Back-to-school prep may feels a bit daunting, but we’re here to help! If you need new school supplies, children’s clothing, electronics and more to start the school year off right. (Tip: See if your state is offering a back-to-school tax-free shopping weekend this year to help your wallet).
The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates consumers are expected to spend record amounts for both back-to-school and back-to-college shopping this year. Back-to-school spending is expected to reach an unparalleled $41.5 billion, up from $36.9 billion last year and the previous high of $37.1 billion in 2021. Back-to-college spending is expected to hit $94 billion, about $20 billion more than last year’s record. Wow!
Top categories of projective categories include electronics ($15B), clothing ($12B) and shoes ($8B), According to their research, families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $890.07 on back-to-school items this year, approximately $25 more than last year’s record of $864.35 and a new high.
College students and their families are expected to spend an average of $1,366.95 per person, up from $1,199.43 last year, and a new record from the previous record of $1,200.32 in 2021. Since 2019, back-to-college spending has nearly doubled. Thank you to the NRF for doing their thorough research!
With that being said, that’s why we’re here to help you save and maximize your dollar!
Parent & Teacher Resources for the 2023 Back-to-School Year
To get some insights into what school supply lists even look like this year, we reached out to TeacherLists, a great free resource that empowers parents and teachers to easily share and access school supply lists. “As the season has gone along, we are now seeing more supply lists specifically for kids who will be learning from home,” says Dyanne Griffin of TeacherLists. “The items on the lists are mostly the same as a traditional list for students heading back to a classroom, but we are seeing some differences.”
Related: Score Apple’s Back-to-School Offers for 2023
Here are some of the ways Dyanne says the back-to-school lists schools and districts are sharing have changed for the past few years:
- Schools and districts are publishing lists for students in the classroom as well as students learning remotely. Here is an example of one district’s lists.
- The most-popular items continue to be notebooks, pocket folders, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, markers, filler paper, pencils, colored pencils, dry erase markers, highlighters, erasers, pens and sticky notes. But TeacherLists is seeing more requests for these items because students can’t share supplies. “Whereas before they may have had a bucket of dry erase markers a group of students would share, now each child must have their own supplies,” Dyanne says.
- There’s an increase in hygiene and cleaning items to help ensure a healthy classroom. Facial tissues, hand wipes, disinfecting wipes and more PPE products (like face masks) are also popular on the in-school lists.
Retailers Offering Back-to-School Deals
To help you easily prepare, I’ve rounded up a list of the best deals on back-to-school shopping from retailers we love.
Academy Sports + Outdoors: Find deals on apparel, school supplies, backpacks, tech and more throughout the back-to-school shopping season..
Featured deal: Get kids’ athletic shoes from $44.99, kids’ clothing from $4.99, uniforms starting at $7.99, graphic tees from $9.99, backpacks from $24.99, football cleats from $44.99 and lots more. Plus, Academy Sports + Outdoors is giving back to teachers and school employees by offering exclusive discounts.
Amazon: Deals on school supplies, disinfecting wipes, calculators, backpacks, lunch boxes, headphones, laptops, AirPods and lots more.
Featured deal: Amazon Prime Student gives college students free two-day shipping on millions of items, referral bonuses, unlimited photo storage, discounts on newly released video games and other special offers. After a six-month free trial, it’s just $49 a year—half the price of a regular Amazon Prime membership—including unlimited streaming of movies, TV, and music with Prime Video and Prime Music and more.
Plus, Prime members can get 20% off $50 of school supplies and everyday essentials for a limited time.
American Eagle: Stock up on women’s and men’s tops, bottoms, shoes and accessories.
Featured deal: Get an extra 30% off, 20% off or 10% off your purchase with their “mystery deal” offer for AE Members. Plus, get 40% off jeans and shorts for back-to-school.
Apple: Deals on laptops, accessories, gift cards and AppleCare+.
Featured deal: Students can buy a Mac laptop – MacBook Air (from $899), the MacBrook Pro (from $1,849) or the iMac 24-inch (from $1,249) – and get a $150 Apple gift card and 20% off AppleCare+.
Belk: From stylish outfits for teachers and kids of all ages to the hottest backpacks and accessories, Belk provides students with a one-stop for all things fall fashion.
Featured deal: From July 31 to Aug. 6, the retailer will be hosting a back-to-school sale, with deals including kids fashion starting at $5.99, 40% off kids activewear, kids uniforms starting at $8.99, backpacks starting at $12.99 and up to 60% off kids’ shoes.
Best Buy: Deals on laptops, tablets, headphones and more top deals on electronics for students. Also, My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members get exclusive deals!
Featured deal: Get discounts on laptops, headphones, computers, TVs, projectors, controllers, massage guns and more.
Big Lots: They have modified their store space to include a “back-to-campus center,” where students and families can find deals on everything needed for their dorm room or apartment, including furniture, décor, bedding, food and snacks, laundry and cleaning products, beauty and personal care items, school supplies and more.
Featured deal: During their biggest Clearance Event of the Year you can get up to 60% off 1,000s of items in-store and online.
BJ’s: Start the school year right with BJ’s Wholesale Club Check all the back-to-school supplies off your list at BJ’s, your local one-stop shop for back to school shopping. They are offering deals on electronics, furniture, clothing, food, campus basics, laundry supplies and more.
Featured deal: Get up to $80 off dorm room furniture, like desk chairs and desks, and deals on TVs.
Buffy: Refresh your bed with a new comforter, sheets and lots more from Buffy. Perfect for outfitting a dorm room or off-campus apartment!
Featured deal: Save up to 20% off sitewide during their Summer sale.
Carter’s: They are offering many deals on children’s clothes, shoes, school supplies, fun backpacks and more.
Featured deal: You can score up to 60% off dresses, active, tops, bottoms and more. Plus, they are offering spotlight deals on deals for him and her.
The Children’s Place: Leading children’s apparel brand The Children’s Place has uniforms for boys and girls to get them looking their best for the first day of school. From long sleeve and short sleeve polos, slacks, shorts, skorts, cardigans and more, The Children’s Place has uniforms in every color you can imagine.
Featured deal: Their entire site is up to 75% off for back-to-school shopping, and an extra 20% off with code. You can get graphic tees for just $3.99 and more great deals.
The Container Store: Shop everything you need to get the home, or dorm room, organized, like shoe storage, carts, baskets and more storage.
Featured deal: Get 25% off everything for your dorm, apartment or small space. Just text CLASS to 22922 to save on college essentials.
CVS: CVS is kicking off the school year with a brand-new line up of the latest and trendiest products to prep for school days ahead. CVS is continuing to expand their mission of delivering healthy skin options that are accessible for everyone!
Featured deal: They are offering many deals, like a buy one, get one deal on CVS health vitamins.
Essentia: They are the world’s only natural memory foam mattress that are all certified in their organic factory. They’ve been rated the top foam mattress by consumer reports seven years in a row!
Featured deal: You can get 20% off lifestyle mattresses and 22% off performance mattresses right now.
Eyemart Express: This eyewear company is here to help all teachers and school employees save money this school year. All year long they give teachers a 20% discount on all prescription eyewear. The savings can be used on more than 2,000 frames, lens upgrades and accessories. The offer also extends to school administrators and school district employees such as janitors, counselors and bus drivers. Simply present a valid school ID badge to take advantage of these savings.
Featured deal: They are offering two for $79 glasses to help get kids back to class!
GNC: Get ready for school with their latest health products including protein powders, smart bars, workout powder and superfruit gummies.
Featured deal: They are offering a buy on, get one 50% off shakes, vitamins, powders and more. Plus, free shipping!
HP: They’re offering deep discounts on laptops, monitors, printers and more tech.
Featured deal: Save up to 66% off hot summer deals and an extra 20% off HP, HyperX and Poly accessories. Plus, free shipping sitewide! Check out their back-to-school guide.
JCPenney: Deals on kids clothing, backpacks, school uniforms, dorm essentials, school supplies, shoes and more.
Featured deal: During their Black Friday in July event, you can get up to 60% off select styles for back-to-school, including apparel, home items, shoes and lots more.
Kmart: Deals on kids’ shoes, school uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, electronics, headphones and more.
Featured deal: Save up to 73% on tablets and iPads for a successful school year!
Kohl’s: Deals on kids’ clothing, shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, school uniforms and more.
Featured deal: Get up to 25% off socks and underwear for kids, up to 50% off uniforms, up to 50% off backpacks and up to 65% off kids’ clearance.
Lenovo: Score deals on laptops, PCs, desktops and towers, Chromebooks, headphones, Intel Core products and smart devices.
Featured deal: Teachers and students can save up to an extra 50% off PCs and top tech. Pus, get cash back!
Macy’s: They are offering deals on kids’ clothing, backpacks, shoes, bedding, school uniforms, beauty, college essentials and more.
Featured Deal: Take up to 70% off select clearance styles. Plus, get cash back with RetailMeNot!
Madewell: Take 15% off sitewide for college students and teachers. That includes all their awesome pants, shirts, dresses, jumpsuits and more.
Featured Deal: They are offering 25% off your purchase during their sale right now. Plus, get cash back with RetailMeNot!
Nike: Shop sneakers, athleisure, clothing and more.
Featured Deal: In their Back-to-School collection and in their sale section, Nike is offering deals – like up to 40% off – on select products.
Office Depot & OfficeMax: You can get up to 60% off on Office Depot’s best-selling school supplies, including deals on backpacks and additional in-store savings for teachers with a free Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards membership.
Those who shop all year-round can also give back to a school of their choice through Office Depot’s Give Back to Schools program. Shoppers can provide the name or ID number of the school of their choice at checkout (in-store or online) and their designated school will receive 5% back in credits for free supplies. Check out Office Depot’s Back to School Shopping Headquarters for helpful shopping tips.
Featured Deal: Save over 40% off on office chairs and select furniture, plus get up to $200 off on select tech.
Old Navy: You can find lots of deals on kids’ jeans, clothing, shirts, socks and more.
Featured deal: They’re offering up to 75% off clearance items and fashion deals from just $2.99!
Overstock: So many deals on rugs, home decor, furniture, art and more. Perfect for outfitting a dorm room!
Featured Deal: Overstock’s Huge Back-to-Campus Savings sale they are offering bedding from $20, storage from $16, wall decor from $9 and study space essentials from $50.
Samsung: Teachers, students and parents can get a $50 credit through the Samsung Education Offers Program.
Featured deal: Save up to $1,000 on select Samsung TVs and up to $400 off sound towers – perfect for getting the dorm party started!
Staples: Let’s go “save on, school on” with Staples! They are offering deals on school supplies for under a dollar. So many deals!
Featured deal: Get select school supplies as low as 40 cents – everything you need for back-to-school.
Target: Deals on school supplies, furniture, electronics, clothing, backpacks and more.
Featured deal: Teachers and school staff can get 20% off with Target Circle. Plus, get school supplies starting at just 25 cents, backpacks from $20, water bottles from $6.99, uniforms starting at $6 and lots more!
Walmart: Deals on school supplies for all ages, electronics, teacher supplies, clothing, shoes and more.
Featured deal: With RetailMeNot you can get cash back on select back-to-school purchases. They are also offering lots of deals on everything from dorm bedding essentials and school supplies to back-to-school tech!
Wayfair: Get all your home decor, furniture and everything needed for a comfortable dorm room.
Featured deal: Get discounts on college essentials like storage, bedding and organization items, such as up to 50% off rugs, furniture and decor.
Woot!: Find deals on electronics, backpacks, computers, sports gear, apparel, grocery and lots more.
Featured deal: They are offering great deals on laptops right now!
The post The Best Back-to-School Sales, Period appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
