Santa Saves: Shop Back-to-School for Holiday Savings
Shopping for back-to-school? Keep the holidays in mind to save with discounted essentials for the Christmas season.
With summer winding down, school is on the way--and so are rock-bottom prices on back-to-school needs!
During late summer, office supply stores engage in penny price wars, while discount stores bring racks of school supplies front and center ... and cheap!
Back-to-school loss leaders--products sold below cost to attract sales--are hot and heavy in the supermarkets these days--and even the crafts stores offer a variety of binders, stickers and backpacks at sharply reduced prices.
Ready to save? Back-to-school sales aren't just for families with children! Smart Santas know that back-to-school sales offer great values on products used for holiday gifts, giving and decor. Even beyond traditional "stocking stuffers", back-to-school savings can jumpstart holiday preparation while it pares the budget.
Start shopping now to get a great deal on these six surprising back-to-school staples ... and save money on your organized Christmas:
Planner Power: Binders and Pocket Folders
Friends of Organized Christmas swear by a Christmas planner: a one-stop destination for holiday calendars, gift lists and planning pages.
The three-ring binder is the most popular format for creating your own Christmas planner, so if you're new to the concept, check out great binder bargains. Whether you'll opt for a standard binder, choose a clear-vue design (to show off photos or a pretty cover page), or select a sturdy zippered unit, get your binder today ... and save!
Some holiday planners prefer a Christmas pocket planner. A smaller, leaner version of a Christmas planner, this holiday organizing tool starts with a simple pocket folder. With companion Christmas pocket planner forms free for the download, they're a cute, crafty alternative for Christmas planning. Back-to-school sales offer pocket folders as low as 1-cent as a loss leader, so stock up now!
Gift Goodies: Glue Sticks and Composition Books
This year, multi-packs of glue sticks and composition books lead the list of loss leaders. Spotted for as low as 10-cents apiece, these two products have great holiday applications!
Cover a composition book with pretty scrapbooking papers, using generous application of glue stick to adhere the paper. A rubber-stamper's brayer or rolling pin helps bond the papers to the book cover. Trim and embellish for a pretty gift!
Give the embellished book as a companion journal for a Journal in a Jar. With versions for children and adults, it's a great gift to spark journaling.
Glue sticks are a great addition to the wrap and mail center. Working quickly and without mess, they create pretty, no-tape gift packages, adhere gift tags, and help attach ribbons or embellishments ... so add a handful to your list. The price is right!
Wrap and Mail Wonders: Tape and Mailing Supplies
While wandering the back-to-school sections, think "wrap and mail". Chances are, you'll spot great bargains on everything you'll need to wrap, package and mail holiday gifts.
Cellophane tape, bubble mailers and packaging tape can all be had for prices well below what you'll pay "in season"--so stock up now!
Baking Bonanza: Food Storage Bags and Containers
Little lunch boxes need zipper food storage bags and reusable food containers for school-day lunches? Well, so do holiday bakers!
If you'll be baking and sharing holiday goodies this year, add extra food storage bags and containers to your shopping list now. Marked down for back-to-school, they'll do double duty holding homemade treats for holiday giving.
Decor Delights: Power Strips, Extension Cords and Wreath Hooks
School supplies aren't the only subject of back-to-school sales; dorm necessities also go on sale in late summer. For holiday decorators, it's time to check stocks of power strips and extension cords for holiday lighting and decorating. If you need them, buy them now, at the year's lowest prices.
Also marketed to dorm-bound students? 3M's Command-brand storage hooks! These special adhesive hooks and hangers do a great job attaching garlands, wreaths or decor items to walls--and the patented no-mess adhesive pulls free at season's end with no damage to walls or doors.
Use them to mount garlands around doorways, hang wreaths, or string ribbon for Christmas cards--and with sales like "Buy Two, Get One Free!", back-to-school is a great time to save on these holiday essentials.
Greetings Galore: Printer Paper and Mailing Labels
Last category of Santa's school-day savings? Holiday greetings!
If you'll send a holiday letter or create a custom Christmas card this year, look now for bargains on the supplies you'll need. Reams of printer paper. Address labels. Even printer ink cartridges can be found with special back-to-school pricing. Buy now to save on holiday cards and letters ... for an organized Christmas!
