Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

6 places to find cheap back-to-school supplies

Jennifer Passmore
By

Summer is winding down, and it’s time to get back-to-school shopping underway. The school supply lists are ever-changing as kids ascend to the higher grades, and it can get expensive pretty fast. Cheap back-to-school supplies are the way to go. You aren’t compromising quality, as almost everything is made the same today, anyway. If you’re wondering where to buy back-to-school supplies that won’t break your bank, we’ve found six stores with the best deals.

Amazon

Amazon has a vast array of back-to-school products on the cheap. You can find literally everything you need and even stuff you don’t. They have great deals on items like the RocketBook, which is a smart notebook where the notes go straight to the cloud. If you are looking for something to help your little ones build their math skills, Amazon is offering MathLink Cubes, which help with introduction to counting, straight through learning multiplication, meaning that these cubes will last you a few years. Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Markers are a classroom essential, that would make a perfect first-day gift for the teacher!

Girl Coloring
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Walmart

Walmart is a great place to go when you are searching for some great deals on back-to-school supplies. As an example, Pen + Gear Blunt Kids Scissors, which is a two-pack and is less than $1. If you are looking for a good marker set for art class, a 21-count of Sharpie Permanent Markers is less than $10. This U Brands Weekly Calendar Whiteboard is a great way to keep track of all of the kids’ extracurricular activities.

Recommended Videos

Local Dollar Store

If you have a local dollar store, it’s a great place to take your child to grab some school supplies that are inexpensive. You can typically find the smaller, more necessary items here, like a box of pencils, a pencil sharpener, pens, paper, folders, etc. Make it a point to take your child to your local store to allow them to pick out items like their own folders and items like graphic-printed pencils. The larger items like backpacks, messenger bags, and lunch pails you can find in a bigger-box type store.

Related

Target

Target’s deals on back-to-school items are incredible. If your little one is looking for a lunch tote, the Thermos Athleisure Upright Lunch Kit is a great addition to their school gear and will safely tote their lunch back and forth every day. For under $10, it is a definite must-have if you are sending lunch to school with your child each day. While you are at it, you can add a really cool ice pack to their lunch bag, like the Cat & Jack™ Refreezable Ice Packs in a shark design. With a neat shark design, all the other kids will love this ice pack.

Lunchbox
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Big Lots

Big Lots is already a discounted store, so you can only imagine the deals that are coming out from them. If you have a newly-minted middle-schooler, they will love this Yoobi Mini Office Supply 8-Piece Kit. They will feel like they are getting older with their own office supplies, and being under $5, it’s a steal! Flashcards are a powerful study tool, and you can grab a pack of Bound Index Cards with Orange Cover, complete with 100 pages, and at only $1.50, you can get more than one for each subject. If you are looking for a backpack the “Gotham Guardian” Kids’ Backpack is under $10 and gets them ready for the first day of school.

Staples

Staples is practically the back-to-school destination. They typically have incredible deals on back-to-school items during the summer months to prepare for school for the upcoming fall. If you have a child that is heading into a grade where they need to begin working with calculators, the Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS 10-Digit Scientific Calculator is a good place to start. It is under $10 and a great buy. Do they need pens? BIC Round Stic Xtra-Life Ballpoint Pen has them covered with a 60-pack for under $10.

When the time comes to shop for back-to-school, these are some wonderful places to start with. They are constantly running promotions for back-to-school supplies, and they have some really great items that are on sale. You can find almost anything that you are looking for at these amazing stores. Now is the time to stock up on the essential items that your child needs for school, and you can even pick up some supplies for the new teacher, too. They always appreciate items for their classroom. Grab these great deals, now.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jennifer Passmore
Jennifer Passmore
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jennifer has written two books on how to deal with living with chronic illness using the power of positivity. She has written…
12 birthday party ideas for 5-year-olds to have at home
Plan a great celebration with this birthday party inspiration
5-year-old girl celebrating her birthday

At-home birthday parties never really went out of style. Many parents opted for venue celebrations for their kiddos because they can be less stressful. Perhaps most parents steer clear of hosting a birthday party for kids at the house because of all the chaos that ensues. Let's not mention the after-party mess that you're responsible for cleaning when all the kids leave.

While there are perks to venue parties, it turns out that throwing a party for your child at home doesn't have to ramp up the anxiety. Birthday parties at home can be a load of fun and be more budget-friendly than a venue party. Home parties are easier to plan and execute than you think, especially for 5-year-olds.

Read more
How old do you have to be to fly alone? Read this before booking your kid’s trip
Find out the right age for solo flying and other important facts
Little girl watching movie on the seat-back TV screen while enjoying her airline meal

If you thought traveling with kids was stressful, try sending them off on a flight alone. For many parents, it's necessary to send their child on a flight by themselves, whether it's for a vacation, to visit a parent who lives far away, or for any number of reasons. If you find yourself in a position where your child may need to travel without you, you may ask yourself, "How old do you have to be to fly alone?"
All airlines have their own rules and regulations regarding unaccompanied minors, so parents or caregivers must be aware that there isn't one specific set of rules that applies to all airlines. Before booking any trip, parents need to ensure they know the airline's policy regarding how old they have to be to fly alone and be aware that there are often extra fees that apply when a child flies without an adult.

When can children fly alone?
Typically, airlines have unaccompanied minor policies in place for children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old, which means children under 5 are not allowed to fly solo, regardless of whether they're traveling with an older unaccompanied minor or not.

Read more
Why you should celebrate your kids’ inchstones
These important moments are a reason for recognition
Cute baby crawling across a rug

Marking baby milestones is certainly not a new trend. Parents have been capturing baby's first steps and words for ages. Baby milestones are always a big focus because they pinpoint important developmental achievements of little ones as they grow. The lack or delay of certain baby milestones is often a red flag for pediatricians, which is why so much attention is placed on them.

A new parenting trend taking hold recently is celebrating inchstones. While inchstones isn't a contemporary term, it may be unfamiliar to many parents. Inchstones is typically a word used by parents of children with special needs as they inch their way toward bigger milestones. So, why is the practice of recognizing inchstones growing in popularity, and why should parents get on board?

Read more