When Karen Beecher looked over the two-page list of school supplies that her son, Conner, 6, received before he started kindergarten last year, she was surprised to discover her oldest needed more than a box of crayons. Determined to find some good deals, she managed to buy everything on the list for less than $10.
"My husband, Matt, had me add it up a couple of times because he couldn't believe it, either," she said.
Beecher's strategy? She shopped sales throughout the summer at several local retailers and cashed in reward points already earned at stores such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy.
Calling herself a "plan ahead kind of person," Beecher, of St. Francis, spent about the same amount this year for Conner's first-grade supplies -- already purchased, marked with his name and ready for the first day of school -- and has also picked up an inexpensive folder and backpack for 3-year-old preschooler Olivia.
Planning ahead is definitely the secret to finding back-to-school deals, whether on classroom supplies or clothing, according to Carrie Rocha, a Maple Grove mom of two preschoolers and founder of PocketYourDollars.com, a website devoted to saving money and steering clear of debt.
"Since you're going to be out and about doing errands all the time anyway, don't hesitate to pick up one or two amazing deals when you find them," said Rocha. "You're going to spend much less money if you are willing to shop this way rather than doing it all at once. Start early because if you wait too long, it's going to be harder to find what you are looking for at a good price."
Good deals on the rack
If your kids need back-to-school clothing, now is a good time to find plenty of choices on clearance racks. Since the first few weeks of the school year are usually warm, deeply discounted summer merchandise can help fill out those lists.
