Deals To Help Get Your Kids Back To School

School is just around the corner, and if you haven't started your back-to-school shopping yet, do not fret — you're not alone. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, "31.2 percent of back-to-school shoppers will start their shopping during the two weeks before school starts." 

The National Retail Federation contracts with professional survey companies to compile data on our, the consumers, shopping behaviors and then provide this data to retailers nationwide. With this knowledge in hand, retailers plan their “sales” to maximize profits. 

Therefore, if we take into account the back-to-school sales that we saw during July (when more than 40 percent of shoppers were expected to start their annual shopping excursions) then we can deduce that we will see more advertised sales in the upcoming weeks.

As always, remember to check with the merchant for additional details.

Frugal finds to help your bottom line:

1. Old Navy   

Deal: Receive a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase. Go to this Facebook link to get your coupon.

Valid: Through August 18, 2011.

2. Target

Deal: Target web coupons for Crayola items, Elmer's glue sticks, expo dry-erase markers, and more at this link. 

Valid: Dates vary – you must print the coupons to see their expiration dates.

3. Walmart

Deal: Plenty of school supplies are discounted in store this week. Elmer’s glue sticks, Crayola crayons and colored pencils starting at 40 cents a package and two-pocket folders (various configurations) are as low as 15 cents each. Additionally, Walmart provides coupons for in-store use at this link.

Valid: until further notice

Frugal tips to further your savings:

When shopping at Walmart, don't forget to bring competitor's advertisements with you. This year Walmart has amped up its marketing of “matching competitor's ads.” I recently saw, in one Walmart, that they had replaced their standard price signs with signs that said only, "We will match competitor’s price.” See Walmart price-match policy here.

Additionally, remember that Target allows use of one of its web coupons and one manufacturer’s coupon. See Target coupon policy here.

Coupon deals for more back-to-school savings:

Crayola Dry-Erase products: find two coupons at this Facebook link.

Pilot pens: get a $1 off coupon for “B2P, the world’s first pen made from recycled bottles.” Here is the link to have your coupon immediately emailed to you.

3M & Scotch products: get a free sample and coupons for Post-it note products. Just use this link to sign up for a free sample and/or download a single-page PDF of seven coupons. Use this link to get coupons for Scotch products.

Bic pens: for a chance to “win” a Bic pen, you must use this link (ends Aug. 30, 2011). If you are not lucky enough to snag a free pen, there is also a $1 off coupon for any Bic Ball pen — just scroll down the page. (Facebook)