Buying School Supplies

These are the school supplies I got at Staples yesterday for $8.62.
There are:
10 two-pocket folders
2 packs of 8 pencils
1 four pack of pens
1 pack of 15 colored pencils
2 rolls of invisible Scotch tape
1 pink spiral one-subject notebook (guess who that's for)
2 packs of 25 peel&stick seal envelopes
2 packs of 2 each fancy shaped post-it notes (these are normally over $3 each)

This would normally be around $22.

This is the time to buy school supplies.  Check the Staples ad.  Every week for this month, they should have penny/dollar items that are very useful just to have.  Actually, they also have a ream of paper for one penny - that you have to pay for though and then wait for a rebate.  Also, you should remember to pay attention to the limits.  Many of these items were limit of two and the specials are only good until Saturday.  Target is starting to get their back to school section in order and there sale will probably start next Sunday.

My worst problem is that my older son hasn't gotten his list from school yet, and in middle school, those are the most expensive items.

With the economy, when items run out, they probably won't be replaced, so don't wait for a specialty item to go on sale.  If you need a mutli-funcitonal calculator or a scientific one, buy it now and keep the receipt.  Many stores, including Target will give you a price guarantee on an unopened item within 14 days if it should go on sale in that time.  If it's longer, the return policy is usually 90 days, so you can rebuy it cheaper and return the more expensive one.  Just KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS.

Since Staples is in our neighborhood, within six miles, I will go back at least twice more to get those pencils for a penny.  We're over near the store anyway, so we're not wasting gas and the kids go through pencils like water.

Everything in the picture I bought because they were on sale.  I didn't look at any supply lists from school, but those are all items we will use either for school or in the house.