July 29, 2026

Back to School: Supply Hacks, Smart Tips, and the Best Deals Right Now

It happens every summer like clockwork. The kids aren’t even back yet and somehow you’re already staring down a supply list that seems longer than last year’s, prices that feel higher than they should be, and the nagging sense that you’re going to end up at Target three separate times anyway. Sound familiar?

Good news: back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to hurt. With the right timing, a little strategy, and a few hacks worth knowing, you can check every box without blowing the budget. Here’s how to do it.

Shop Your Home First

Shop Your Home First

Before you hit the stores, do a quick sweep of what you already have. Leftover supplies from last year have a way of hiding in backpacks, desk drawers, and the bottom of the junk drawer. Round them up, take stock, and then shop the list for what’s missing. You’ll spend less, buy smarter, and avoid ending up with a sixth pair of scissors. The same goes for backpacks: a quick wash and a new keychain can make last year’s bag feel brand new. That’s real money saved before you even leave the house.

Time It Right

Here’s the counterintuitive truth about back-to-school shopping: the best prices hit in mid-to-late July, not in August right before school starts. Once everyone is shopping at once, prices start creeping back up. If you can shop now, shop now.

Walmart is currently offering its lowest prices on popular school supplies since 2019 — some items starting at just 25 cents. And you can plug in your school name to get the grade-by-grade school list of essentials.

Target’s back-to-school sale runs through early August with 95% of supply prices at or below last year’s, and pens, pencils, and notebooks available for under a dollar. The store on S. Twenty Mile Rd., in Parker, has back-to-school deals on calculators, printers, and backpacks, too. 

Go Generic on the Basics

Branded notebooks, folders, and pencils are not meaningfully better than the generic versions. Skip the hype, go generic on the basics, and save the budget for the things that actually matter — a good backpack, a quality water bottle, and whatever tech your kids need this year. The Krazy Coupon Lady’s back-to-school tracker monitors weekly prices at Walmart, Target, Staples, and Office Depot so you can compare without driving all over town.

Stack Your Savings

A few apps and tricks worth having in your back pocket this season:

Fetch Rewards lets you snap receipts from any store and earn points toward free gift cards — which means every supply run is quietly working in your favor whether you remembered to clip coupons or not.

Ibotta offers cash-back rebates on school supplies at most major retailers. Combine it with Walmart’s already-low prices and you’re stacking savings on top of savings.

Don’t Forget Tech

Classrooms are blending traditional supplies with more tech accessories than ever in 2026. If a laptop, tablet, or calculator is on your list, Consumer Reports has tracked down some of the best current offers. Buy tech stuff sooner rather than later, because those deals move fast.

A Fresh Start in a New Community

There’s something fitting about back-to-school season in a brand-new neighborhood. New routines, new classrooms, new supplies — and at Looking Glass, new homes that give your family the space to grow into all of it. With five community parks, 22-plus miles of trails, and a zero-entry pool opening this summer, there’s plenty of room for the good stuff that happens after the school day ends. Schedule a tour with one of the builders – Richmond American or Dream Finders Homes, and see what’s waiting for you! With homes starting in the $500s, there’s a new home that’s a perfect fit for your family in Parker.