Back-to-school shopping is expensive. But if you know which deals are real and which are tricks, you can save hundreds of dollars. This guide shows you exactly how to do it.
Stores are having huge back-to-school sales right now. But there's something you should know about those super cheap deals.
A loss leader is a product sold at a loss (below cost) on purpose, just to get you in the door.
Here’s how it works:
• You see a super cheap deal and go to the store for that item.
• While you’re there, you also pick up other things at regular or higher prices.
• The store makes up for the loss by profiting from those extra purchases.
Example: A store might sell printer paper for $1 when it actually costs them $2. You come in for the cheap paper, and while you're there, you grab ink cartridges or snacks which are much more profitable for the store.
Smart tip: Buy loss leaders from multiple stores. Don’t do all your shopping in one place. In this article, we’ll highlight the best deals and show you how to save the most this back-to-school season.
💻 TECHNOLOGY DEALS
Start with these categories for maximum impact on your budget:
| Category | Best Deal | Regular Price | Sale Price | You Save | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop (Mid-range) | HP Pavilion + Code | $999 | $699 | $300 | HP Store |
| Gaming Laptop | MSI Thin Gaming | $1,099 | $699 | $400 | Amazon Gaming Laptops |
| iPad | iPad Air M3 Education | $599 | $549 + FREE AirPods | $229 value | Apple Education |
| School Supplies Bundle | Target 20-item basket | $25 | $12 | $13 | Target Supplies |
| Uniform Set (5 pieces) | Old Navy with guarantee | $50 | $35 + 1yr warranty | $15 + protection | Old Navy Uniforms |
| Model | Store | Price | Was | What You Get | Rating | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 3 | Amazon | $299 | $379 | AMD Ryzen 3, 8GB RAM, 256GB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Buy on Amazon |
| HP 15.6" Laptop | Walmart | $219 | $299 | Intel Celeron, 4GB RAM, 128GB | ⭐⭐⭐ | Buy at Walmart |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3i | Best Buy | $189 | $289 | Intel N200, 4GB RAM, 64GB | ⭐⭐ | Buy at Best Buy |
| Model | Store | Price | With Code | Total Savings | Best Feature | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP Pavilion Plus | HP Store | $799 | $699 (OMNIPC100) | $300 | OLED Display | HP Store |
| MacBook Air M4 | Apple Education | $799 | $799 | $200 off regular | All-day battery | Apple Education |
| Dell Inspiron 15 | Dell | $750 | $675 (student) | $325 | 16GB RAM | Dell Student Store |
| Model | Store | Price | Includes | Best For | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad 11" (2025) | Amazon | $299 | Tablet only | Basic use | Amazon iPads |
| iPad Air M3 | Apple Education | $549 | FREE AirPods ($179 value) | Students | Apple Education |
| Samsung Tab S6 Lite | Amazon | $189 | S Pen included | Budget choice | Amazon Samsung Tablets |
| iPad Mini 7 | Amazon | $469 | Pencil discount available | Portability | Amazon iPad Mini |
Store-by-store strategy
• Target: Best for crayons, glue, notebooks (loss-leader pricing)
• Walmart: Cheapest folders and basic backpacks
• Dollar Tree: Unbeatable on scissors and basic tools
• Staples: Good for pencils and office supplies
| Item | Sale Price | Regular | You Save | Limit | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Pocket Folders | $0.50 | $0.99 | 50% | None | Target Folders |
| Crayola 24ct Crayons | $0.50 | $1.49 | 66% | None | Target Crayons |
| Composition Books | $0.39 | $0.65 | 40% | None | Target Notebooks |
| Glue Sticks (2-pack) | $0.50 | $1.39 | 64% | None | Target Glue |
| Notebooks (1-subject) | $0.39 | $1.29 | 70% | None | Target Notebooks |
| Item | Walmart | Target | Staples | Dollar Tree | Winner | Best Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pencils (12-pack) | $0.97 | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1.25 | Target/Staples | Target Pencils |
| Folders | $0.25 | $0.50 | $0.25 | $1.25 | Walmart/Staples | Walmart Folders |
| Crayons | $0.50 | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1.25 | Any (tie) | Target Crayons |
| Scissors | $2.97 | $3.00 | $2.50 | $1.25 | Dollar Tree | Dollar Tree Store Locator |
| Backpack (basic) | $5.00 | $5.00 | $9.99 | N/A | Walmart/Target | Walmart Backpacks |
• Don't shop everything at one store
• Target: Loss-leader deals on supplies
• Walmart: Everyday low prices on basics
• Dollar Tree: Unbeatable on tools and accessories
Best Approach: Buy loss-leaders from each store, not everything from one place.
| Store | Buy These Items | Skip These | Why | Store Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Crayons, glue, notebooks | Backpacks, electronics | Best supply deals | Target.com |
| Walmart | Folders, basic backpacks | Premium items | Lowest everyday prices | Walmart.com |
| Dollar Tree | Scissors, rulers, erasers | Paper, folders | Quality varies | DollarTree.com |
| Staples | Pens, pencils | Clothing, backpacks | Office supply focus | Staples.com |
Uniform Store Comparison
• Old Navy: $7 polos, 1-year guarantee (best overall value)
• Walmart: $4.37 for 4-pack polos (cheapest upfront)
• Lands' End: Lifetime guarantee (premium choice)
• Target: 20% Circle discount for students
| Store | Polo Price | Pants | Guarantee | Why Choose | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Navy | $7.00 | $8.49 | 1 YEAR | Best guarantee - replace worn items FREE | Old Navy Uniforms |
| Walmart | $4.37 (4-pack) | $7.98 | 90 days | Lowest upfront cost | Walmart Uniforms |
| Target | $6.00 | $12-15 | 1 year | Circle members get 20% off | Target Uniforms |
| Lands' End | $7.99* | $14.99* | LIFETIME | Premium quality, lifetime replacement | Lands' End School |
Backpack buying strategy
| Price Range | Best Option | Features | Warranty | Durability | Best For | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10 | Walmart Basic | 1 compartment | 90 days | ⭐⭐ | Emergency only | Walmart Backpacks |
| $10-20 | Target Cat & Jack | 3 compartments | 1 year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Elementary/Middle | Target Backpacks |
| $20-30 | JanSport SuperBreak | Classic design | Lifetime | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High school | JanSport.com |
| $30+ | Swiss Gear | Laptop compartment | 1 year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | College/Tech | Amazon Swiss Gear |