Money Saving Habits

Pick up your school supplies NOW! There’s still a few good deals left. If you don’t have kids in school, why not stock up on a few things for yourself and you local food pantry. They help kids throughout the year.

You might also be interested in my grocery deals pages for SW Ohio and Cincinnati Area Kroger and Meijer stores

Staples
composition notebooks $0.10 w/$5 purchase limit 3 (mon-wed only)
#2 pencils 8pk $0.25 limit 4
12” see-through plastic ruler ruler $0.50 limit 2
BIC brite liner highlighters 5pk $0.50 limit 2
Staples printer paper ream $4.99 -$4.49 easy rebate – $0.50 limit 2

Kroger
1 subject notebooks $0.15
2 pocket folders $0.15
BIC 10pk pens $0.79
Crayola 24pk crayons $0.25
paper mate pens $0.33
Office Works kids scissors $0.50

Office Depot
2 pocket folders $0.01 limit 10
Office Depot plastic ruler $0.01 limit 3
Office Depot slider pencil box $0.01 limit 3
Office Depot compass $0.25 limit 3
PaperMate pink eraser 3pk $0.25
Office Depot totes, crates and mini crates 50% off

Walgreen’s
Penway filler paper 130sheets $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
10pk papermate pens $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
5pk mechanical pencils $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
Sharpie Markers $0.39 w/coupon limit 6
Clean ‘n Natural hand sanitizer 2oz $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
Penway sharpener $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
Scotch tape $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
Crayola posterboard $0.39 w/coupon limit 3
Scotch Mailers bubble and cushioned $0.39 w/coupon limit 3 (great for shipping for the holidays)

Walgreen’s coupons can be found in their print ad – available near the entrance.

Note:  These deals have been found in the Cincinnati Ohio area market.  Many nationwide stores offer the same items for sale, but may have different pricing.  Check your local store.

Looking back at my posts from this summer I can’t believe I didn’t tell you about Kids Bowl Free.  We’ve been taking advantage of this ALL summer long.  This program is good through the end of August, so there’s still time to sign up and enjoy some free bowling before the kids head back to school.

Here’s how it works:

• Find a participating bowling alley near you
• Sign up your kids (up to 6 per e-mail address)
• Coupons would be e-mailed to you
• print out coupons and take them with you…

Seriously…it’s that easy. Each kid can play 2 games fore FREE each and EVERY DAY. You will probably have to pay to rent bowling shoes.  Mine charges $2.

We’ve had a great time this summer and hope you can enjoy the last few days of summer bowling for FREE!

Aug 12, 2010 Update: Discount DrugMart deals have been added.

Pick up your school supplies NOW!

From now until early September-ish I’ll post a weekly list of great deals on school supplies.  If you don’t have kids, stock up on those “office supplies” that you use.  And, don’t forget to pick up a few extras for your local food pantry.  Most of them offer free school supplies to their clients.  One rule of thumb I use is — if I wouldn’t buy the brand for my family’s use, I don’t buy it for the food pantry either.  Some school supplies are better quality than others, and I’d hate to have someone who couldn’t afford it get a new school supply kit that only lasted a month or so.

You might also be interested in my grocery deals pages for SW Ohio and Cincinnati Area Kroger and Meijer stores

Discount Drug Mart

Pilot pens $0.99
spiral notebooks $0.19
composition notebooks $0.50
2 pocket folders $0.10
school box $0.59
stretchable book covers $0.60
Papermate #2 pencils 12ct $0.50
Papermate mechanical pencils 5pk $0.50
Expo dry erase markers 4pk $1.99
3 subject spiral notebooks $0.99
5 subject spiral notebooks $1.50
steno book $0.79

Staples
PNY 2GB flash drive $9.99 – $8.99 in Staples Rewards
Staples filler paper $0.01 limit 5 w/$5 purchase Mon-Wed only
Staples Stickies (like post-it notes) 12pk $5.29 -$5.29 easy rebate limit 1
Pentel retractable highlighters 4pk free after easy rebate
Staples printer paper ream $4.99 -$3.99 easy rebate limit 2
Scotch pop up tape dispenser $3 – $3 easy rebate limit 1

Kroger
1 subject notebooks $0.15
2 pocket folders $0.15
BIC 10pk pens $0.79
Crayola 24pk crayons $0.25
paper mate pens $0.33
backpacks and lunch kits 25% off
Office Works kids scissors $0.50
fabric book covers $1
Sharpie 2pk markers $0.99

Office Depot
folders $0.05 limit 5
2 hold pencil sharpener $0.05 limit 3
composition book $0.50 limit 3
sharpie highlighter 6pk $0.75 limit 3
HP printer paper ream $1 after $6.49 mail in rebate limit 2
1″ poly binder $0.25 limit 3
schoolworks 5″ scissors $0.25 limit 3
book covers $0.25
TI-83 calculator $99.99 -$10 mail in rebate

Walgreen’s
2 pocket folders $0.09 limit 4
notebook paper 130ct $0.49 limit 6
composition book $0.49 limit 6
elmer’s glue sticks 2pk $0.19
basic backpack $3.99
Kleenex tissues $0.99 (not the big boxes)
Crayola markers 10pk $0.99
rubberbands $0.99
sharpie highlighters 4pk $0.99
5 tab dividers $0.50 w/c limt 4
composition notebook or memo book (small) $0.20 w/c limit 5
Papermate eraser mate pens 4pk $0.99 w/c limit 4

CVS
2 pocket folders 8/$1 limit 8

Note:  These deals have been found in the Cincinnati Ohio area market.  Many nationwide stores offer the same items for sale, but may have different pricing.  Check your local store.

This morning I stumbled across these zoo animal silly bands at Amazon….they ship free with super saver shipping and free with Amazon Prime.   Kids of many ages are enjoying this latest fad.  These could be good for Operation Children’s  Shoebox, kid’s birthday goody bags, or even stockings.   I don’t know how long the great deal will last (mine was under $2, shipped free with Prime),  so if you’re interested check out soon.

Are you a school employee or even a Book Fair Volunteer?  If so, you can shop at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale.  Look for a location near you.

Most sales are the 1st week in August.  Stock up for summer reading, gifts, etc.  Many books and Scholastic branded items can be found for up to 80% off publisher price.

Locally, Scholastic sponsors school Book Fairs and many teachers offer monthly book orders through Scholastic.  So, many of the titles you’ve seen in the flyers will also be available at the warehouse.  Note that hot selling items will probably not be available.  When Harry Potter came out it was not offered at their Warehouse Sale — even though it was published by Scholastic.  But don’t be detered, there’s lots of great books out there.

If you’re in the Greater Cincinnati area, there’s a warehouse in West Chester off I-75 and Union Centre Blvd (not far from IKEA and the Frontgate Outlet). (Note the change in hours from past sales.)

Our sale is Tues Aug 3 – Thurs Aug 5th 9am – 3pm

Here’s a PDF flyer from Scholastic about the sale.

Update: Walmart added 7/27/10

From now until early September-ish I’ll post a weekly list of great deals on school supplies.  If you don’t have kids, stock up on those “office supplies” that you use.  And, don’t forget to pick up a few extras for your local food pantry.  Most of them offer free school supplies to their clients.  One rule of thumb I use is — if I wouldn’t buy the brand for my family’s use, I don’t buy it for the food pantry either.  Some school supplies are better quality than others, and I’d hate to have someone who couldn’t afford it get a new school supply kit that only lasted a month or so.

Staples
Staples computer paper ream $4.99 – $4.98 easy rebate = $0.01 (Mon-Wed only) limit 1
Staples 4gb USB flash drive $9.99
Backpack deal — buy any backpack and get 100% back in a Staples gift card (via easy rebate) limit 1
BIC round stick pens $0.01 limit 2 w/ $5 purchase (Mon-Wed only)
Zebra retractable gel pens black 5pk $4.99 – $4.74 easy rebate = $0.25 limit 1
Staples highlighters 6pk $0.25 limit 2
Scotch tape 3pk $1 w/c from ad limit 2
Ticonderoga pencils 12pk $1 w/c from ad limit 2
Pentel retractable pens 18pk $4 w/c from ad limit 2
variety of office chairs on sale…..try them out before you buy….

Discount Drug Mart has some school supply deals through Wednesday July 28th.

Kroger
1 subject notebooks $0.15
2 pocket folders $0.15
BIC 10pk pens $0.79
Crayola 24pk crayons $0.25
(Note: I think these sale prices are good until Sept 11th)

Meijer
school box plastic $0.50 limit 10
spiral notebook $0.15 limit 30
Elmer’s glue sticks 2pk $0.25 limit 10

Office Depot
spiral notebooks 6pk $0.50 limit 2
ruler $0.05 lmiit 3
eraser caps 12pk $0.10 limit 3
HP Office paper ream $6.49 -$5.54 rebate (visa prepaid card) = $0.95 limit 2

Walgreen’s
2 pocket folders $0.09 limit 5
Composition notebook 80sheet $0.69 w/c limit 3
Crayola colored pencils 12pk $0.99 w/c limit 3
3 subject notebook $0.99
Flexible ruler or protractor $0.39
poly pencil or index card case $0.39
scotch mailers $0.39 w/c limit 3 (think holiday shipping)
CarryAll pouch $0.59 w/c limit 3
Elmer’s glue 4oz or 2pk glue sticks $0.59 w/c limit 3
Crayola poster board 22×28 $0.39w/c limit 6
Sharpie markers 2pk $0.69 w/c limit 3
Highland self stick notes (1200 sheets) $3.99

Target
Elmer’s school glue stick 6pk $1
Mead Composition Notebook $1
TI30xIIS calculator $9
DaneElec 4gb USB drive $9
Crayola colored pencils 12pk $0.88

Walmart
Composition notebooks $0.25
Elmer’s glue 4oz $0.25
Elmer’s Gluesticks 2pk $0.25
Crayola 24pk crayons $0.25
Crayola 10pk markers $1
Crayola 12pk colored pencils $1
pencil cap erasers 40ct $1
pencil case for 3 ring binder $1
2 pocket folders $0.15
Dixon #2 pencils 10pk $0.50
1″ economy 3 ring binder $0.75

Note:  These deals have been found in the Cincinnati Ohio area market.  Many nationwide stores offer the same items for sale, but may have different pricing.  Check your local store.

It’s that time of year again……the time when mass retailers think we need to start back to school supply shopping.  This week’s ads are full of deals.  If you don’t have kids at home you can still save by stocking up on “office supplies” now.

Historically the best school supply deals run for about 3 weeks in July – maybe the beginning of August.  If something is on your list, but not on sale, just wait — it’s probably on sale in a future week.

Here’s a quick sampling of some of this week’s deals:

Walgreen’s

• pocket folders 9cents each
• spiral bound notebooks 29cents
• bic highlighter 4pk 49cents
• G2 pens 19cents

Staples

• staples school glue 1cent (through Wed only)
• 3×5 cards $0.25
• printer paper ream $1
• printer paper 4×6 $1
• 4pk expo dry erase markers $2

Happy Savings!