Save big: Shop back-to-school now

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It may seem strange to think about the 2012-2013 school year. After all, the current school year just started a month-and-a-half ago, and we haven't yet made it through the holidays, spring break or ISTEP testing. But if you're in the mood to save money, the time to shop for next year's back to school supplies is now.

Michelle Foley is a stay-at-home mother of five who lives in Westfield. She has a method to scoring big savings on school supplies. Her secret is buying them throughout the year.

"I have three kids in school right now and at the beginning of the school year, I get the lists for the next grade's supplies,” Foley said. “My husband and I keep those supply lists with us all the time and if we see something on clearance, we buy it for next year. That way, when it's time for back to school, we've already bought everything at a discount."

24-Hour News 8 followed Foley on her latest shopping trip to the Kroger on 169th Street and Springmill Road in Westfield.

"The best sales that I find aren't at stores where you would typically find school supplies," said Foley, as she pushed her 2-year-old daughter in a grocery cart. "They're at the stores I already shop — such as a grocery store — where they only carry the supplies during the back-to-school season. They discount them deeper than the stores that carry the supplies all year because they figure its lost inventory."

Take an eight-pack of Crayola washable markers, for example. Retail price for those markers is $3.99. Currently, they are discounted to $2.79, but last week Michelle bought them on manager's special at Kroger for $1.49 a piece — a savings of $2.50 per pack.

"Just last week, I found 12 colored pencils in the discount bin for 89 cents. Regular price is $2.99. Same brand, same amount. Discount is $1.97."

Michelle bought five packs of those colored pencils and saved $10.50.

Based on Foley's calculations, school supplies for her three school-aged children would have cost $140 this year if she paid regular price at back-to-school time. By buying the clearance supplies throughout the year, she spends between $25 and $50 total for all three children's supplies.

Foley’s secret is picking up the supplies little by little throughout the year.

"I don't make special trips for supplies. If there's a great deal while I'm already out, I'll look for it on one of my kids’ lists and I'll check it off," says Foley. "I take home my deals and put them in a box in our closet, taking inventory of what I have and keeping track of the lists."

By the start of the next school year, most of the items are already purchased and Foley and her family can relax leading up to the start of the new school year.

"So when it comes to back to school, it only takes me about a half-an-hour to pull out the lists, go to my inventory, match it up, throw it in a book bag and I'm done. I'm not shopping with the crowds, I'm not stressing about finding the supplies, and we're enjoying our last few days of summer," says Foley.

Backpacks are another place for savings. Walmart puts their backpacks in the bargain bin mid-year, and Goodwill is given new backpacks that didn't sell from major retailers. Both stores sell the backpacks for pennies on the dollar.

Here are the five ways to make sure you save money on school supplies:

• Get next grade's supply list a year ahead.
• Carry it with you.
• Make a point to browse clearance sales.
• When you find a good deal, buy only the amount you need and check it off.
• Store it away in a bin for next August.