Where to Find School Supplies Cheap: Thrifty Third-Graders

Pity the poor OCD-parent: searching for the items on school supply lists can be maddening if you feel compelled to following teachers' lists to the letter.

This week, we're looking at where to get school supplies cheaply, starting today with the list for third-graders at Amsterdam School (we'll also do middle school and high school lists).

Certainly teachers aren't expecting everyone to be as literal as we were in shopping for the goods, but if they are, be aware: the only area store with the recommended white erasers is Wal-Mart in Manville ($1.48 for a three-pack).

But there are big variations in the pricing for many items. Third-graders need to bring a hardcover marble notebook (composition notebook), which ranges i price from $2.99 at CVS to 50 cents at Wal-Mart (and ShopRite with your shoppers card, 59 cents without one).

Amsterdam teachers suggest students have two 12-packs of pre-sharpened pencils when school starts: good luck! CVS has them in an eight-pack ($2.49); Wal-Mart in a 10-pack for $1.84.

Teachers also like Crayola Twistable color pencils, suggesting the 18 or 24-count packages. We found the 24-count packs at CVS for $7.49 and a 30-count pack for $5.97 at Wal-Mart. Stop and Shop has the Twistable crayons for $5.99, but that may not be suitable for classroom projects, apparently.

Other items checked:

Recommended: Four dry erase markers
    CVS: Eight-pack Crayola brand for $5.99
    Walgreens: Eight-pack Expo brand for $11.49
    Wal-Mart: Six-pack Crayola brand $2.97

Recommended: Two large glue sticks
    CVS: Elmer's $3.19
    Walgreen's: $2.49
    Stop and Shop: $2.49
    ShopRite: No large glue sticks
    Wal-Mart: $2.94

Recommended: Four packs of 3x3 Post-It notes
    CVS: $4.29
    Walgreen's: $3.79
    Stop and Shop: no four packs, but three packs for $2.49 (on sale)
    ShopRite: $2.69
    Wal-Mart: $4.97

Many of the store will be offering special pricing on school supplies in the coming weeks, too.

Do you follow teachers recommendations for supplies carefully? Are there items that you don't like to purchase at the beginning of the school year?

Tell us what you think about buying school supplies in the comments section.