Skip to main content

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

6 places to find cheap back-to-school supplies

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!

Related Videos
Girl Coloring

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.

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.

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

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

Why you need baby earmuffs to protect your child from noise
No need to miss out on loud events with these baby earmuffs
Baby with noise-canceling headphones

Everyday life can be loud and intimidating for a little one. But noisy environments can prove to be more than just scary for a baby, they can actually be dangerous to their delicate ears. The alarming fact is that long-term or even short periods of exposure to especially loud sounds can damage your newborn, infant, or toddler's sensitive inner ear — potentially leading to noise-induced hearing loss.

Unfortunately, severe damage to the hearing nerve is irreversible. If you suspect your young child may have some hearing loss, you will want to ask a doctor or specialist to perform tests. In the meantime, you want to do everything you can to keep their ears healthy and safe, which is where baby earmuffs come into play. Headphones for infants can actually give little ones the protective benefits of noise reduction. Want to know when to slap a pair on your peanut? Read on for all the important tips and info.
8 times your baby definitely needs ear protection

Read more
Scared social media might be hurting your teen? What you should know
How to help your teen navigate social media safely
Girl surrounded by app logos in the air

Social media seems to be a major part of the teenage years. Getting an electronic device and downloading social media apps appear to be a major rite of passage once your child is old enough to open an account and set up a profile. While this seems like the norm, you might ask yourself how social media affects relationships in your teen’s life and how safe your teen is going to be in the online environment. Read on for more information about the pros and cons of social media use and how you can help your teen to navigate through this whole new world.
How social media affects your teen’s mental health

A review published in Adolescent Research Review showed the correlation between teens’ social media usage and their overall well-being depends on a vast gamut of factors, thus proving how complicated the relationship is between adolescents and social media.

Read more
Should your kids have an Apple Watch?
These are the pros and cons of an Apple Watch for your kid
Wrapped christmas gifts

If there’s one thing on every kid’s wish list this year, it’s a smartwatch. Wearables have taken the market by storm and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. Smartwatches are the height of convenience, allowing users to leave their phones in their bags and do everything right there on their watch. 

With all the convenience, though, some people have major privacy concerns about wearable devices, especially when it comes to their children. But when used correctly with appropriate parental controls, smartwatches, especially the Apple Watch, can be a boon to both kids and parents alike.

Read more