Back to School Sales Good for Holiday Savings

Save on Christmas Gifts & Stocking Stuffers before Schools Reopen

Jul 19, 2009

Buy School Supplies & Christmas Presents Together, Petr Kratochvil

Find holiday bargains at the end of summer as schools gear up for a new year. Parents on a budget, grandparents, and most anyone can find great gifts in school supplies.

The end of summer means school supplies go on sale in department stores all across the U.S. Soon after the Fourth of July, parents of school-age children begin the annual ritual of buying school supplies. Moms and dads scour the aisles, school supply list(s) in hand, searching for pencils, spiral notebooks, calculators, and more. Children drool and gasp over folders and binders that feature popular teen idols, cuddly baby animals, muscle cars, and more.

High school students outgrow the lists, opting for pricier items like designer backpacks and laptops. College students may choose a sophisticated look in supplies and clothes. Whatever the age group, the excitement of school shopping never quite goes away.

Anyone Can Shop for School Supplies – and Christmas Gifts – in the Fall when Prices are Low

School supplies cram the shelves at Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and other popular stores. Bargain school shopping begins about a month or so before classes start; this means savvy holiday shoppers can find Christmas gifts that are dirt cheap. One does not have to have children to take advantage of great savings, such as items that could be used in an office – Sharpie markers and binders, for example. Why not give a spouse or friend a box of needed business supplies as an extra gift for Christmas?

Need some stocking stuffer ideas and inexpensive Christmas gift ideas? Some items on the school supply shelves are only available prior to school starting, so be sure to take advantage of specialty items. Don't forget nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. If one is planning to participate in a community program that collects gifts for needy children around the holidays, then purchase a few gift items (markers, crayons, construction paper, etc.) for those kids, too.

Markers. There are some awesome colors on the shelves that one may not see the rest of the year.
Crayons. Why pay up to two dollars a box for a 32 ct. box of Crayola crayons around the holidays when the same brand/same size box sells for 50 cents or less at some stores during the annual school supply sales? Stock up and save.
Glue in bottles and sticks. Younger kids, especially, love to make holiday crafts.
Art supplies. Paints trays, stickers, pencils, gel & glitter pens etc., all sell for extremely low prices during school sales events. These items provide hours of entertainment over the holidays.
Construction paper, pads, folders. Children who love to draw will appreciate the many colors available during back-to-school sales that may not be on the shelves the rest of the year.
Calculators. Younger kids love to play with hand-held calculators. Calculators come in all price ranges, so grab some now for stocking stuffers.

School Supplies Make Holiday Gifts for Teens and College Students

Teens and young adults are often difficult to buy for, and ideas for useful gifts don't easily come to mind for some people. Shopping during the holidays to buy a few extra inexpensive gifts can be exhausting. Why not get a head start on Christmas presents by shopping for a teen during the back-to-school sales?

Writing instruments. A handsome pen and pencil set is a treasured gift, especially for students who love to write. At a time when most everything is composed on a computer, an elegant pen is still cherished as a symbol of a prosperous career.
Laptops and mini laptops. Check the ads in the weeks prior to school starting for some real bargain deals. Don't forget desktop computers, too.
Ipods and electronics. College students and high school kids crave these items any time of year, so buy now for Christmas while the shelves are full and the prices are low for back-to-school savings.
Briefcase. What college student couldn't use a handsome briefcase, especially a student who is destined to graduate soon and may be going to grad school in the business profession, or law?
Clothing and accessories. Students always need clothes. Watches, jewelry, and other accessories are on sale before school starts, so grab these and store them for great holiday gifts.

Back-to-school shopping means great values on items that can be used for the holidays. Kids love to draw, color, and make holiday decorations. Everyone loves a stocking filled with useful gifts. Higher priced specialty items, like laptops, make fantastic Christmas presents.

And what better time than during sales for school to stock up on needed supplies for the home office. Staplers, paper clips, pencil sharpeners, and planners, all are featured during the annual back-to-school sales event. Save now and save for Christmas; keep a budget on track and looking great for the New Year.

The copyright of the article Back to School Sales Good for Holiday Savings in Personal Budgeting/Finance is owned by Mary King. Permission to republish Back to School Sales Good for Holiday Savings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.