I have mixed feelings about this--I've loved having them home with and around me, I've certainly enjoyed having no set schedules for a few weeks now, and I've loved the fun things we have been able to do. On the OTHER hand (ha!), the constant level of activity and noise around here has been driving me crazy lately, the bickering has increased, and the "going to sleep time" has gotten later and later, making my Mommy/Alone time shorter and shorter....
I don't think I'm abnormal; I think all of us Moms deal with these feelings every summer as the beginning of school draws closer.
One thing I DON'T have mixed feels about, though, is buying school supplies. I dread it every year--How much money is it going to cost me? Where am I going to get all the supplies? Did I forget something?
Well this year, the questions stayed the same
However, the one thing that did change was this--as most of you know, back in the Fall of 2008, I learned how to "Q-pin" (as a good friend of mine likes to say), and guess what I found out? You can get just about everything you need for the beginning of school either free or next to free! Yep, my favorite word, **FREE!**
This blog post is not for bragging rights--far from it--I just want to show you Mamas that buying school supplies doesn't have to be as daunting or expensive as it once was. Major stores, such as CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens all offered free (or close to it) school supplies this year. In addition to them, the office supply stores (i.e., Staples, etc.) also offered their share of supplies free too.
So, without further adieu, let's get to the bounty of frees that were available this year:
CVS:
2, 1-Subject Spiral Notebooks = $.99 each - $.99 ECBs = $0
4, 5" Scissors = $2.99 - $2.99 ECBs = $0
3, 4-pk. Sharpie highlighters = $.99 - $.99 MQ = $0
1, Flexi ruler = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, Wooden rulers = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, 3-pk. Glue Sticks = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, 20-pk. Black Pens = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
3, 8-pk. Blue Pens = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, 1" Binders = $3 - $3 ECBs = $0
2, Composition Books = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, School Glues = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, Pencil Top Erasers = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
1, Papermate 10-Pack Black Pens = $.99 -$.99 ECBs = $0
2, Pilot Easytouch Retractable Blue Pens = $.99 - $.99 = $0
2, 150-Sheet Filler Paper = $2 - $2 ECBs = $0
2, 12-Pk. Colored Pencils = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
2, Wireless 1-Subject Notebooks = $.99 - $.99 ECBs = $0
Staples
3, 1" Binders = $.75 each (price match) = $2.25 for 3
2, Elmer's School Glue = $.25 = $.50 for 2
2, Slider Pencil Cases = $.25 = $.50 for 2
2, Ruled Index Cards = $.25 = $.50 for 2
2, Pencil Sharpeners = $.250 = $.50 for 2
STAPLES $3 Reward Member Coupon = $1.25 for everything
Sarasa 5-Pack Gel Retractable Pens = $4.99 - $4.99 Rebate = $0
Pentel, 5-Pk. Handy-Lines Highlighter = $4.99 - $4.99 Rebate = $0
High Sierra Swerve Backpack = $29.99 - $29.99 Rebate = $0
Cadoozles 10-Pack Mechanical Pencils = $2.99 - $2.99 Rebate = $0
2, 8-Pk. Pencils = $.01 = $.02
Rite-Aid
4, 1-Subject Spiral Notebooks = $.25 = $1.00
Walmart
5, 3-Prong Folders = $.05 each = $.15
(Note: These were on sale for $.01 each this week, but I missed it!)
2, 4-Pk. Dry Erase Markers = $3 = $6
(Note: Again, I messed up here. These seemed to go on sale at many of the office supply stores for $1.50.)
Target
1, 2-Pk. Large Pink Pencil Eraser = $.20
1, 12-Pk. Papermate Red Pens = $.50
GRAND TOTAL for everything pictured and listed here is $9.12.
Of course, as you can see, I could have been under $3 (!!) had I not gotten my dry erase markers at Walmart! (Isn't it weird that my one mistake was a purchase at America's Largest Discount Retailer?)
Of course, there are other supplies not listed on here that I couldn't get on sale anywhere--things like dividers and plastic shoe boxes. But, overall, this should show you that you can buy school supplies on a budget and for under $10, if you are really patient and diligent.
Mind you, it won't happen in one weekend, and it does take some planning, but if you are serious about staying on a budget and saving money, you can do it!
What kind of deals did you all find this year on school supplies?
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