**THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED**
Remember my post earlier about playing on Twitter with GNO and Crayola – click here for a refresher? This week you can play to win your own Crayola Creativity Pack! You will receive everything below and just in time for school, too! 
I received this message from My Blog Spark today, so please read it carefully! Due to technical difficulties, the hashtag has changed from #crayolagno to simply #gno. In addition, in the event Mr. Linky is not showing up in the RSVP post on http://momitforward.com/category/gno, please encourage your readers to leave their Twitter URLs in the comments, which offers #GNO gals the opportunity to follow and be followed all in one place.
How to win Crayola Prizes: Click the following link: http://momotforward.com/catagory/gno and then join the Twitter Party tomorrow night!
How to win the above prize from 3 Boys & a Dog, Crayola, and My Blog Spark:
REQUIRED: Tell me your neatest tip, trick, etc on saving money for back to school
BONUS: Join the GNO Twitter Party Tuesday night, then come back to 3 Boys & a Dog and leave a comment telling something you learned to help you prepare for back to school!
Be sure to join my email list, follow my blog, subscribe to my RSS feeds, and or follow me on Twitter to stay up to date on the things going on at 3 Boys & a Dog!
*Contest will end Friday July 31st, 2009*
About Kelli
Just watch the sales and take advantage ot them, also check local merchants of chain stores for their discounts (some are free after rebate).
I shop at the dollar store for most things, that way they can get an extra set of crayons for home, or paper!
Well I have several. Most of the big name stores have common school supplies on sale before school at almost giveaway prices. Be sure to stock up when they have those so you have plenty of supplies to replenish with during the school year.
Also, Once school starts in your area, places like Target will slash their prices radically and that's also a good time to stockpile items.
Plus my kids often reused many of their items from year to year or else we places them in a box at home for using at home when doing projects, etc.
Thanks!
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
Wow great contest!! We wait for the Sunday Newspaper and get our supplies at sales!! Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I watch the sales ads for back to school stuff. But what I do is when things get marked down to clearance I purchase what I can for the following year.
I always buy my son's school supplies through the school at the end of the school year (buy for the following year. He gets everything he will need at a great deal), but I do buy extra supplies to have on hand in case he needs them for homework or runs out of them at school. I buy the supplies when they are on sale and many of them (folders, notebooks, paper, etc) I buy at the dollar stores or discount stores (Big Lots)
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
My best tip is to buy in bulk from a warehouse store or staples and split the cost between a group of other Mom's – pool money and get more.
My trick for saving money is to swap my kids' clothing with that of my BFFS' kids. Zoe0825@verizon.net
My neatest tip for saving money on back-to-school stuff is to not take your child with you when you go shopping. No whining and no buying unnecessary junk.
We save the most money on back-to-school supplies by stocking up on the loss-leaders at the office supply stores. They've already started for the season. Thanks for the chance to win the very generous prize pack! (krstrpp at hotmail dot com)
We comparison shop. I only pick up a few things at a time and wait for them to be on a super sale before I pick them up. I also always stock up at the end of the season when everything is on clearance for the next year.
I always get the sales ads from the Sunday papers
We usually wait until fter school starts to get the majority of school supplies; there are alot of sales then.
Most of the school supplies that I need for theis year were purchased last year on clearance after school had started. I might have to pick up a few little things this year but not many.
i also buy my childrens clothing off season and store them in totes. That way I get them for less than half price and they are able to get the clothes that they really want.
for me it eliminates the stress of back to school.
Thank you so much for the chance to win.
I purchase a lot of school supplies after school has already started. Also, I bought my son a backpack from LL Bean for $20.00 and it is still going strong and looks fantastic. Has saved me a lot of money of having to buy him a new backpack every school year.
fooks213@yahoo.com
Just checking all of the store ads and using all of the coupons to find the best possible deals on everything.
Thanks!
stevlobrow[at]aol[dot]com
I compare the store circulars for sales and if I use coupons if I have them.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
My employer gives out school supplies as part of its community outreach each year, and I ask a couple of my coworkers who don't have kids to procure a couple extra kits for my kids. Ethical? All I know is it saves me money.
watch the sales, espec. after a holiday
I watch for sales, shop cleanence rack and try to use coupons.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
My tip — use the second hand stores for clothes that are a lot less expensive!
marielay@gmail.com
If items are on SALE dont hesitate to STOCK UP!!!
Also, WALMART will match any sale price from any other store if you bring in the AD!!
skittles4u05[at]yahoo[dot]com
I buy whenever I see great prices – and stock up. If I don't need it I then donate it to a drive etc
We buy school supplies after they mark them down and save them for the next school year. Are if they need them that year,
Well I buy when things are off season or on sale
School supplys go 90% off after school starts
Clothes are tough cause my son keeps growing growing!!
ahdrad2932(at)msn(dot)com
look for items on sale.
I wait for the sales then I stock up!!
For school supplies I catch the great sales in late summer such as notebooks for .15. For clothes I buy fall and winter clothes after the season on clearance in the next sizes. Same for summer clothes. I save a ton of money this way.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
We shop early early but keep the things in mint condition until it's time to use them!
BethanyTate1(at)gmail(dot)com
I like to buy items off season and usually look for coupons. Thanks for the giveaway.
fmd518@inbox.com
My daughter's teacher usually sends home her unused supplies from the year so we save those and search for cheap deals at local stores. Thanks! Nicole Pfeil alexlpfeil@yahoo.com
My idea is to go to garage sales and buy good used school clothes and back packs!
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
My tip is to compare sales and coupons for the best deals! Some sorts will always have the cheapest pads, stock up when they're 15c and you'll be set for the entire year!
My tip is to buy in bulk,and do it at the end of the school year. I don't have to join the crowds.
Thanks
charisscharity [at] yahoo [dot] com
Hmm my computer froze so not sure if my comment went through but… All I can do is use coupons and compare prices… The school my son goes to demands certain brands ONLY.. YES if it is not the BRAND they want they will refuse to let your child do those activies… I will be soo glad to move
We have a "no sales tax" weekend before school starts so I wait to buy everything then – it really adds up when you shop the sales too!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com
I wait till everything is on sale..
We save by purchasing a year in advance, after school has started, and the school supplies are on clearance.
ekbbgibson@yahoo.com
there are about 20 Gals We get all Our stuff together that was left over and not used the year before or a notebook 1/2 full, unused pencils, pens, crayons We always seem to buy too much and We swap this stuff and clothes…both Kids and Mom's and Dad's We have done this for 14 years….kaysweep@att.net kayMI All the kids and Mom's come together Kids can not come in with Mom's We hire Babysitters of Our own Kids now
My tip is to go to Walmart. Each year I browse supplies at all the office supply stores, and Walmart always has the best prices. Always! macd82 at gmail dot com
As soon as the penny and 25 cent sales start at the Office Supply stores, Target and Walmart, stock up!
I work in a great thrift store- I pick up the kids backpacks & clothes & shoes there. SO much cheaper, especially with 4 of my boys in school.
I scout sales and shop at the end of the season for nest years supplies
I watch for the pre-back-to-school sales. It is easy to find five-cent crayons, fifteen cent glue, etc., just before school starts, if you pay attention to the sales.
msurosey@yahoo.com
Shop the sales! WalMart and Target have a great prices on Crayola markers for back to school.
From the GNO Twitter party I learned that Target has Crayola crayons (24 box) for 25 cents this week.
we stock up during the back to school sales to try and make it through the year without paying full price for the supplies. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com
Stock up when staples are on sale.
I buy throughout the year when things are on sale. I do this for holidays, birthdays, etc as well.
I save money by getting the free back to school offers each week at Staples and CVS