Let me just say this up front: I am addicted to school supplies. I love browsing for cute, new items or stocking up on great deals. Back to school shopping is more fun than it should be.

There are some amazing back to school deals available right now, especially if you just stick to the basics. Have a look at this haul:

Loss Leader Bargains: My Grand Total

80 page Hilroy coil-bound notebooks: $0.05 – max 10 – available at Staples and Walmart. After multiple trips, I now have 30 = $1.50

24 pack of Crayola crayons: $0.25 – max 10 – available at Staples and Walmart. I bought 10 = $2.50

10 pack of Simply brand pencils: $0.10 – max 10 – available at Staples (comparable item is $1 at Walmart). After multiple trips, I purchased 20 = $2.00

150 sheets of lined paper: $0.10 – max 10 – available at Staples and Walmart. Target has 200 packs for $0.10. I bought 10 = $1.00

24 pack of pre-sharpened Crayola pencil crayons (with bonus sharpener): $0.94 – max 10 – available at Staples and Walmart. I purchased 10 = $9.40

4 pack of 32 page Hilroy exercise books: $0.20 (or $0.05/notebook) – max 10 – available at Staples and Walmart. I picked up 10 = $2.00

(Not pictured) Hilroy duo tangs or dual pocket folders: $0.05 – max 50 – available at Staples and Walmart. I bought 50 = $2.50

Altogether, I picked up basics that should last me the bulk of the year for $20.90 + tax = $23.62

(For the record, I don’t have to buy these supplies for my classroom – but for how little it costs, I like to stock up and save my budget for other things.)

Tips for Finding These Deals

Your mileage may vary, but I find it is easier to pick up these deals at Staples as they are more likely to have items in stock. Check the “regular” spot in the aisles as well as the special back to school bins around the perimeter of the store – but one or the other is bound to have a good supply. At Walmart? I could only find the pencil crayons. Items were either nowhere to be found or stocked in very small quantities and gone.

At Staples, ignore the prices listed on the signs and shelves! It may just be my local store, but the deals were not well advertised in store – the shelves still showed the original price. The correct prices scanned at the register with no hassle.

Staples Teacher Appreciation Sale

From August 16th to September 6th, teachers save an additional 10% in store. On August 21st, 28th, and September 4th, it bumps up to 15%.

Bargains in the USA

I was in Sault Ste Marie in July and ran over to the other side of the river to see what Walmart in the US had for back to school bargains. I don’t think it’s worth the trip if you have to go out of your way to make it – but if you’ll be nearby already, it’s worth checking out as they do have a lot of completely different stock.

Check out these cute bulletin board trimmers – for $0.97 and $1.47!

Some of my other favourite finds were these die-cut shapes (36 pack) for $0.97, Crayola markers for $1.27, various Scholastic bingo sets for $1.97 (picked up money and telling time to use in French as the games have no words on them), and packs of die-cut letters for $0.97.

Happy shopping, everyone! Let me know in the comments if you’ve found any other great bargains!

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