Back-to-school shopping costs keep climbing. Since 2022, basic supplies have jumped significantly — printer paper costs an extra $2 per ream, 3-inch binders are up $2, and dry erase markers have increased nearly $0.50 each. Even over just the past year, families are paying about $0.50 more for 1-inch binders, according to our latest School Supplies Stock-Up Price List.
With tariffs on imported items looming and the average inflation rate sitting above 2%, waiting until the last minute could mean even steeper prices. That's why we've rounded up our best shopping hacks to help you beat rising costs and score deals on everything from supplies to lunch gear.
These proven strategies will help you shop smarter and could save you $100 or more on your back-to-school haul. Be sure to also visit The Krazy Coupon Lady's Back-to-School Sales Page for real-time deals.
Our Favorite Back-to-School Shopping Hacks
1. Know stock-up prices before you start back-to-school shopping.
Check out our 2025 Stock-Up Price List for recommended prices on school supplies, uniforms, backpacks, and more, so you know what to aim for, especially now that some prices have gone up due to inflation and tariffs.
2. Hit back-to-school shopping sales on Sunday and Monday.
Weekly sales at most stores start Sunday mornings, and once August hits, inventory is less likely to be restocked. Shop early for the best selection and deepest discounts.
3. Look for manufacturer coupons, especially on brands like Bic, Kleenex, and Sharpie.
Find coupons in-store on shelves or inside products and online at brand websites. Use them for maximum savings on things like Kleenex, Sharpies, and Bic products.
See the latest deals we're finding for these supplies:
4. Use manufacturer coupons at dollar stores for nearly free supplies.
You can use your manufacturer coupons (like Bic coupons ) on items at Dollar Tree or Dollar General to score nearly free school supplies. A $1 Bic coupon used on a $1.25 Dollar Tree item gets you brand-name pens or pencils for just $0.25.
5. Always compare prices (and deals) across retailers before you shop.
Our in-depth price comparison research revealed some surprising insights into which store wins for cheapest school supplies. Taking a few minutes to compare prices could save you anywhere from $2 (on pencils) to $54 (on graphing calculators)!
And some stores offer perks that others don't — like Walmart Cash rebate offers at Walmart and a 5% Circle Card discount at Target — that make the deals better.
KCL TIP: To ensure you're getting a good price on Amazon, you can check CamelCamelCamel to see when an item might hit a lower price, based on historical pricing data.
6. Buy basic calculators at Dollar Tree instead of Walmart.
Unless your student needs a graphing calculator, Dollar Tree's basic calculators cost $1.25 versus Walmart's $2.48. That's an instant $1.23 savings.
7. Shop Target clearance on weekdays for cheaper kids' clothes.
Target clearance varies by location but usually happens on weekdays. Get friendly with associates to find out your store's markdown day for the best deals on kids' clothing. You can easily save $10 or more on a few items.
If your kid really wants a back-to-school outfit that’s not on sale, check the price on Amazon before buying. Amazon carries familiar Target brands like C9 Champion, as well as more common brands like Fruit of the Loom.
8. Always use the Target app for exclusive Circle offers and discounts.
Never, I repeat, never shop at Target without the Target app. When you have the Target app, you’ll get access to Target Circle offers, like a percentage off a certain department (ahem — school supplies). Plus, school staff and college students can save 20% with exclusive Target Circle discounts. These discounts can save you $5 or more .
In 2025, the college student discount began on June 29 and runs through Sept. 27, while the teacher discount started on July 20 and is valid through Aug. 30.
9. Use Target gift card deals to your advantage.
Gift card deals can vary, but usually, we’ll see Target gift card deals that'll put at least $5 in your pocket during back-to-school season. Here are a few examples:
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Spend $30 on beauty and personal care, receive $5 Target gift card
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Spend $50 on household essentials like laundry detergent, receive $15 Target gift card (think of all the extra laundry from extracurriculars)
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Spend $100 on diapers, training pants, or wipes, receive $20 Target gift card
You can even use manufacturer coupons with these deals, as we teach you in our guide about how to coupon at Target .
10. Get free AirPods with the purchase of a Mac or iPad from Apple.
If you're planning to buy an Apple product anyway, take advantage of Apple's bonus offers that can be worth $99 or more.
In summer 2025, Apple is offering free AirPods or an eligible accessory (like a mouse or keyboard) when you purchase a Mac or iPad with education pricing. See more Apple deals .
11. Shop during tax-free weekends if your state allows it.
If you time your back-to-school shopping to coincide with a tax-free weekend, you may avoid paying sales tax on your haul. For example, the Florida back-to-school tax holiday is Aug. 1 - 31, 2025, which means Florida shoppers won't pay the typical 6% sales tax on certain supplies, clothing, and even computers purchased during those dates. On a $300 back-to-school budget, you could save $18 by avoiding Florida's 6% sales tax.
Amazon purchases also count, as long as you place your order during your state's tax holiday weekend.
12. Shop Old Navy on Monday mornings for fresh markdowns.
Old Navy marks “price cuts” on Sundays, so typically I’ll try to hit the store Sunday night or Monday morning to scout out the latest markdowns. Look for back-to-school sales offering up to 50% off select styles. On a $100 clothing purchase, that 50% discount saves you $50.
They also recently extended their return policy for kids' clothes, giving you a full year to return items in certain circumstances.
13. Head to Target for cheap dorm room supplies in the summer (and claim a 20% off college student discount).
Target offers a ton of college and dorm room essentials on sale during August and September. Look for deals like 30% off bedding, 25% off towels, 20% - 30% off storage bins and organizers, and Keurig K-Mini coffee makers as low as $49.99 (regularly $79.99).
The best part is, you can stack these dorm room deals with the Target college student discount, which gives you a Circle coupon good for 20% off a single purchase when you verify your status in the Target app. This year's coupon is available from June 29 - Sept. 27, 2025.
14. Buy discounted gift cards from GCX.com (formerly Raise.com) and CardBear to save up to 13.5%.
Always check GCX and CardBear before you go shopping. You could end up saving up to 13.5% instantly just by purchasing discounted digital gift cards (that's like $13.50 off a $100 purchase ).
Here are recent savings we’ve seen at some of the biggest retailers, ranked from highest to lowest savings:
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Michaels: 13.5% savings
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JCP: 11.20% savings
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Office Depot: 8.9% savings
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The Children’s Place: 8.8% savings
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Staples: 7.4% savings
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Kohl’s: 7.2% savings
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Target: 3.3% savings
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Walmart: 1.8% savings
15. Decode price tags in order to spot final markdowns on back-to-school items.
Every store has a different secret coding system, and learning how to decode the secret language of price tags is one way to know whether another markdown is coming, though this method will require some hunting on your part.
For example, T.J.Maxx yellow tag items indicate that the item is at its lowest price for the season so it's worth buying now instead of waiting for another drop.
Here's what to look for at a few stores:
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Gap prices ending in $0.97 are final markdowns (and final sale).
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Old Navy clearance ends in a 7 or 9. Usually, prices ending in $0.47 are final markdowns.
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T.J.Maxx yellow price tags indicate final markdowns.
16. Sign up for store text or email coupons before you do back-to-school shopping.
Make sure you’ve signed up for all these text and email coupons before you start back-to-school shopping, even if you’re buying school supplies online. These signup discounts alone could save you $10 - $30 on your first purchases.
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H&M: Join H&M’s loyalty program and get 10% off your next purchase.
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Kohl’s: Sign up for Kohl’s emails and get 15% off.
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The Children’s Place: Sign up for The Children’s Place text alerts and get 30% off.
Note that these will only work the first time you sign up.
17. Shop Macy’s for dorm room essentials like $25 comforters and $15 pillow sets.
Deck your student's dorm room with the best back-to-school supplies for cheap. By keeping an eye on our Macy’s Deals Page , you can grab a $130 down alternative comforter set on sale for as low as $24.99. Plus, watch for cheap pillow sets (we're talking $15 for two jumbo pillows) through the summer.
18. Use drugstore rewards on school supplies.
When you’re couponing at Walgreens or couponing at CVS , you’ll earn loyalty reward points that you can spend like cash at the store where you earned them. A great shopping strategy is to use these points on back-to-school supplies.
Through Aug. 30, Walgreens has back-to-school supplies on sale, buy one get one 50% off. Check out the latest Walgreens deals and CVS deals we've found.
19. Buy art supplies at Michaels with coupons, or save 15% if you're a teacher.
Michaels offers coupons and discounts every week, and we frequently see coupons good for 20% off a regular-price purchase.
While Michaels won't let you use multiple coupons per transaction, you can use one 20% off coupon in-store and another 20% off coupon online.
KCL TIP : If you’re a teacher, you can save 15% on every order when you join the Michaels teacher discount program.
20. Shop Walmart for one-stop convenience and consistently low prices.
If you can’t wait for sales or stock-up prices or you don’t want to make multiple shopping trips, Walmart is your jam, as we prove in our price comparison guide for school supplies. You’ll get everyday low prices, and when it comes to school supplies, the Walmart back-to-school sale lives up to the hype.
Lots of back-to-school items also qualify for Walmart Pickup, which is free if you spend $35 or more. Definitely check our roundup of Walmart promo codes if you're going that route, as some will apply to pickup or delivery orders.
21. Use rebate apps like Ibotta to earn money back on school supplies.
Rebate apps like Ibotta will give you cash back after you make a purchase and are super easy to use. You just clip offers ahead of time, upload a picture of your receipt, and rack up free money.
In the past, we've even scored free Five Star 3-subject notebooks, Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils, and Paper Mate pink erasers just by taking advantage of rebate offers.
22. Use the Amazon app for real-time price checks.
Buying Amazon school supplies is a legit strategy when the price is right. Sometimes Amazon is the cheapest.
To compare prices, use the Amazon app (iOS/Android) to scan the item at Target or wherever you’re shopping. If Amazon’s price is cheaper, you could technically place an Amazon order right then and there.
23. Price match at stores like Staples, Office Depot, and more.
Use price matching to your advantage, especially when back-to-school shopping. Smart price matching can easily save you 10% - 20% on select purchases. That's $30 - $60 on a $300 budget.
These stores will give you a competitor’s price when you bring in proof (like an advertisement):
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JCPenney: Get a competitor’s price on identical items at JCPenney. They'll even price adjust for 14 days after purchase.
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Kohl’s: Kohl’s price match policy gives you a competitor’s in-store price if you bring the physical ad with you while shopping in-store.
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Office Depot/OfficeMax: Office Depot and Office Max’s price match policy lets you claim a lower price if you find it cheaper somewhere else. Just bring in proof of the competitor’s price.
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Staples: If you spot a lower price on an identical item, show it to a Staples associate, and they'll match the price, according to their Price Match Guarantee.
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