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Step 1
Visit a store like Joy Dollar for discount school items, including scissors, paper, glue, and more. Joy Dollar is one of several discount mom-and-pop type stores that provide products. McAllen also has the national store chains like Family Dollar and Dollar General. Don't forget to check out the national chain Dollar Tree as well. McAllen has two Dollar Tree locations that offer school supplies for only one dollar.
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Step 2
Shop at flea markets in the summer to get your hands on cheap items for school. Flea market vendors try to anticipate the needs of customers just like any other retail establishment. You'll probably find backpacks, pencils, crayons, paper, and other school supplies during the months of July, August, and early September. Flea markets often have items cheaper than what the department and discount stores are asking. You just have to hunt around.
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Step 3
Check newspaper circulars to keep an eye on which local stores are having back-to-school sales. During the months of July and August, most department and discount stores mark prices down extremely low. You can often get a box of 24 crayons for 22 cents and find things like glue and scissors at rock-bottom prices.
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Step 4
Go to office supply stores to shop for school supplies. McAllen has office stores like Staples, OfficeMax, and Office Depot. The office supply stores need to compete with places like Walmart, so they will usually have great back to school sales as well.
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Step 5
Buy school supplies in bulk by visiting an online store. Online stores like U.S. School Supply may help you save money, if you have several school-aged children, or if your child is just starting his or her school career. For example, instead of buying a pack of 12 pencils that may last for just a few months, buy a unit of 144 pencils for $22.95 and have enough pencils for a couple of years. That saves you money in the long run.
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Step 6
Visit online auctions such as eBay to bid on school supplies. Sometimes you can get some really good deals. You just have to do a bit of clicking to find what you need at the price you're willing to pay.
