4 Ways to Make the Most of Back to School Savings

It's that time of year again. Parents are starting the hunt for all the notebooks, pens and backpacks that kids need to start a new school year. Here are four ways to get the best bang for your back-to-school buck:

1. Grab your school list
The grade-level checklists that are given out every summer by schools probably describe all the essentials your child will need to stock his or her desk, as well as some wish-list items from your teacher. Look up your school online to see if they have a downloadable list. It can be extremely helpful for organizing your shopping.

2. Don't forget your local supermarket
The discount retailers and warehouse clubs get a lot of attention during back-to-school season, and with good reason. They usually offer great discounts and specials. But I noticed this year that my local grocery stores offered prices that were just as low, and their products were in stock, on aisles that weren't overcrowded.

3. Procrastinate a little
Did you wait too late and miss the sales tax holiday? Relax. If the school items are still on the shelves, retailers will probably start lowering the prices on any leftovers. You could wind up with a better deal just for waiting.

4. Consolidate shopping trips
Save time and gas by getting your shopping done in as few trips as possible. Blogger CouponKatie makes use of the larger chains' price matching policies to take advantage of every sale without having to drive to different stores.