depot brand pencil, and I read online that Staples store brand pencils are of similar quality. Sometimes Amazon has good deals on Ticonderoga.