School time is just around the corner.

Now is really the time to start buying school supplies and I want to show you why I say this even though it is still JULY! Listed below is what I paid LAST year for my children's school supplies.

My totals techniquely are $1.38 cheaper for both kids because I used a Wags register rewards to pay for the Kleenex and pencil case bag.

9th grade school list ~ Total cost for 9th grade supplies = $2.53
6 Folders ~ .06 (.01 each at Office Max)
6 Notebooks ~ .30 (.05 each at Walmart)
Pack of 10 Bic pens ~ FREE (after coupon found on Afullcup.com)
Pack of 10 mechanical Papermate pencils ~ .08 (.04 at Walgreens)
4 pack of White board markers ~ FREE (after rebate at Office Depot)
5 different=2 0Papermate highlighters ~ .09 (Walgreens)
Backpack ~ FREE (using the same one from 2 years ago)
Pencil case ~ .01 (Office Depot)
Pencil case ~ .99 (Walgreens BOGO FREE)
Pencil sharpener ~ .01 (Office Depot)
2 packs of 130 looseleaf paper ~ .30 (Office Max)
1 inch binder for loose leaf paper ~ .30 (Office Max)
Post it notes ~ FREE (bought last year and stocked up)
Calculater ~ FREE (Using the same one from 2 years ago)
Kleenex ~ .39 (Walgreens)
Hand Sanitizer ~ FREE (Target coupon)

7th Grade school supplies Total for supplies = $4.27
Writing Utensils
• Pencils –24 ~ .25 (5 packs of papermate mechanical pencils from Walgreens)
• Pens – blue/black, red and green ~ FREE (Free were Walgreens rebate and use of Bic printable at AFullcup.com)
• Highlighters (many colors) ~ 09 (Walgreens ~ 5 pack Papermate)
• Colored pencils ~ FREE (stocked up last year with coupon)
• Set of 4 white board dry erase markers ~ FREE (Rebate from Office Depot)
• Old sock to erase white board ~ FREE
Pencil case or pouch ~ .99 (BOGO at Walgreens)
Scientific calculator ~ FREE (after Office Depot rebate)
Paper
• Spiral notebooks – 2 ~ .10 ( .05 each at Walmart)
• Loose-leaf paper – 500 sheets ~ .60 ( 4 packs at .15 Office Max)
*Post it notes ~ FREE (stocked up on these last year with coupon from AFullcup.com)
Folders/binders
• Science – 4 pocket folders ~ .04 (Office Max .01 each)
• Math/social studies/ILA block – 1 pocket folder each ~ .03 (Office Max .01 each)
• Total number of pocket folders = 7 ~ .07 (Office Max .01 each)
• 2 inch – 3 ring binder for ILA block ~ FREE (got it at a garage sale for free)
• 1 inch - 3 ring binder for math ~.30 (Office Max)
• 15 indexed dividers for binders ~ $1.41 (.47 pack of 5 ...on clearance at Target last year)
Large box of Kleenex ~ .39 (Walgreens)
Clorox Wipes ~ FREE (after rebates at Walgreens during the summer)


Now...wouldn't you like to be able to say that is all you paid for your children's supplies? Well, YOU can! You need to be able to take some time (which of course = money saved) and hit a few stores early in the week. Sunday is best, but we all have some plans or other during that day.

TIPS
*Look at all ads including Office Max, Office Depot, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, and Staples. Oh...even Menards! You never know who is offering those items for FREE, pennies, or just plain CHEAP!

* Plan your trips so that you can hit several of these stores in ONE "round" trip so that you are not wasting your time or gas.

*MAX out on the deals as you know that they kids are going to need these items again in the middle of the school year. You can also donate to your classroom teacher for those kids who can't afford supplies.

*Go in JUST for the "loss leaders" or things that are CHEAP or FREE and get OUT! Don't look around...you are wasting your time.

*See if there are any printable coupons out there for school supplies. If there are, I will be getting them on my blog. You can always check out the coupons.com spot to the left weekly as the coupons do change. Here are some HOT off the press school supply coupons for Target, but remember...you can price match. Hmmm I see FREE Bic products in my future! LINK

*If you are a fan of Target, you can price match other places ads at Target now. So if Crayola crayons are advertised at Walmart for .25 and Target has the identical item, you take in your entire Walmart ad to Customer Service and ask to price match.

*REUSE items from last year. Kids don't need everything to be new each year. So see what you still may have from last year!

*Follow the school list if you are grabbing it all at once or even picking it up a couple of items at a time! When teachers say they want plain folders, then get just the plain folders. Teachers do this for a reason.

*Clothing~Check out Goodwill, Ebay, Craigslist, Plato's Closet, Kid's Rack (Champlin), etc for school clothes. Believe it or not, but you can get some good deals. You can also head to Kohls or Kohls.com and give them your email addy for a FREE $5 off anything coupon that comes in your email! Sign up also for your child's favorite store! Then be on the lookout for clearance of summer items.