Back to School Bargain Thread

[rainydayplay]

Don't forget to drop off extra items at your local mission, battered women's shelter or the like. There are kids there who will never get a new school item and have nothing to start school with.

We buy for my niece and nephew and also for our local mission. The mission box is starting to fill. For just a few dollars you can buy notebooks, crayons, glue etc. Get them the name brands as they are better and what the other kids get.

Definitely. There is usually a school supplies drive around here, and I know a local church is sponsoring a group of families that literately have nothing. I have been trying to declutter, and 2 or 3 car loads of stuff (clothes, kitchen things, etc.) have gone to them just from me, and a lot of the stuff still had tags and labels and had never been used/worn/whatever. I was thinking about going out before I take the next load of stuff to be donated and getting up a bunch of school supplies. May not be enough of what's needed, but it should certainly help.

 

[rainydayplay]

I can totally agree with the electric pencil sharpener-mine overheats after a few pencils and it was a $50 sharpener.

This is my first year having a Staples to go to and I am loving the penny deals!!

If you can spare the extra $$ or get some parents to help with the costs, the one I got is a definite keeper! Not only is the bin large, but the kids can see when it's getting full and will change it. It sharpens incredbily fast (but doesn't necessarily have that auto-stop feature...if you let kids use it, you may have to tell them to count to 3 or 5 and check out the pencil.) So far, it hasn't had a day of burn out, motor won't turn, etc, and I got it during testing week in March. I think it'll be worth every penny if it makes it through a full school year without dying or near-dying.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

I'm not totally caught up but Walgreens had some great specials. They had mechanical penicil 10 packs for I think .29 regularly almost 3.00 limit of 6. They had 12 pack of Sharpie assorted colors for 3.99 regularly 9.99. Also tons of the little stuff like rulers, handheld sharpeners and index cards for around .25. They have legal pads for .29 and envelopes for like .60 I think. found tons of gel pens on the clearance isle marked down from 4.99 to 1.00, it came with a rebate form so 3 of the 6 I bought will be free. I am going from memory we just got back from a quick trip to Michigan and I stopped by one there, I have not even checked to see if the prices are the same at mine.

 

[mum4jenn]

I'm not totally caught up but Walgreens had some great specials. They had mechanical penicil 10 packs for I think .29 regularly almost 3.00 limit of 6. They had 12 pack of Sharpie assorted colors for 3.99 regularly 9.99. Also tons of the little stuff like rulers, handheld sharpeners and index cards for around .25. They have legal pads for .29 and envelopes for like .60 I think. found tons of gel pens on the clearance isle marked down from 4.99 to 1.00, it came with a rebate form so 3 of the 6 I bought will be free. I am going from memory we just got back from a quick trip to Michigan and I stopped by one there, I have not even checked to see if the prices are the same at mine.

Some teachers do not the gel pens so make sure you buy regular also. I do not know why they do not allow them but our list has that written on there.

 

[amamax2]

In regards to wipes--I don't mind the generic version of those at all.

However, there are certain items that generic are just not as good-crayons, pencils, glue are the main ones.

For all the teachers out there, what kind of glue sticks would you recommend? It seems like all the cheap ones just don't work well - the papers don't stay stuck for very long and it is very frustrating.

 

[torinsmom]

For all the teachers out there, what kind of glue sticks would you recommend? It seems like all the cheap ones just don't work well - the papers don't stay stuck for very long and it is very frustrating.

I like the Elmer or Ross ones.

If you can spare the extra $$ or get some parents to help with the costs, the one I got is a definite keeper! Not only is the bin large, but the kids can see when it's getting full and will change it. It sharpens incredbily fast (but doesn't necessarily have that auto-stop feature...if you let kids use it, you may have to tell them to count to 3 or 5 and check out the pencil.) So far, it hasn't had a day of burn out, motor won't turn, etc, and I got it during testing week in March. I think it'll be worth every penny if it makes it through a full school year without dying or near-dying.

The school supplies our pencil sharpeners. The one they got me was $47. I keep the box and the office has the invoice and it has a 2 year warranty. I plan on cashing in on that when it goes. We have had pretty good luck with this particular kind.

http://www.staples.com/X-ACTO-School-Pro-1670-Electric-Pencil-Sharpener/product_436632?cmArea=SEARCH

 

[sritter78]

That is the same sharpener that I have and it overheats very quickly--hot to the touch!

I also prefer the Elmer glue sticks. They should be on sale for around 10 cents a pack or so here in the next few weeks!

 

[labdogs42]

WalMart seems to have the best overall prices right now. I got Crayola 24 count crayons for $0.25, Crayola 12 count colored pencils for $1.00, Crayola 10 count markers for $1.00, Elmer's glue for $0.25, Elmer's glue sticks 2 for $0.25 and some other things. They had the comp books for $0.25 and a lot of other deals. If you look up their flyer, all the back to school stuff is in there this week.

 

[LoriABil]

Do you have another Staples by you or did you check with them? The Staples closest to me did not put things out "front and center" like they usually do...it was weird. I finally asked and found the folders. they did have the jewel toned ones but...a bit down from there they had a ton of the more traditional colors that are required for dd 9's school(2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 green, 2 red).

Unfortunately, the only other Staples is 2 hours away! I found the display, and even asked if they had any more in back. I was told there might be a shipmnt Wednesday...

 

[holden]

I haven't read all of the posts, but I think we are lucky where we live. Kids are only required to have a backpack and pencils in elementary school. Once is a while a teacher will request a 3-ring binder, but that's about it. The school provides the other supplies. Guess we're paying for it in taxes, though.

 

[Figment's Girl]

I'm not totally caught up but Walgreens had some great specials. They had mechanical penicil 10 packs for I think .29 regularly almost 3.00 limit of 6. They had 12 pack of Sharpie assorted colors for 3.99 regularly 9.99. Also tons of the little stuff like rulers, handheld sharpeners and index cards for around .25. They have legal pads for .29 and envelopes for like .60 I think. found tons of gel pens on the clearance isle marked down from 4.99 to 1.00, it came with a rebate form so 3 of the 6 I bought will be free. I am going from memory we just got back from a quick trip to Michigan and I stopped by one there, I have not even checked to see if the prices are the same at mine.

They also have 5 tab dividers for $1.99.

 

[dd50]

They also have 5 tab dividers for $1.99.

I got 5 tab dividers the other day in Walmart for $.88 and the 8 tab dividers were $.97. I bought 5 packs as last year I couldn't find any and finally found some for $4.97 a pack. They weren't where the school supplies were in my store but back where they have the other stationary stuff.

 

[Figment's Girl]

I got 5 tab dividers the other day in Walmart for $.88 and the 8 tab dividers were $.97. I bought 5 packs as last year I couldn't find any and finally found some for $4.97 a pack. They weren't where the school supplies were in my store but back where they have the other stationary stuff.

I paid $5 a pack last year too so I thought $1.99 was good. I'll have to look at Wal-mart and stock up.

My boys go to a small Catholic school, a little less than 300 from k-8, and we don't pay book rental (Which public Indiana schools do) but our list does include things like paper, paper towels, wipes, dry eraser markers, etc. When the deals are like they are now, I stock up like everyone else. Then at Christmas, instead of the mug that will collect dust or other little tricket, I fill a box with a new ream of copy paper, pencils, glue sticks, etc that run out over the year and give that to them. They are always very appreciative.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Bumping!

Looking forward to see what new deals are coming up next week!

 

[Goofygirl17]

I got the Staples $.01 and $1 deals yesterday! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[mitchwebb]

Have not been able to read all the pages but our Staples flyer says you need to spend $5 on the non extreme deals to get the savings. Is this new this year?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Have not been able to read all the pages but our Staples flyer says you need to spend $5 on the non extreme deals to get the savings. Is this new this year?

Yes. The copy paper (4.99 with a 4.98 rebate) is not an extreme deal and counts toward your minimum (4.99 per pack with a limit of two).

 

[maggiew]

I like the Elmer or Ross ones.




The school supplies our pencil sharpeners. The one they got me was $47. I keep the box and the office has the invoice and it has a 2 year warranty. I plan on cashing in on that when it goes. We have had pretty good luck with this particular kind.

http://www.staples.com/X-ACTO-School-Pro-1670-Electric-Pencil-Sharpener/product_436632?cmArea=SEARCH

Why don't you just buy the good, old hand crank kind? Then you wouldn't have to burn about the motor burning up. I bought these for my college lab room!

Have not been able to read all the pages but our Staples flyer says you need to spend $5 on the non extreme deals to get the savings. Is this new this year?

I think its new this year. But if you buy the packs of paper that are .01 after rebate, it counts towards the $5 minimum.

Maggie

 

[Nik's Mom]

I can't remember if anyone posted this yet, but Target has Crayola markers packs for $1. They had fine and broad tip.

 

[jnorth1007]

Target had 1 subject notebooks for .15 this week. They weren't marked but I thought it was suspicious because they had a sign that said 25 max so I figured they must have been a good price so I scanned one and they were .15. I bought 25 since my daughter needs 8 for 3rd grade and I will give the rest to her teacher.