Back to School Savings

Well, summer's not quite over but it is slowly winding down for students and teachers who, I can only imagine, can feel fall semester breathing down their neck. Now's the time to get your fill of fun in the sun, sleeping in, or just doing nothing before the end of summer blues sets in and you're summoned back to the classroom for a new school year. Students, a bit nervous with a hint of excitement in the anticipation of meeting new classmates and learning more advanced material. Teachers, anxious to meet their new flock of pupils and excited to fulfill their duties as an educator. But one worry that shouldn't bother your mind this time of year is spending too much money as you prepare to head back to school. Students and teachers alike require a number essentials in the preparation for a school year anew. Classroom & educational materials, organizational necessities, books, attire, etc. The list seems to go on and the cost can quickly add up. Let's try to avoid that, eh. So parents and back-to-schoolers, keep your mind on education and follow along as we offer a few suggestions on where to find the most budget friendly prices on back to school essentials.

I think it's safe to say that the number one essential for students is school supplies. Not only are these items the most important, but chances are they take up the most space on your list of back to school items. Pencils, pens, notebooks, binders, and paper are absolute necessities for students of all ages.

1. With one stop at your local Target you'll find a 12-pack of USA Gold wood pencils for only $1.77, or a 6-pack of mechanical pencils for $1.99. If you or your student prefer pens, you'll find a 12-pack of Bic Softee Ballpoint pens for only $7.34. You'll also find frugal friendly prices on glue-sticks(6-pack for $1.97), Sharpie multi-colored highlighters(8-pack for $4.19), and Crayola markers(10-pack for $1.00). Visit Target Online for additional or sold-out items.
2. For 3-ring binders I would suggest visiting WalMart's online store where you'll find durable binders for as low as $2.50. You can also find 6-packs of 8 tab Avery subject dividers for only $12.47.
3. Teachers, Wal-Mart and Target's back to school sections are a great resource for many of your classroom needs as well. You'll find hard to beat prices on items such as bulletin boards, dry-erase boards, markers, crayons, glue, and flash cards.

Some additional items you might want to keep in mind are calculators, scissors, pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes, graphing paper, erasers, rulers, and organizers. I was actually just browsing around and stopped by Staples' online back to school savings center. They offer some really good discounts and they even have checklists and supply categories for each grade level. That's convenient, saving you time and money! A good idea would be to inquire as to what supplies will be provided in the classroom. This way there won't be any wasteful spending.

Another necessity for students of all ages is a backpack. Hopefully you've been abiding by the frugal code and recycling each year, but if it is time for a new one, my budget friendly suggestion would be to stop by eBags where you'll come across a nice selection of both moderate and stylish backpacks, shoulder bags, and laptop bags. Find reliable backpacks for as little as $20, and choose from brands such as JanSport, The North Face, High Sierra and more. Plus, with eBags' back to school discount you can take advantage of savings up to 20% and shipping is free.

Here are a few suggestions for college students heading back to campus in the Fall.

1. Organize.com is the perfect place to shop for just about any of your back to campus needs. You'll find dorm room and apartment essentials, shelving, storage, school supplies and more. Take $10 off your order of $100 or more with coupon code 'bk2sch'.
2. If you're in need of some fresh diggs for the Fall semester, plenty of popular online retailers offer great discounts and coupons on clothing and shoes this time of year. Keep your eye on our Back to School Savings Center for all the latest coupons which keep rolling in through September.
3. And then there's the big one, textbooks. Textbook costs can easily add up to $1000 a SEMESTER, especially if you get them at your campus bookstore. Try getting them online this year and see how much money you can save. This allows you to shop around, compare prices, and find the best deal. Most campus book stores will only have new copies of certain books which are always way more expensive than used copies. You are almost guaranteed to find a used copy of just about any textbook online and this can really save you a ton of money. Many online bookstores buy back as well. eCampus is a terrific resource for new or used textbooks, and they even allow you to RENT textbooks which can save you a ton of money. Use eCampus' back to school coupon codes (which I love by the way) 'MRBELDING' & 'ZACKMORRIS' for discounts on textbooks, or 'ACSLATER' for a discount on rentals. Saved by the Bell, classic!
   
   Well students and teachers, enjoy the remainder of your summer. Remember to check back often to CouponShack's Back to School Savings Center for more tips and all the latest discounts and coupons for students and teachers.
   
   
   Posted by Ryan on July 14, 2010     Tags: Back to School
   
   
   
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