How to Get Cheap School Supplies

When you're buying just one package of pencils or a notebook, you probably won't notice the price. However, when you try to purchase the entire list of school supplies your child's school requires, you may end up with a sting at the end of the bill. This is especially true in the few days before school starts, when the low-priced school supplies are all gone and all that are left are expensive substitutes. The trick to getting school supplies is to buy them when you don't need them. If you stockpile school supplies when they're plentiful and cheap, you'll find that school supply check is much easier to write.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start shopping for school supplies one or two months before school begins. Check for early back-to-school sales at your local grocery store, Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, Office Depot or other store. Check the fliers in the mail and your local newspaper on a regular basis.

2. Be on the lookout for crayons, liquid glue, glue sticks, beveled erasers, rulers, manila folders, notebook paper, pocket folders, spiral notebooks, scissors, red checking pencils, graphite pencils, colored map pencils, construction paper, composition notebooks and binders.

3. Purchase as many of the cheap school supplies as the store will allow. For example, if the store has folders for 15 cents, and there is a limit of ten per customer, purchase ten folders. Don't limit yourself to the rock-bottom sales. If a price looks good, go for it. For example, if a package of pencils is 88 cents, it's a good time to buy a few packages. Don't wait for them to go down to 10 cents, or you may end up paying $3 a pack later.

4. Store the school supplies in a place where you can easily find them. Allocate a closet or drawer especially for the school supplies. Organize them by type. For example, get a small cardboard box and place all the glue bottles in it. Place crayons in another box and glue sticks in another. Create a stack for folders, notebooks and packages of paper. Get another box for pens and pencils.

5. Check your child's list several weeks before school begins. Take the school supplies you need out of your supply closet or drawer. Purchase any remaining items at your local discount store.

6. Look for school supplies again after school begins. Raid the school supply sales for bargains. The stores need to get rid of the school supplies to make room for new merchandise. They do not want to hold on to them until next year. Negotiate with the store manager or owner if necessary to cut yourself a deal. However, in most cases, you won't have to bother.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't give in to demands from your school for specific brand-name school supplies.

• Don't be a stickler about sizes. For example, if the school system has asked for 16-count crayons and the 24-count are cheaper, get the latter. If the cheaper size is smaller, pass it up.

• Check your school's website to download and print the school supply list.

• Be on the lookout for facial tissue, baby wipes and hand sanitizer as well as paper and pencils.