12 Back to School Sales and Tips Teachers Use to Save Money

Don't always accept the price you see. "Staples matches any competitors' prices, plus gives customers an additional 10% off the difference between the Staples price and the competitor price at time of purchase." — Melissa Taylor, former elementary school teacher and literacy trainer; Imagination Soup

"When it comes to items your kids will use all year round, like backpacks, it pays to invest in quality. Think about price for longevity and factor that into your cost comparison. You can find a great deal for about $40 by doing a quick search on sites like RetailMeNot to find promo codes. — Diana Mancuso, elementary French teacher, Toronto, Canada; Toronto Teacher Mom

"Convince your kids to hold on to last year's backpacks or lunch boxes, even if they're looking a little worn , until a week or so after school has started. Then you'll be able to pick up quality school gear for a fraction of the usual cost." — Kaitlin Bartholomew, former teacher, Richmond, Virginia; YourTeachersAide.blogspot.com

"When teachers retire, they're often looking to get rid of educational items that they've gathered over the years. To find supplies, go to the 'for sale' section of CraigsList and type in 'teacher.' I've gotten posters, games, and dictionaries, all for a dollar or less." — Janelle Gondar, substitute teacher, New Haven, Connecticut

"Make sure to put tax-free days on your calendar. In Florida, where I teach, there are three days in August when all items bought for back-to-school are tax-free." — Betty Baez, kindergarten teacher, West Palm Beach, Florida

Don't just shop for classroom essentials. "While things are on sale and handy, stock up on glue sticks, markers, paper, sticky notes, and pencils." — Melissa Taylor, former elementary school teacher and literacy trainer; Imagination Soup

"You'll get the best bargains at a store, not through your child's school. Join forces with other parents to buy big batches of printer paper, crayons, and folders from warehouse clubs like BJ's or Costco. Organize an outing through email or with a website like volunteerspot.com. I've done this and saved hundreds of dollars." — Betty Baez

"If you coupon, let your coworkers know. A lot of people don't, and they're happy to pass their extras along to you. Plus, the more coupons I accumulate, the more items I can donate to my school and church." — Megan Genz, early childhood special education teacher, Waconia, Minnesota

"When you're looking for school supplies, download retailers' apps for bonus deals. The Cartwheel by Target app, for instance, offers 5% to 30% discounts off. You can use this discount in addition to regular coupons and the REDcard loyalty card." — Haley Wolgamot, 2nd-grade teacher, Altavista, Virginia

"Parents who buy their kids cell phones may not know that some wireless providers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others offer monthly discounts of up to 20% based on employment or affiliation with an organization like AAA or certain credit unions." — Richard Platt, teacher educator, Willoughby, Ohio

"I save a lot of money using my credit cards' cash-back feature. The highest-reward categories change every few months, so I set a reminder to check current offers. That way, I can get the most for my money." — Janelle Gondar

"In the fall, my printer goes into overdrive — and ink cartridges are expensive! To save money, replace them only when they streak (to extend the lifespan of a cartridge, remove it from the printer, shake it and put it back in). During times when you don't use your printer much — like during Christmas break — take out the cartridge and put clear tape over the ink holes on the bottom to make it last longer." — Vicki Davis, 8th- to 12th-grade teacher, Camilla, Georgia