I’m a Parent: Here Are 2 Stores To Save Money for Back-to-School Shopping

Group4 Studio / Getty Images

Just about every store in America claims to have the best back-to-school deals, but which retailer really saves parents the most money on the clothing, tech and countless other supplies they need to prepare their kids for yet another successful year in the classroom?

GOBankingRates spoke with two savvy moms who swear by the same two stores for nearly all their back-to-school needs, although both like each chain for different things — and each have their own unique strategy for saving. Here’s a look at the pair of stores that they’ve come to rely on over the years to be kinder to their wallets in the second half of summer than all the rest, along with some current deals that validate their skill at back-to-school deal hunting.

2 Moms, 2 Stores and 2 Strategies for Saving Money on Supplies

Rachel Johnson spends a lot of time earning money as a content editor and marketing manager at the digital branding platform PWA Media. However, when it comes to the expensive annual ritual of getting her kids ready for school in the rapidly approaching fall, she’s all about saving it — and she sticks with just two stores to get nearly everything she needs for less.

“As a parent and an experienced shopper for back-to-school items, Target and Staples are by far the most wallet-friendly stores for me,” said Johnson. “For example, Target sells clothes at bargain prices, as well as basic supplies like notebooks and pencils. Staples has unbeatable prices for tech gadgets and their office needs, such as calculators and binders.”

Back-to-School Deals With Extra Savings — If You Know Where To Look

Both big-box chains have already rolled out many of their biggest back-to-school discounts and promotions — but Johnson likes them because they offer the chance to double down with supplementary savings, even when there’s a sale.

“Both these outlets regularly give discounts that considerably bring down the costs,” she said.

Stephanie Edenburgh, CEO of the parenting site Bizzie Mommy, shares Johnson’s sentiments exactly.

“I have found that Target and Staples save me the most money on back-to-school essentials,” she said. “Last year, I needed to buy supplies for three kids, and the costs were adding up quickly. By shopping at Target, I saved a lot on clothes with their sales and additional Cartwheel discounts. Then, I hit Staples for their penny deals on notebooks and binders, stocking up for the entire year.

“Target often has great deals on clothing and backpacks, and its Cartwheel app provides additional savings. Staples is unbeatable for office supplies, especially during its back-to-school sales, when they offer items for pennies on the dollar.”

What’s Hot at Target?

Both Edenburgh and Johnson mentioned clothing as one of the top reasons they shop at Target when the summer winds down. Here are some of the top back-to-school deals that you can take advantage of starting right now:

• School uniforms from $5
• Kids clothing from $6
• Toddler and kids shoes from $9.99

Youth tech is also marked way down, with top deals including:

• Calculators from $9.79
• Kids headphones from $19.99
• Kids tablets from $59.99
• Tech organization from $3

Other deep discounts include:

• Water bottles from $9.99
• Lunch boxes and bags from $4.99
• Backpacks from $5

In addition to these savings and the many more Target has already unveiled, Circle members can take 30% off select items from categories like water bottles, school supplies, school uniforms and backpacks.

What’s Worth Buying at Staples?

Both women also said Staples was their go-to store for classroom essentials and certain tech items, and the store has already launched the following deals, among many others:

• Pencils, erasers, crayons and folders from $0.50
• Kids markers and colored pencils from $0.99
• Glue and glue sticks from $0.40
• Scissors from $1.49
• Pencil pouches and boxes from $2.99
• Binders from $2.99
• Backpacks from $19.99
• Notebooks and composition books from $0.35

Deep discounts of up to 65% off are also available for specific brands, like Scotch, Zebra and Pentel. Some of the sweetest deals on Staples store brand gear include:

• 120-pack of Staples wide-ruled filler paper for $0.99, down from $3.09
• Staples dual-hole pencil sharpener for $0.50, down from $3.28
• Staples narrow ruled 3-inch x 5-inch index cards for $0.75, down from $3.09
• Staples 12-inch standard wooden ruler for $0.55, down from $4.59
• Staples one-subject notebook for $0.50, down from $2.29

More From GOBankingRates