10 Tips For Saving Money During The Back-To-School Season

1. Subscribe to office supply store newsletters for exclusive coupons, sales notifications & special offers.

2. Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk for items that are commonly used can help you save a good deal of money over time. This is especially good for things like get used up like crazy: pens, notebook paper, binders, etc.

3. Stock up year round. The best back to school bargains may not come during the back to school season (though they often do) so stock up whenever the best offers come along.

4. Don't be afraid of hand-me-downs. Many backpacks and book bags are extremely durable so they can be used for years and years. Purchase durable bags to get the most bang for your buck. If it comes time for dreaded hand-me-downs, use fun pins or patches to customize the bag for its new owner.

5. Know the resources available to you. The one thing I went through my entire school career wanting but never buying was a laptop. My school offered computer usage and printing sometimes even in the middle of the night so that I didn't have to carry around a laptop with me. Hooray to saving myself some cash money and hello extra money in my pocket!

6. Check money savings forums and blogs for the best deals. Check up with money savings forums or blogs every once in awhile to find the best available promotions. You will be surprised with all the great deals going on at any given time.

7. Search for coupon codes online before hitting "buy"! Use Google or any other internet search site to find coupon codes that can be redeemed online or in stores. Just search the name of the store along with the words "coupon" or "code" to find these money saving offers.

8. Quality over price. I remember the time I bought super cheap pens only to find out that they were all dried out, bummertown. As the saying goes, sometimes deals that are too good to be true just might be. Purchase quality items and make sure your good deals are legit.

9. Don't purchase on impulse. Good things come to those who wait, so monitor prices over time (especially for big ticket items) so that you know when a good offer comes along.

10. Don't be afraid of old tech. Older technology becomes more affordable over time so you need not feel that you must have the newest gadget now. True fact, I didn't even own a cell phone until last year and spend $80 a year on the one I do have.

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