You only have to open up a Sunday newspaper to know that school supply sales are in full swing. I’ve gotten a lot of questions lately regarding the best time to buy the supplies. Starting back to school is expensive – new clothes, lunch money, childcare, etc. People want to make their money go far. I completely understand.

Depending upon where you live, the date that kids go back to school can vary. When I was growing up, we started around mid-August. In college, it was sbout the same time. Once I was out of college and began teaching summer camps, Kentucky and Tennessee began trending in year-round school. With this concept, school begins in late July or very early August. Here in Texas, we don’t start until the end of August.

With all of these trends, the national vendors get their goods out early. And, with that being said, the sales start early. Mid-August is still the “national” average for a school start. The time to buy those supplies is NOW.

I love blogging about a good deal, but there are a lot of people that have it down to a science. One of those is “Deal Seeking Mom“. She has a post that is a MUST READ for anyone shopping for school supplies this week. If you are in the market, check it out.

Remember … “there’s no cents in paying full price!”

* This post is part of a weekly segment on KSBJ Christian Radio. For more on segments featuring Stephanie Click, the Texas Money Mom, click here.