Back to School Shopping: How Savvy are You?

Yes, it's only half way through July, but back-to-school deals are already happening in the stores!  Target has their back to school section in full swing and each week you are likely to find hot specials there and at other stores around town on a few select items.  Who can pass up glue sticks for $.20 or a pack of crayons for $.15? 

I've had friends ask me for savvy shopping tips for back to school shopping and my answer is always, "How important is it to you to save big?"  Because if you start paying attention right now, you can probably find a really good deal on almost everything on your child's school supply list.  BUT, you won't find it all at once, and you won't find it all at one store.  You will have to pick up crayons this week at Target, scissors next week at CVS, notebooks at Walmart one week, and glue sticks at Office Depot the week before school (for example...I have no idea what items will be on sale when and where).  That can be a LOT of work and driving around town to save a few bucks.  But if you love the challenge of spending pennies for your school supplies and you are making trips to those stores anyway, it could be worth it for you!

Or on the opposite end of the spectrum, you could choose to make one trip on one day and get everything you need in one big shopping trip. And if you REALLY like convenience, there are stores or organizations that sell pre-made packages of supplies, so you don't even have to bother with the list.  This will save you time and gas, but you will definitely spend a little bit (or a lot) more. 

I recommend a middle-of-the-road approach.  Spend the next few weeks watching the ads, pick up the cheap items when you are in the store anyway (look for lots of Buy One/Get One Free deals at CVS this week, $.09 pencils and rulers at Walgreens, and $.50 pencil boxes and scissors at Target this week).  Then as the first day of school approaches, you may just want to throw in the towel and make one last trip to pick up anything you haven't found a deal on and get joy from the fact that you are DONE, even if you never did find a protractor for $.30. 

Do you have any great tips on how to get good deals on school supplies without losing your mind?  Post them here in the comments!  (I'm lucky...my son starts Kindergarten this year, but his school just charges a fee and gets the supplies for them!)