Money Saving Habits

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.

If you’re running low on printer paper for all those coupons, school reports, etc,  Staples and Office Depot both have deals this week.

Office Depot is offering their brand of Multipurpose paper 94 brightness for $5.99 – $5 mail-in savings (you get a Visa prepaid card back).  So, the net price is $0.99.  Limit 2 reams.

Staples is offering their 50% recycled multi-purpose reams for $8.99 – $3 instant savings – $3.99 easy rebate.  So, net price is $2/ream limit 2 per household.  The $3 instant savings will come off automatically, but you’ll have to send away for the $3.99 rebate.  Staples offers one of the easiest rebate programs I’ve seen.  They even have an online option — and you don’t have to mail in anything.

Happy Savings!

Note: Prices taken from the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio print ads.  If you live outside the area, your store may offer different pricing.

Listed below are Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio area Office Depot Store sale prices that I think are a good deal. Did I miss one? Use the comment feature to tell us all about it.

Office Depot compass $0.10 limit 3
Office Depot glue sticks 4pk $0.20 limit 10
Sharpie highlighter 2pk $0.25 limit 2
Write Bros stick pens 10pk $0.30 limit 3
1″ school binder $0.50 limit 3
Magnetic rubber calculator $0.99 limit 3
Office Depot printer paper 10 ream case B1G1F after rebate (net result $2/ream)
Office Depot premium multipurpose paper ream $2.99 (after rebate)

Codes:
+c means there was recently a coupon in the paper for this item
+c* means there’s a coupon for it and I think it’s a good deal ONLY if you use the coupon
M-R monday through thursday sale dates only
B1G1F (buy one get one free)
** super deal — seriously think about stocking up at this price if this is an item you use
w/c means with in-ad coupon
lim tells you what the limit is

Disclaimer: This list is generated by a human. I never intend to make a typo, but sometimes they happen. See the store and/or the ad for clarification if you’re unsure about a product. This list was generated using ads in the Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio metro area. Stores outside this market may offer different pricing.

Just when i thought the major retailers were done with there back to school sales, they throw me a curve ball….but in a good way.

Office Depot

glue sticks 4pk $0.25 limit 3 per household
book covers $0.25 limit 3 per hosuehold
spiral notebook 1/2 size (5.5″x8″) $0.25 limit 3
3 hole punch that fits in a binder $0.99
Fiskars scissors $0.99
50% off select writing instruments (pictured Papermate, Sharpie, expo, Uniball)
Office Depot copy paper 625 sheets (typical ream is 500 sheets) $3.99
Hammermill copy plus paper $22.99/box (10 reams)

Office Max

My newspaper ads had a paper bag that says 20% off everything you can fit in this bag plus all printer accessories, furniture, and storage.

(school supplies are while supplies last — no rainchecks)
poly 2 pocket folder $0.10 limit 6
BIC pens blue or black 10ct $0.15 limit 3
Schoolio Von Hoolio crayons 24ct $0.01 (yes a penny) limit 3

Notes:  These sale prices come from the retailers print ads for the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio market.  Your store may have similar pricing.