Back to school shopping can get expensive quickly.
The clothes, the calculators, the pencils, pens, notebooks and paper add up to a hefty bill at the register.
The 2015 National Retail Federation’s Back-to-School Spending Survey showed the average family with children in grades kindergarten through 12 planned to spend $630.36, with total spending reaching about $24.9 billion.
You can reduce the strain on your budget by taking advantage of some of these early deals in the back-to-school shopping season.
Tectron scientific calculator — original price: $49.99; sale price: $7.99. Big savings for a calculator with big functionality. With 240 built-in functions, students taking algebra, trigonometry or statistics will have everything they need in the palm of their hand to finish their work. At this price point, this calculator is a good buy even for younger students, who can then use it as they move into more advanced studies.
iColor insulated lunch tote bag — original price $29.99; sale price: $14.99. Students not only need a lunch box that will keep the food fresh, but also look cool. With 23 colors and patterns to choose from, students can find the perfect lunch box to express themselves. The box has a simple design that can easily be rolled up and stuffed into a backpack when lunch is over. Parents will like the tote’s material, which cleans up easily from spills.
Lunch box containers
Packing lunches is so much more than tossing things into a brown paper bag this days. Lunch box containers add a splash of color while allowing a wider variety of foods to be sent for lunch. Have a kid who loves veggies and dip? No problem! Have leftovers that can be enjoyed at school, these containers make it easy to pack and eat.
Bed linens
The new school year is the perfect time to spruce up the family’s bed linens. Of course, if you have a new college student, then new sheets, pillowcases, blankets are a must. Back to school season offers huge discounts — at least 50 percent off — on these items. Some of the best deals include the bed-in-a-bag packages. These bundles often include a comforter, bed skirt, pillow, pillow shams, sheets and pillow cases.
Backpacks
As the workhorse of back to school season, the backpack is a must-have for students of all ages. Backpacks need to be durable, but light. Compact, but able to hold everything the kids bring home each day: textbooks, binders, folders and, of course, the piles of papers for assignments, event reminders and fundraisers. There are plenty of good deals this time of year, so take a close look and find the one that best suits your students’ needs.
Amazon Fire 6 tablet — original price: $99.99; sale price: $69.99. A versatile tool for students at a big price savings. Younger students have the option to use the tablet for preschool learning, while older students can download e-books for reading assignments, watch videos and even get tutorials for standardized test practice. This version of the Fire comes in five colors and has special deals on app packages.
School uniforms
Many retailers are offering deals on school uniform essentials, such as shirts, pants and skirts., according to dealsplus.com
