The new school year is coming, and it’s time to start thinking about back-to-school shopping. While the kids (and you!) are still in summer mode, thinking about pencils, notebooks, and clothes is likely the last thing on your mind. Plus, when should you start shopping to find the best deals?
Most stores and retailers start their sales in the middle of summer, and they usually last through September. So, you have a few months to get everything on your child’s list. But, which stores have the best sales? Here are some of the stores that offer the best deals for back-to-school shopping.
Kohl’s
If you’re looking for school clothes, Kohl’s is a great place to look. Most of the clothes on their website are markdowns, so you’ll already be saving quite a bit of money. You can find shirts for $2! But, they also have other sales on top of these markdowns, such as:
- 25% off kids’ underwear and socks
- Up to 30% off school uniforms
- Backpacks starting at 20% off
JCPenney
JCPenney has plenty of markdowns too. Their doorbuster sales offer up to 60% off certain styles of clothing. You can find clothing deals for $5! You can find a variety of backpacks for about half off too! If your kids need glasses, they’re even offering kids’ eyeglasses for $39.99. Some other sales JCPenney is offering include:
- Extra 25% off
- Buy one, get one 50% off kids’ underwear and socks
- $12 kids cuts at the JCPenney Salon
- Up to 40% off dorm essentials
Target
Target has everything you need for back-to-school shopping. From clothing to school supplies, they have it all. School supplies can be expensive, and you have to buy them every year. So, finding low prices on the necessary essentials is important.
Lucky for you, Target has school supplies starting at 25 cents! Most of their school supplies are just under a dollar. And if you need clothing, they have kids clothing starting at $4 and school uniform essentials starting at $5! Some other deals they have running include:
- Backpacks start at $14.99
- Lunchboxes starting at $5
- 40% off select back-to-school books
Walmart
Walmart has some irresistible school supply deals too. Most of the school supplies you’re searching for are under a dollar! If you need tablets and laptops, Walmart has some of them marked down by over 50%. And most kids’ backpacks are about $15. Clothing ranges in price, but you can find kids’ clothes for as low as $5, making Walmart another great one-stop shop.
Staples
Staples has every school supply on your child’s list. If you haven’t found what you need at other stores, you’ll find it there. Staples has notebooks starting at 35 cents, and plenty of other essentials such as pencils, erasers, and binders are under $2! You could probably do all your school supply shopping under budget here!
Some other great deals at Staples include:
- $14.99 backpack and lunchbox sets
- Save up to $220 on laptops
- 50-cent school supply deals
Best Buy
While Best Buy might not have clothes or school supplies, they have some deals on laptops and other electronics. Many schools require laptops, headphones, or flash drives, and this is one of the best stores to find these essentials.
Best Buy offers $200-300 off select laptops, $100-200 off select tablets, and plenty of other savings on other essentials such as desks!
What Products Should You Buy Early?
Is there a benefit to shopping early for school supplies? Certain school supplies can go out of stock before the school year starts. Some items you should buy early include:
- Backpacks and lunchboxes (there will be fewer options available the closer it gets to the school year)
- Laptops and tablets (electronic sales don’t last long)
- Writing utensils
- Notebooks
- Planners
Buying Used Products
If you’re looking to save more money than just a few sales, there are other options available. Shopping for school can get pretty expensive to the point that one in three parents have debt just from back-to-school shopping. Many parents thought they’d spend around $529 per kid in 2020.
If you need school clothes, thrift stores are great options to find quality clothing for lower prices. In addition, you can find used laptops and tablets online, and finding used electronics will cut the cost down significantly.
Conclusion
Getting the kids ready for the new school year is difficult, and prices can make the situation even more stressful. Many families look for sales and other buying options to reduce the dent in their wallets. Visit the listed stores to score great deals and make your back-to-school shopping less financially stressful!
