Ask the Readers: Will You Shop Back-to-School Sales?
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'Tis the season! According to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, parents are expecting to spend an average of $1,151 for back-to-school gear, which is up 5% since last year. Families are combing store ads to equip the kids with affordable back-to-school gear — and they're not the only ones! You don't need to be a student (or shopping for one) to take advantage of the great deals on school supplies, electronics, and dorm ware. According to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, parents are expecting to spend an average of $1,151 for back-to-school gear, which is up 5% since last year.
Will you shop back-to-school sales? What items are on your to-buy list? Are you shopping for yourself, and student, or both?
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Yes, I'm shopping back to school sales. I'll be buying lunchbags and bookbags.
Absolutely yes! My kids are grown and gone, but if I can get items to donate for a quarter, of course! and I still need paper, journals, writing instruments, craft scissors, glue, post-its, erasers, binders and folders.
Yes I always try to to find the best deals for back to school!
Only for a few clothing items that I need.
Absolutely! There's no better time to get free paper, pencils, pens, and markers!
I always shop the back-to-school sales! I'm no longer a student, and I don't yet have any children of my own, but back-to-school sales are a great opportunity to get office supplies for a big discount. I tend to buy two-pocket folders, composition notebooks (great to use as journals), file folders, pens, push pins, and paper clips.
My 7th grader has fallen out of love with pink, so a new backpack is in order. My 20-year-old microwave should be retired, so I have my out for a new one. We have more pens and pencils than we need, however.
Yes, I am shopping back to school sales. I will buy backpack and shoes for my son
Yes, shopping for a junior high student. We now have a locker in the equation, so we'll be buying a lot of locker organization items!
Yes, always. I scan the ads to see what is super cheap or free each week and then add those items to my errands for the week. I'm always looking for markers, watercolors, and glue sticks. My kids love them for their art projects at home. Also, tape! My daughter could easily use a roll a week. :)
nope. don't shop the back to school sales per se. i do my own thing, focus on what i need, which is anything at the kitchen supply store in chelsea market, in NYC...because i go to culinary school
Goodness, YES! I have 5 kids in school ages 6-13. The school supply list here is immense so I get the best buys by scanning all the sale flyers and writing down the lowest prices on items at each store.
I always try to find great items on sale - I am focusing on school supplies and shoes/clothes.
I am planning on it! I have been on a tight budget for a few years while I establish my own freelance business, and I have been putting off buying some new clothes. Recently saw that next week is Tax Free Week and I plan on taking advantage of that. If there are back to school deals that coincide with office supplies I need, why not stock up now and save?
My kids have summer birthdays, and they were fortunate to get new clothing as gifts. I already stocked up on socks and underwear at a store closing sale. We're re-using last year's backpacks, pencil boxes, lunch boxes, scissors, etc., because they're still in great shape. So really, the only thing we've had to shop for are the consumables - notebooks, pencils, erasers, etc. I shop for those on sale with coupons. The key to saving is to make lists, shop around, and shop with a plan!
We don't have anyone in school in our household, but I love picking up cheap office supplies for us and craft supplies for gifts during the back to school sales. I will also participate in the back-to-school thrifting sales in our area shops, but probably won't buy any full price clothing for the fall.
Yes! I like to compare all the ads to get the best deal.
I always look forward to shopping back-to-school sales! I just love school supplies, for some reason. And we use them the rest of the year. =)
I don't have kids. But I use composition books and buy them up for 50 cents to last me the year.
Yes I shop back-to-school sales & keep a list while shopping. We also compare prices before heading to the stores.
Of course. You can't beat the loss leaders at the office stores.
Yes, I will shop back to school sales! I love finding deals!
I'll be looking for items for myself!
No kiddos and my husband and I are out of school... maybe a few office supplies once they hit the deep discounts, but only if we are running low on specific items.
Of course I am shopping back to school deals! Not only do I have younger kids to shop for I also started freelancing so I need supplies for my office/desk area for my work!
Not so much this year for traditional items (pens, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.). We have one daughter in college (junior) and another who just graduated H.S. in June and is working (for now). Mostly what I'll be shopping for is back to Dorm items - toiletries, snacks, drinks, and maybe a new/used (Craigslist) dorm fridge because the one she had stopped working this past spring.
I shopped them a little because I had a coupon, but other than that, I don't plan to. That mostly is because I don't need a lot of those supplies this year, otherwise, I definitely would to save money!
Nope. Homeschooling rocks. Other than a few schoolbooks, we have everything we need!
No. We were never blessed with children and we are go to go on office supplies.
To everyone else, though, good luck and may you find lots of great deals!
Yes I will shop the sales. Target has a lot of great stuff going on right now!
Yes! I shop back to school sales. I will be homeschooling my to-be first grader and to-be kindergartner, but I've been shopping back to school sales since they were tiny. Target has some great stuff in their dollar bins that can be used at the younger age levels for school!
No. I'm not in school and have no school age kids so I won't hit the sales.
Yes I will. There are great deals to be had.
I no longer have a student at home, but got a great deal on a printer for myself last weekend. I might hit the shoe store this week too!
Shop a major sale? Of course.
Beat you to it. I already have.
I don't need office supplies, so I probably won't be shopping any back to school sales, but I am going to keep my eyes open for any home goods sales (need some things for after a renovation) and clothing sales (LOVE fall clothing). Sometimes stores put those on sale as a "back to school" or end of summer/Labor Day sale.
Yes, I'm shopping back to school sales. My kids need clothes, shoes and school supplies.
Yes! I'm a teacher, so I need to hit the back to school sales to load up on supplies for my classroom.
I will shop Back to School sales, for myself and my preschooler. I will also be on the lookout for filler items that I can donate, locally. High on my list are all manner of craft/art supplies and paper and quality pens (so many junky pens out there, lol--it's a minefield!)
I will be shopping back to school sales for myself, my daughter, and for fillers that we can donate, locally. Looking for art supplies, paper, and (good) pen deals. So many junky pens out there, lol
Yes. It's a good time to stock up on office supplies or other staples even if you don't have kids in school.
Now that my girls are in college, I shop for things they can't find and the back to school sales for office supplies usually have the best prices.
We will be busy shopping all those back to school sales! We still need fall clothes, backpack, a few more supplies, and shoes!
I don't have any kids, but I will probably be shopping some of the sales, though.
Yes, and my kids aren't school-age yet! I always need cheap office supplies.
No, they don't really have anything that I need or want.
It's not yet cool enough to do a big shop and the dress code here is crazy so I will take her out for a few things, but not much.
I love shopping for back to school supplies, even though I'm no longer in school or have kids. I love stocking up on pens, etc for myself!
No back to school sales for me - I end up spending way to much for the sake of a "sale."
no will not be shopping back to school sales
Yes I have been shopping the Back To School sales. We have been buying school supplies, clothes and back packs. With two kids to shop for there is plenty of items to get.
Yes I shop back to school sales
I shop the sales even though my daughter is too young for school yet. I picked up some supplies to put in Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. I also picked up some Crayola products on sale, a white board and blunt-tipped scissors for my child to practice with. I also use the scissors and pencil cases in my craft project bags. I also like to stock up on tape products for birthday and Christmas wrapping.
Yes, it's a great way to stock up on supplies for the entire year!
Yes I do. I check out daily newspaper ads and shop for back packs, lunchboxes, thermos, pencils, pencil sharpener, plenty of notebook paper
I do shop back-to-school sales