WI Back-To-School Shopping 2022: Deals For Students And Teachers

WISCONSIN — As inflation increases, Wisconsin families and teachers are more mindful than ever this year when it comes to how much they're spending on back-to-school supplies.

One-third of back-to-school shoppers are cutting how much they spend in other areas of their lives to afford the various items needed this upcoming school year, according to a recent trends survey by the National Retail Federation.

Teachers often bear the brunt of the back-to-school supplies season, too. Educators have been spending more on their classrooms in recent years, averaging $750 in out-of-pocket costs for supplies in 2020-2021, according to surveys by Adopt A Classroom. That's $150 more than the average in 2015, the survey showed.

“Families consider back-to-school and back-to-college items as an essential category, and they are taking whatever steps they can, including cutting back on discretionary spending, shopping sales, and buying store- or off-brand items in order to purchase what they need for the upcoming school year,” Matthew Shay, National Retail Federation president and CEO, said in a news release.

Luckily, retailers in Wisconsin and across the country are rolling out sales and promotions that just might fit a more conscientious budget, including for teachers.

Check out these deals at retailers in Wisconsin:

Meijer: Educators can get a 15 percent discount coupon for school supplies, children's clothes, personal office, supplies, household supplies and more until Sept. 5. Then, starting Sept. 6 and throughout the school year, teachers can continue to get the 15 percent discount coupon at any service desk for school supplies.

Amazon: A couple not-to-miss deals: Save up to $190 on HP laptops and Chromebooks, and 20 percent on back-to-school basics.

Apple: College students can save on Macs or iPad with the company’s education discount. They can also get 20 percent off AppleCare+.

Best Buy: The electronics retailer is offering hundreds of dollars off laptops and Samsung Galaxy phones. You can also snag Apple Airpods Pro for $40 off and a computer desk for $322 off.

Dollar General: Shop Dollar Deals where pencils, filler paper, notebooks, colored pencils and more are all $1 each.

Nike: Save up to 60 percent during the company’s Back To Fall sale.

Office Depot: Pens and pencils start at $0.75 and notebooks at $0.50. Backpacks are 25 percent off.

Old Navy: Kids clothes are on sale for up to 50% off.

Target: Backpacks start at $14.99, lunch bags at $5, and school uniform essentials also start at $5.

The Children’s Place: Shop online and get up to 70 percent off the entire site.

Walgreens: Grab a package of Crayola colored pencils for $2.99, markers for $3.99, or construction paper for $2.99.

Walmart: Get backpacks and Bluetooth headphones for under $15, crayons for $0.35, and a 7” tablet for less than $50.