Back-to-School Shopping Money Savers

Shopping for all of the school essentials can be a costly affair... or not! The following tips are bound to help you keep more money in your pocket during the all too tempting "back-to-school shopping season":

Take advantage of the sales, even before the school year begins. Purchase, in advance, the items you can assume will be on your kids' school supply list.
Before you go shopping, search the house for items that you already have, then cross them off the list (emphatically)!
Look in the circulars for the most rock bottom store promotions, then go on a "back-to-school circuit hunt" hitting several stores close enough in proximity to not lose the savings in gas! Consider sharing the frenzy with your friends, buying in bulk, then divvying it all up at a meeting place.
Compare prices with big box stores, and you might be surprised (either way).
Stock up on the steals meant to lure you in: 12 cent boxes of crayons, 10 cent folders, and under a dollar packs of pencils or markers. Certain prices are extremely reduced and worth the small investment to stock up (and make great filler gifts/party prizes, etc.).
Buy extras of the items that will likely lose life halfway through the year (like binders, white-out, glue sticks).
Consider shopping at swap meets, dollar stores or swap meets. Often the items are of the same quality, if not the same products as typical retail shops.
Remember clothes don't have to be on the list! What's "cool" at the end of the summer might not be the "in thing" two months later (and the prices will go down soon enough).
Stick to the list (meaning don't be tempted by the scented pencil cases), and do most of this "essential" shopping without your kids!