Aug 20, 2009 4:00 pm US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: Deals On Back To School Supplies
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The lazy days of summer are winding down and it's almost time for the kids to head back to school.
Your Money Team knows that many families are on a tighter budget this year. So you may need to shop smarter as you stock up on supplies. So 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan looked around to find some of the biggest savings.
Back to school shopping season is officially underway and parents know it can be an expensive time of year. But people like Heather McCloskey are trying to trim those costs.
"We're on a tight budget like everybody else," said Heather.
As consumers limit their spending, it's likely retailers will pay the price. An industry group, the National Retail Federation, expects the average family with school age children to spend nearly eight percent less this year.
Renee Ibrahiam plans to curb her spending, buying only what her son really needs.
"I'm just trying to get whatever I find on the list and like if there's a store, generic brands, I would get that," said Ibrahiam.
So retailers are hoping to lure shoppers by offering deep discounts.
At Office Max, it's back to school for pennies.
Colored pencils for 99 cents or crayons for just one cent.
And don't forget to bring the brown bag you may have gotten in this week's paper.
Through Saturday, you'll get 20 percent off of anything you can fit in it.
With a family of six, Jessica Howell knows how important it is to shop around.
"We went to several different places, we looked at different savings from different companies and this is our last stop," said Howell.
At Wal-Mart, you'll find things like Elmer's glue for 25 cents each or 15 cent folders.
And this bundle of back to school supplies, with everything from the pencil case, ruler, scissors and more, is just $9 through Labor Day.
And don't forget your local drug store. Shop online at CVS now through Monday and spend $65 or more and you'll get $15 off, plus free shipping.
No matter where they're shopping, this year, most families agree, "We're trying to save money," said McCloskey.
And this might sound obvious, but before you head to the store, look around your house. You might have some of those school supplies lying around from last year.
RELATED LINKS:
www.officemax.com
www.walmart.com
www.cvs.com
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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