Shopping for school in the U.S.? By July, it’s a madhouse. You can trust me on this. Stores start teasing deals as early as June, but July and August are when things really get crazy and the prices are at their best. That’s when parents are snatching up notebooks like they’re gold and college students are looking for cheap bedding and microwaves so they don’t have to sleep on a bare mattress.
This year? Same thing. Late June through August, you’ll find deals everywhere: clothes, folders, laptops, you name it. Retailers prefer to tie their sales to any summer event they can. What is Prime Day? Amazon basically turned backpacks and headphones into doorbusters. Walmart? They went wild in July, as usual. So, if you want to dodge the rush and get the greatest discounts, just remember that July and August are your best chances. Don’t snooze on it, or you’ll be stuck paying full price for a three-ring binder. And nobody wants that.
Major Retailers and Sale Timelines
Walmart: Walmart goes wild with back-to-school sales every July. 2024’s major blowout ran July 8–11, but honestly, it feels like there’s always some “Rollback” sticker glaring you down. You’ll find notebooks, lunchboxes, and kids’ tees priced down throughout summer. Plus, they love to price-match, so if Target or Amazon attempts to show off, Walmart’s like, “Hold my shopping cart.”
Target: Target’s back-to-school game ramps up in July. For 2024, their “Circle Week” (July 7–13) provided out 30% discount on uniforms and backpacks to loyalty members. Missed that? No worries. Target keeps the party continuing with weekly ads, knocking down prices on pencils, trousers, and even headphones through August. They’ll even drop prices on gadgets like calculators and tablets, so you can score a discount while pretending you’re *not* just there for the Starbucks.
Amazon: Ah, Prime Day, the Super Bowl for online bargain hunters (July 16–17 this year). Amazon didn’t hold back: dirt-cheap backpacks, name-brand water bottles, and of course laptops and iPads. Their Back-to-School sales website goes up in late June with offers flowing in throughout summer, but Prime Day is the big jackpot. If you’re eyeing Apple gear or a Stanley bottle, this is your moment.
Best Buy: If you’re shopping tech, Best Buy’s got your back. From late July into August, they dropped prices on laptops, Chromebooks, headphones, and printers. No single “it” week here; it’s more of a gradual trickle of discounts. If you need a student laptop or a sophisticated calculator, late July is usually the sweet spot.
Staples: Staples spreads out the red carpet for penny-pinchers from June through August. Seriously, you’ll find folders and glue sticks for a quarter, maybe a $1. In 2024, supplies under $1 were ubiquitous. Printers, ink, and desk chairs were also on offer for the bigger youngsters. Check their weekly advertising and maybe sign up for Staples Rewards if you appreciate coupons as much as office supplies.
Office Depot/OfficeMax: These two jump in with sales by late June. In 2024, they were flexing with up to 60% off on necessities like binders and crayons by mid-July. They’ve got teacher awards, coupons, and weekly ad deals if you’re into the excitement of the hunt.
Kohl’s: Kohl’s is virtually the headquarters for kids’ apparel and school sneakers. Early July offered “Summer Cyber Deals” (July 8–11) with double Kohl’s Cash, and they kept tossing away $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you purchased throughout summer. Expect 30–50% savings on names like Nike and Adidas, plus uniforms and backpacks.
Old Navy (Gap Inc.): Old Navy’s back-to-school blowout is mid-July to mid-August. In 2024, July 13 was the day to scoop up 50% off kids’ clothes, and there were BOGO T-shirts and 30–40% off pants and jackets all month. Teachers get an extra 10% off on specified days, and Gap Kids/Banana Republic Kids join in on the fun too.
Apple: Apple’s education promo kicked off around June 20. Buy a MacBook? Score a $150 gift card. Snag an iPad? That’s $100 for you. Plus, student discounts on AppleCare+ and software. The deals ran through September, so no rush (unless you want to flex your new MacBook on day one).
Other Retailers: Honestly, everyone wants a piece of the back-to-school pie. Pharmacies, warehouse clubs, department stores, they’re all chucking away offers on glue sticks and backpacks before July. If it’s on your kid’s list, odds are someone’s had it marked down in July or August. Just keep your eyes peeled and your wallet ready.
Common Product Categories on Sale
Back-to-school deals cover a wide range of products:
Clothing & Apparel: Kids’ and teens’ outfits are drastically discounted. Kohl’s, Old Navy, Walmart and Target offer bargains like 30–50% off shirts, pants, uniforms and sneakers. Clearance racks are full. By late August, even jackets and hoodies may be cheap as stores replenish fall merchandise. Brand-name items (Nike, Disney) drop in price too. Kohl’s Cash and Target coupons can further decrease prices on ensembles.
Backpacks & Lunch Gear: Mid-July is prime time. Walmart and Target typically have BOGO or $10 backpack bargains. Amazon Prime Day features popular backpacks (Star Wars, Disney) and lunch containers. By late July, plenty of styles remain, but they sell out quickly. Don’t forget lunch boxes, drink bottles and pencil cases; these all hit bargain prices too.
School Supplies: Notebooks, pencils, folders and glue sticks often hit rock bottom ($0.10–$1). Office supply stores and big retailers match each other on these. In 2024, packs of pencils went for $0.50 or less, and notebook packs for $1. Buy in bulk when you see this pricing. Art supplies and calculators are discounted as well – Walmart often has sales on graphing calculators like the TI-84.
Electronics & Tech: Laptops, tablets, and accessories are on sale. Prime Day is great for Chromebooks (often under $200) and tablets. Best Buy and Amazon offer student deals on Windows laptops and MacBooks. Headphones, speakers and earbuds (including Apple AirPods, Beats, etc.) reduce in price during summer promotions. Also seek for printer+ink packages, USB drives, cameras and educational software savings.
Dorm & College Essentials: For college students, check for savings on bedding (twin XL sheets, comforters) and small appliances (mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker). Target, Walmart and home retailers conduct college specials in late July/August. Desk lighting, storage bins, power strips and similar goods are generally cheaper now. Shop early for dorm furnishings; retailers will cut leftover stock in early August.
Other Essentials: Lunch boxes, calculators, PE gear, and even snacks see discounts. Athletic apparel (for gym class) often goes on discount. In summary, anything on a school list is likely discounted in summer.
Month-by-Month Shopping Guide
June rolls along, and boom, back-to-school advertising starts sprouting up everywhere. Office supply businesses, Amazon, strange internet shops… they’re all itching to unload gadgets, workstations, and ten-packs of highlighters. Definitely the moment to scout out your kid’s school supply list (or your own, hey, no judgment) and start stalking costs. Non-perishables like folders and tissues? If you see ’em cheap, grab ‘em early while the stores are still filled. Oh, and don’t sleep on those random Amazon lightning bargains or discounts that slip in early.
Now July? July is wild. It’s like Black Friday for backpacks. Right after Independence Day, Walmart, Kohl’s, and the others go bananas with sales. Then you’ve got Amazon Prime Day (mark your calendar: July 16–17, 2024) and Target, Kohl’s and anybody else all clamoring for your attention with their own “biggest sale ever!” Now’s when you snag those pricier things: laptops, tablets, headphones, whatever. Plus, they’re almost giving out spiral notebooks and glue sticks by late July. Seriously, 25-cent notebooks? Don’t wait around. By the end of the month, attempt to have most of your shopping wrapped up.
August is like the encore; still some decent discounts hanging on, especially the first week or two. Plus, you get those teacher appreciation days and college move-in promos. After mid-August, yeah, the buzz calms down, but that’s when you may pounce on leftover sale stuff if you missed anything. Also, some jurisdictions roll out those magical tax-free weekends, definitely worth arranging your last-minute buys around those if you can.
September? Honestly, the party’s over. Sales are mostly toast, but if you stroll into a Target or dollar store, you’ll certainly trip across a bin of remaining items at clearance rates. Perfect if you forgot something or just want to hoard notebooks and planners like it’s the apocalypse.
Shopping Tips & Strategies
So here’s how I’d roll with back-to-school shopping in 2024 if you truly want to save money and not lose your mind:
First things first, acquire your school’s supply list seriously, don’t simply eyeball it. Dig through your junk drawer, search beneath your kid’s bed, anything. You probably already have half this stuff hiding at home. No point in buying the same pack of highlighters for the third year running.
When it comes to prices? Don’t get suckered by the first “sale” sign you see. Ads, apps, whatever check ‘em all out. Walmart, Best Buy, Target, these guys are basically competing each other to win you over, so play them off each other. Price match when you can. It’s like a game. And you wanna win.
Join all the loyalty things. I know, your inbox will burst, but Target Circle, Kohl’s whatever-it’s-called, those things genuinely spit out solid coupons. Stack ‘em. That’s where the magic happens. Use a discount code, then add in some Kohl’s Cash or a manufacturer’s coupon on top of a bargain. Sometimes you feel like you’re cheating the system… and hey, maybe you are.
Timing is everything. Laptops? Wait for Prime Day or those random “doorbuster” events. Clothes? Hit up holiday weekends. And don’t sleep on those tax-free weekends, usually July or August. You’d be amazed how much you save just skipping sales tax on a big ticket item.
Skip the Saturday craziness if you can. Shopping on a random Tuesday morning? Way less crowded, way better selection. Sometimes you even catch those bizarre early bird bargains retailers only tell you about in their emails (which you’re now getting, thanks to all those loyalty programs).
Online vs. in-store? Honestly, check both. Occasionally, the website’s got a terrific deal; occasionally, the discount rack in the physical store is a goldmine. If you locate stuff online but don’t wanna pay shipping, see if they’ll offer curbside pickup. Yeah, you can get that nice backpack without ever leaving your car.
Bulk is your friend. When notebooks or glue sticks are ridiculously inexpensive, buy a year’s worth. Costco, Sam’s Club, those big packs are always a value, plus your kid’s not gonna stop needing pencils anytime soon.
Don’t forget about cashback. Use a card that provides you rewards, or apps like Rakuten or Ibotta. If you’re gonna spend the money anyway, at least receive a little something back. Feels like free money, which is the greatest sort.
Check the sale aisles, especially late August. That’s when shops panic and start putting school supplies and even fall apparel onto the “please take this” pile. Dollar stores may be oddly good for last-minute goods, too.
If you’re in a state with a tax-free holiday, mark your calendar. That’s the day to go all in clothes, materials, even laptops, sometimes. Feels like cheating, honestly.
For pricy things like computers or textbooks, check at refurbished or rentals. Amazon Renewed, Chegg, whatever; nobody cares if your kid’s Chromebook was gently used, as long as it works.
Don’t get distracted by the flashy things. Focus on what your kid genuinely needs uniforms, books, the calculator that costs more than your first cell phone. The nice pencil case or whatever can wait.
Keep a look out for freebies, too. Back-to-school fairs sometimes offer out folders or pencils. Schools and neighborhood groups organize supply drives all the time. Teachers sometimes know about rebate programs. Hey, free is free.
Most families I know break their shopping into parts. Big electronics and shoes early, then wait for the great deals on supplies. If you’re patient, you can nab a $200 laptop in July, then fill the basket with fifteen-cent notebooks in late August. By the time school starts, you’ve stretched out the expenditures and scored the finest deals in every area.
This year, offers are gonna run all summer. Treat it like a marathon, not a sprint. Essentials first, then circle around for the extras when the price reduces. Stack those discounts, use those coupons, and hit up those tax-free weekends. You’ll be shocked how little you spend.
Bottom line: Track the deals, wait for the sweet spot (mid-July to mid-August is usually fire), and don’t panic buy. If something’s not on sale yet, chill. Another deal’s probably coming next week. Shop intelligently, keep your wallet happy. Good luck, and may your kid’s backpack be hefty but your credit card bill small.
