Back to School Bargain Thread

[torinsmom]

AZ took a huge hit on their school budgets with all the cuts too, so I can appreciate (and anticipated) an increase in requests for school supplies.

Our lists included 2-3 reams of paper per child, construction paper, colored paper (is that colored printer paper?), 2 packs of Expo markers per child, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, highlighters and paper plates in addition to the normal pencils, markers, scissors, etc. And my kids are only in K, 2 & 3. The reams of paper alone are going to cost me close to $25+. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I don't spend at least $100 or more on school supplies this year (buying extra, of course). That's not including backpacks, lunchboxes, supply fees, new shoes/clothes, etc. It's expensive being a parent. I'm just feel fortunate that I can afford to buy these supplies when so many are struggling.

Wow! I would question the 2-3 reams of paper thing. And are the KIDS using the expo markers and highlighters in K,2 and 3? If they are for class use, and there are 4 markers per pack x 20? kids, that's 160 expo markers. Seems like a lot to me.

Marsha

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

AZ took a huge hit on their school budgets with all the cuts too, so I can appreciate (and anticipated) an increase in requests for school supplies.

Our lists included 2-3 reams of paper per child, construction paper, colored paper (is that colored printer paper?), 2 packs of Expo markers per child, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, highlighters and paper plates in addition to the normal pencils, markers, scissors, etc. And my kids are only in K, 2 & 3. The reams of paper alone are going to cost me close to $25+. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I don't spend at least $100 or more on school supplies this year (buying extra, of course). That's not including backpacks, lunchboxes, supply fees, new shoes/clothes, etc. It's expensive being a parent. I'm just feel fortunate that I can afford to buy these supplies when so many are struggling.

Do you need reams of copy paper or notebook paper? Notebook paper is usually less than $1 per pack (not sure if it is a ream, though) at Walmart and Target. If you need copy/printer paper, Staples usually has either its own brand or the HP brand of copy paper for free to about $2 per pack after rebate. You can submit Staples rebates online using the code on your receipt - no need to mail anything in and worry about it getting lost. I have a whole stack of HP paper in my office closet - you can usually only buy 2 each week for the rebate, but they seem to have paper on sale at least once per month.

 

[Leajess99]

Our school specified Crayola markers and crayons, Dixon pencils, and Prang paint box. Oh, and a specific kind of scissors, but I don't remember the name.

My kids are in high school now, so luckily no list.

Maggie

Fiskars maybe?? I know many schools choose those as they are the better quality.

 

[ceecee]

Our school asks for Crayola and Friskars as well. They are worth the extra $. So many of the kids don't get the supplies that they need extra.

 

[Leajess99]

Does the class have a communal supply or does each child have their own? Also, is it like a wish list request or is she asking everyone to bring in more? We do the communal thing and because so many kids are using the markers, they do run out mid-year. The glue sticks go quickly as well. We sent out a wish list for these items last year, and not one parent sent them in. Neither I or my assistant were in the position to buy supplies at that time, so we just did not have marker coloring for the last 1/3 of the year. We conserved the glue sticks for special projects as well. That's why I'm buying things cheap now, because everyone is struggling, and I don't know if I can even depend on getting supplies at the beginning. The kids don't stop wanting to color or glue when the economy is bad, unfortunately.

Marsha

That is sad. I always let the teacher know to just let me know if they need more supplies. Last year my daughter came home saying they only had 1 glue stick left so I went out and bought a ton more. I would rather them use the glue sticks than the liquid glue at the younger age as some do get very carried away and I have had enough of folders being glued shut. lol
I started out going to college for teaching but due to medical changed my degree plans. I have been in many classrooms and know some of the money teachers put out for their classes. As long as I can I will help my children's teachers.

Our lists always have hand sanitizer, ziploc bags, paper towels, and kleenex on them. I would be happy to send in lysol or clorox wipes as well if it helps keep my child healthy. I have a child that can pick up just about anything going around to include the virus that turned into pneumonia last year and left her missing 10 days of school between late Jan and Feb.

 

[Leajess99]

Wow! I would question the 2-3 reams of paper thing. And are the KIDS using the expo markers and highlighters in K,2 and 3? If they are for class use, and there are 4 markers per pack x 20? kids, that's 160 expo markers. Seems like a lot to me.

Marsha

I know in some of my older kids' classes they had the dry erase boards for Math so the expo markers were always needed. It saved on paper and the kids loved it. They would also get to use them for drawing.

 

[goosedwn]

AZ took a huge hit on their school budgets with all the cuts too, so I can appreciate (and anticipated) an increase in requests for school supplies.

Our lists included 2-3 reams of paper per child, construction paper, colored paper (is that colored printer paper?), 2 packs of Expo markers per child, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, highlighters and paper plates in addition to the normal pencils, markers, scissors, etc. And my kids are only in K, 2 & 3. The reams of paper alone are going to cost me close to $25+. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I don't spend at least $100 or more on school supplies this year (buying extra, of course). That's not including backpacks, lunchboxes, supply fees, new shoes/clothes, etc. It's expensive being a parent. I'm just feel fortunate that I can afford to buy these supplies when so many are struggling.

A ream of paper costs from 5 to 6 dollars orginial price at Staples. Also, during the back to school sale, paper would be on sale for about 1 dollar a ream with the easy rebate at Staples. Construction paper would cost more than a ream of paper.

 

[Mom2micayla]

Wow! I would question the 2-3 reams of paper thing. And are the KIDS using the expo markers and highlighters in K,2 and 3? If they are for class use, and there are 4 markers per pack x 20? kids, that's 160 expo markers. Seems like a lot to me.

For the Expo markers, kinder uses them for both the teacher and the kids to practice writing on the whiteboards. For 2 & 3, they are for the individual kids to use. (Or at least they were last year, it might have changed this year?). My daughter did share her Expo markers last year though in 2nd grade with other kids who didn't have any. Highlighters are for themselves too.

StitchandPooh.. it's reams of copier paper. Apparently we don't have any funding for paper or even ink. (Some of the grades are asking for $ donations for ink too). I'll keep an eye out on Staples sales. I was contemplating Costco and buying a box of 10 reams and just splitting it between the 3 classes and leaving the rest in the admin for whichever grade needs it most.

 

[torinsmom]

I just emailed my parents and told them about the sales. I was surprised to find that the supply lists are not out for our schools. We were not allowed to leave the school until we turned them in, so I don't know what they are doing with them.

Anyway, I gave the parents MY list. There are things on the general list I don't use or need. I wish I had my whole list, but I only have the ones that are returning from PreK to K. I asked for:

2 boxes kleenex
1-2 containers Clorox wipes
1 bottle hand sanitizer
1 ream copy paper
1 box Crayola crayons
1 box Crayola or Roseart markers
1 box Crayola colored pencils
24 regular pencils
6 glue sticks

 

[tinkabella627]

Wow! I would question the 2-3 reams of paper thing. And are the KIDS using the expo markers and highlighters in K,2 and 3? If they are for class use, and there are 4 markers per pack x 20? kids, that's 160 expo markers. Seems like a lot to me.

Marsha

We put 2 reams of paper on our supply list because paper is not supplied to us by the school. Any tests or pages we make copies of we have to bring the paper to the copier. If we print we need to fill the printer. We also ask for 4 black expo markers. The kids use dry erase boards a lot so I always put about 30 in a bucket for them to grab one and use. And unfortunately 1) parents don't buy expo and the dollar store brand dries out after a few uses and 2) kids don't put the caps on so we go through them all. With 20 students I think I ended up with MAYBE 4 left over markers at the end of the year. I also only let them use the black ones when they come up to the board because they push so hard that the tip goes inside and at $20+ for a pack of colored expos, I don't let them use mine anymore.

 

[apnep]

Heck no, you are not alone in this! Many of the mandatory supplies that I bought last year were returned to me unused or just slightly used at the end of the year. I will not buy new items if they are still in prime condition. We are such a wasteful society. Why not use something again if it is still in good shape?

Well, thanks. Sometimes I feel cheap, but, if they come home with all that good stuff then why not send them back.

...if they have been used a year already they may wear out mid-year when things are not on sale...I'd probably go out and get the markers while they are $1 and the crayons while they are 20c, then you'll have replacements on hand mid-year or for next fall.

Good point.

Angela

 

[Piper]

For teachers and parents: To keep markers (regular and dry erase) from drying out and the children forgetting the lids--

• Buy some plaster of Paris from the craft store
• Get a cheap bowl or 1 lb margarine container
• mix plaster according to directions and pour into container about an inch below the rim
• when it just begins to set, push in markers (cap first) letting a little of the cap show above the plaster
• When it dries, you have a marker holder that will keep the markers ready for use

We used markers in class every day and my entire two classes (40 kids) just went through 6 sets of markers during the entire year. Storing them upside down helps the marker last longer. If the lid pulls out of the plaster, just put some Elmer's glue in the hole and put the marker back in--it will stay forever that way.

Kids are taught matching (match the marker to he lid) and responsibility for taking care of materials!

Look on the second shelf on the left.

 

[Figment's Girl]

Can anyone tell me how the backpacks at TRU stand up? I usually buy nicer quality ones for DS12 but this year DS5 will be starting Kindergarten and I thought the ones at TRU would work fine.

 

[momof1princess]

For teachers and parents: To keep markers (regular and dry erase) from drying out and the children forgetting the lids--

• Buy some plaster of Paris from the craft store
• Get a cheap bowl or 1 lb margarine container
• mix plaster according to directions and pour into container about an inch below the rim
• when it just begins to set, push in markers (cap first) letting a little of the cap show above the plaster
• When it dries, you have a marker holder that will keep the markers ready for use

We used markers in class every day and my entire two classes (40 kids) just went through 6 sets of markers during the entire year. Storing them upside down helps the marker last longer. If the lid pulls out of the plaster, just put some Elmer's glue in the hole and put the marker back in--it will stay forever that way.

Kids are taught matching (match the marker to he lid) and responsibility for taking care of materials!

Look on the second shelf on the left.

this is BRILLIANT!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

For teachers and parents: To keep markers (regular and dry erase) from drying out and the children forgetting the lids--

• Buy some plaster of Paris from the craft store
• Get a cheap bowl or 1 lb margarine container
• mix plaster according to directions and pour into container about an inch below the rim
• when it just begins to set, push in markers (cap first) letting a little of the cap show above the plaster
• When it dries, you have a marker holder that will keep the markers ready for use

We used markers in class every day and my entire two classes (40 kids) just went through 6 sets of markers during the entire year. Storing them upside down helps the marker last longer. If the lid pulls out of the plaster, just put some Elmer's glue in the hole and put the marker back in--it will stay forever that way.

Kids are taught matching (match the marker to he lid) and responsibility for taking care of materials!

Look on the second shelf on the left.

That idea is great! Thanks for sharing it!

And I love your classroom organization, by the way!

I used plastic sand buckets (small ones) for my Expo markers. I had a responsible child be the monitor when they got picked up. Part of their job was making sure all the lids were on tight and they were face down in the bucket.

Also, I used real glue, not glue sticks. It's a little messier, but it gives them practice with motor skills and they last longer than glue sticks. They're also a lot cheaper. I had a monitor for the glue; their job was to make sure all the lids were closed tight and all the glue was standing up.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Can anyone tell me how the backpacks at TRU stand up? I usually buy nicer quality ones for DS12 but this year DS5 will be starting Kindergarten and I thought the ones at TRU would work fine.

Hi Figment's Girl. In my opinion, they are junk. You will have to replace next year for sure, maybe even during the year if your ds is rough with it. I never had good luck with TRU or Disney store backpacks.

If you want to get a good quality backpack and make it furn with a character, then you could always buy a patch or add a character keychain to the zipper. That's what I did with my sons.

 

[momof1princess]

if anyone sees a really good deal on a desktop or laptop, please post it. DD's computer died yesterday

 

[Leajess99]

Hi Figment's Girl. In my opinion, they are junk. You will have to replace next year for sure, maybe even during the year if your ds is rough with it. I never had good luck with TRU or Disney store backpacks.

If you want to get a good quality backpack and make it furn with a character, then you could always buy a patch or add a character keychain to the zipper. That's what I did with my sons.

We have never had a problem with the Disney store backpacks. My dd had one for Kindergarten and a new one for first grade. The kindergarten one would have still worked but she wanted a different character. This year she is getting the replaced LL Bean backpack that her sister had. She even got to change colors as LL Bean did not have the original backpack in pink anymore.

 

[dizneychik]

Subscribing! Thanks for all of the heads up! Especially on how to use a thermos(I know sounds crazy that I do not know how to use one). DD doesn't really like school lunches and gets tired of cold lunch, so we will definitely try the thermos this year.

 

[mum4jenn]

if anyone sees a really good deal on a desktop or laptop, please post it. DD's computer died yesterday

Check Staples and Office Depot. I am looking for a new one also.

Staples has a laptop and a desktop for $299 this week. They are from Compaq. office Depot has a desktop for $279 by Compaq almost like the one at Staples except the one at Staples has 3gb memory and Office Depot's has 2gb memory.

This week only..until Saturday.