School Supplies - Dallas,TX

I buy the binders as listed but extra for everything else. So much "disappears" or is "borrowed" that one pack of pencils or pens is not enough. I have also found that a pack of markers does not last all year. I have gone to the store but the prices this year are almost double what I have paid in the past. I plan to shop some of the items (markers and colored pencils especially) online for better deals. I have 3 13-yr olds to buy for so they have more specific needs. This year they need a specific (geez-mind freeze-what do you call that thing to save from a computer). Sandisk is not compatible but they don't say what the requirements are for their system. I will be buying that on line.

My son is going into 1st grade. Last year for kindergarten, I bought through the school. This years pack was $75. I decided to shop on my own to see the difference of buying from last year. I bought everything at Target on sale, including Kleenexs, baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer (all required) plus the school supplies for $35. I doubt if I ever buy the pack again realizing how much money I saved and the fact it was all at one store. If I had to go to a lot of stores, I probably wouldn't do it.

I bought everything on the list at target and walmart, andprobably only spent like 25 dollars, not including her backpack. The school offers a buundle but its almost $50 and seems likea waste of money to me, when I can get everything she needs for half the price. I am slightly irritated that the school list is getting a little ridiculous with items like copy paper and red grading pens. Also her list said she needed 48 pencils which I thought was a little over the top. I figured if she happens to need more I can get them later.

For our daughter, going into 1st, we bought the 'package deal' at the end of LAST year. It was offered and will be waiting on her desk the first day school. For the boy, going into 7th, the list is so item specific what we just wait until school starts.

I can usually find all the school supplies that my GD needs at our local dollar store. Can't beat that price!

I just spent about $80 for both my kids 3rd & 7th grades. I went to Target, Walgreens and Office Depot I buy what they need and extras of markers, crayons, pencils, pocket folder (only if they are 1 cent), glue sticks and colored pencils. I usually stick with the store brand for pencils, folders, paper. Markers, crayons, and colored pencils are always Crayola

We do exactly what Jim does.

For our 3rd grader, we order the package from the PTA at the end of the year, and it will be waiting for him when he returns to school. It was $54.

For our 9th grader, we wait until school starts and get the lists from each teacher. Then we get what he needs. In high school they don't need nearly as much. On the first day we send him with paper, a few folders, pens, pencils, and his binder, and he's good to go. Each teacher will add a few extra specific things.

My boys don't care at all about buying supplies, but I am a high school teacher, and I spend a fortune on things I want/need. I LOVE buying MY back to school items! :)

Usually Target has a pretty good back to school sale (Crayola's for .25, markers for .50) so I try and go to that. I think I spend about $7 on each kid for their school supplies. Pencils, pens, glue, crayons, markers, folders ect. They are using backpacks from last year! gasp.
I haven't looked at this school years list yet. Maybe I should?
L.
Yup, $7. My kids are only in 4th and 1st grade, so last year I just had to buy one 3 ring binder. I did get online after I answered this though and it looks like it will be a bit more since I have to buy some kind of computer thing for my older son. Looking closer to $20 for him. Still will get $7 for my younger!

Every school is different so don't go shopping until you find out exactly what you need. Our kids got their lists the day before school started and were asked to have everything brought to school within a week or so. We always went to Office Depot because they gave 10% back to our school. The parent's club also offered pre purchased and bagged supplies by grade for parents who didn't want to do the shopping. In elementary school we spent about $30 per kid :)

Couldn't say as I would get a lot of items at the end of the school year when they were on sale at Walmart and other places. So when the school year rolled around I did not have to get much of anything except maybe a backpack.

I have an in home office so I was always finding things for it that could be used for school and have markers, posterboard, crayons and such throughout the house.

Basically get what you can afford and fill in as you go.

In the days of the covered wagons, I remember going to school and all this was supplied right down to the big jug of peppermint tasting paste.

I would probably hold some of the items back and give them out after the Christmas break for the spring session.

The other S.

We are going to a new school this year (different school zone), starting 1st grade. I buy a lot of stuff when I find it on sale throughout the year. Anything I think she might need for school. Crayons, pencils, markers, paper, notebooks, etc. I check Walgreens, Kroger, Office Depot, Staples...anybody having a sale on that stuff, especially during "back to school" time!

I can't say how much I have spent though, since it was broken up over several months.

I think our new school does offer the supply kits, but I only see a mention of the name at the top of our supply list. I was never given any information about ordering :(

I buy the supply packs the PTA sells at the end of the year. Costs $30-$45 per pack depending on grade. I spent $80 for my K and 3rd graders. Easy and I know they have exactly what the teacher requested.

$7. Really?

One notebook alone for my son cost $3 and he needed 3 of them last year.
I ususally shop in store. There are certain sales that are in-store only. We have a Target, Walmart and TRU all within one block from each other, and I pass them M-F during my commute, so I just stop by and pick a few things up at a time depending on the sales.

Ususally i end up spending $30 -50 dollars per kid, not including backpack.

I also usually by extras of crayons, pencils and glue sticks. The teachers usually ask for more donations around Christmas.

I posted a question on this topic about a couple weeks ago.

My son's school (public) sent two lists to parents. The first list of supplies was available to be purchased as a discounted package online (discount from what I believe it would cost retail, average), the second (think backpack, water bottles, watercolor paper, etc.) would have to be purchased separately.

Because it's his kinder year, we are looking at spending probably $130 or so with new backpack, etc. The nice thing is that first grade apparently costs nothing in supplies. Which reminds me-- time to look online for backpacks!

It's too bad they don't need extra scissors and the like on my son's list-- being a preschool teacher, I have loads of extras of those sorts of things!

I buy during the back to school sales. I also buy extra.

I also buy some "school supplies" for Christmas presents. 24 cents for a box of 24 crayons is a great deal on a stocking stuffer.

I also buy office supplies, such as copy paper and tape and post-it notes and get a much better deal at "back to school" sales than at any other time of year.

Good luck to you and yours.

I bought in the store for my soon to be kindergartner. I spent around $50.00 for markers, crayons, pencils, folders, lunch box, pencil box, tissues, storage bags, nap mat, highlighters, erasers, scissors, glue, etc. I took her with me so she could decide what colors of things she wanted. She had fun.

I pretty much followed the list but ended up with a few extra things (like a package of 4 dry erase markers when I only need to provide 2..things like that).

Our school does not offer a package but I think the local middle and high schools do.

I expect that the price will stay about the same throughout the school years until she reaches middle school.

I always buy them at the store, and always take advantage of the sale prices and pick up extras. I usually make a donation or two and I have an old child's size dresser in my basement that's filled with office/school supplies.

I have no idea how much I spend.

I just buy them as I see them at Target or Walmart. It's broken up, so I don't know how much I spend. I don't buy double - just what they asked for. If they ask for extra stuff during the year I always try and pitch in.

i always got more then what i needed, a few extra notebooks and an extra pack of pens and penciles and a few extra folders and 3 irng binders and such. for little kids (under 5th grade) a couple extra packs of crayons, extra markers, extra siccors, extra glue sticks, and extra pencil holder, and a few boxes of penciles

I just love school supply shopping! Yes, our school does offer a supply pack that I don't buy.

I like taking the kids, with their list, to the Target or whatever and getting it all together. For my 1st grader, it was about $40 for the supplies. Not backpack, lunchbox or clothes. For my preschooler, it was closer to $25.

Today we are going for clothes :)

Normally I buy them in the store. a few years ago the school had something that you could order from them but the last few years they have not done that which makes me sad.

I shop in store. School doesn't supply a pack. However, local grocery stores provide a pack. So far I've spent $12 but have $6 rebate on the way. There isn't a list for the elementary school and my preschooler just uses crayons, pencils and a folder we already had. The priciest supplies come later in the school year for projects. This year I'm not buying all the cute glittery items that catch my daughter's eye. Instead we'll use supplies from previous years and just buy what is needed.

We go in store always...the kids enjoy it. We always go home and pack their bags immediately too, because we bring the supplies to Open House so they aren't lugging them on the bus the first day.

We also always get double, basically. We get the same supplies they need at school for home, assuming they will need them for homework and other projects the like to do. Plus it's normally all cheap enough.