How Discount Shopping Trumps the Mall for Back-to-School Bargains

If you’re already a dedicated discount store shopper, this won’t really surprise you. I love a good bargain, so I always check for sales and comparison shop and do all of those other things that previously, a lot of people saw as a waste of time, but with the economy being what it is, are now seen as essential for surviving.

It’s back-to-school shopping season and what a difference a year has made. Look at this:

• 2007 - 74% of households shopped at discount stores for back-to-school supplies
• 2008 - 90% of households shopped/plan to shop at discount stores
• 2007 - 11% of consumers who said they’d buy school products at full price
• 2008 - 1.5% of consumers who say they’ll buy products at full price

 This is a major shopping season for retailers, second only to Christmas in terms of spending. When you consider that consumer spending accounts for about 70% of economic activity, it’s easy to see how the way we spend (or don’t spend) money affects the economy.

Still, people are trying to save where they can and spending will probably be down about 2% this year for back-to-school shoppers. To help you save even more on all of the various supplies your kids will need, try these retailers for the best bargains:

1. Walmart - Their advertising may not be as slick, but what they save in ad dollars, they pass on to consumers. Now is a great time to shop because school supplies are heavily discounted. Plus, because many of the stores are open around the clock, you can shop at whatever hour is most convenient for you.

2. Target - Cute ads and better customer service add up to higher prices. Still, now’s a good time to shop because Target is trying to compete with other retailers in the back-to-school market. As with Walmart, you’ll find items like glue sticks, rulers, pencils, crayons, markers, etc. cheap.

3. Office Max - The prices here tend to be higher, but with the bag insert in many Sunday newspapers, you can save 15% off whatever you can fit in the bag. Plus, they’re running a penny promotion now, so you can pick up some items and get a second item for $.01.

Take your child’s school supply list with you and mark off items as you get them. There is really no point in trying to shop without that list — you’ll probably overspend or pick up the wrong items. Walmart and Target stores tend to have a school shopping area set up, so make a beeline for that special spot and stick to your list. If you can, buy a little more than what you need because that same pack of pencils that costs $.50 today will be $2.00 in two months time.