Back-to-School Savings that Make the Varsity Cut

Written on August 24, 2010 – 8:25 pm | by Brayden Sani

It’s time to hit the school books again for America’s youth. Only this September, there’s a tougher economics lesson on the chalk board: How to manage the tighter budgets of today’s chilly financial climate. Between pens and notebooks, backpacks and electronics and back-to-school clothing, the average family is expected to spend $606 per student this year according to the National Retail Federation. That’s a higher number compared to last year’s average of $549, even though the economic indicators have flat-lined.

This year’s economics homework is all about supply and demand. So here’s your Answer Guide for how to supply your students with the gear they’ll need and demand more for every dollar.

The Three R’s of Cyber-Coupons: Reductions, Rollbacks and Rebates

To leverage more buying power from national brand names, this year’s coupons are cut out to save you “scholar dollars.” No actual scissors are necessary for these cost-cutters. Just print and go!

Savings.com offers discounts across the (vulletin) board. Start your savings at their Back-to-School page link.

Educationalwarehouse.com is where the teachers shop for its learning tools and games—everything from puzzles and puppets to software and stickers. Classroomdirect.com has great prices on over 10,000 products and a clearance corner offering even deeper discounts.

RetailMeNot combines one of the Web’s top destinations for “coupon codes” you can when checking out, to a community of savvy shoppers to advise you on tips and greater deal info from other sites. You also can have the week’s most-popular coupons e-mailed to you. We link direct to the back-to-school section.

CouponWinner.com has nearly 20,000 coupons from about 9,000 retailers. The site’s Coupon Scout tool lets you compare coupons from up to five retailers. Click on a category, such as women’s apparel, and the Coupon Scout tool will compare your savings.

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