JFF: Do You Stockpile School Supplies?

I stock up when they are on sale but I go easy on the pens and markers because they can dry up.
You have to keep in mind their shelf life.
Other things on the supply list I usually get double (sometimes triple) because they are ALWAYS running out come December and March.

Yes, yes, yes! I TOTALLY hoard school supplies, especially with spiral notebooks at .17 each and composition books at .50 each. We can never have enough glue sticks, too.

Usually, my kids teachers are asking for supplies after winter break. I just run down to my basement and pull from the supply box. It makes me feel good to donate, too! :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

My name is M. and I'm a supply hoarder! I about went crazy when toysrus had b.o.g.o. on crayola! And I have like 6 backpacks that I bought...there's a locker thing in my daughters closet that's full of school supplies, enough to last til she's in school!

YES, and I don't even have any kids in school any more.

But I use notebook paper in my business and typing paper in the copy machine and computer printer and pencils when the grandkids come one and want to write or draw or play games. So I have packages of crayons and tape, and post it notes which my wife and I use to leave each other notes if we are gone when we feel we might be expected to be home.

I bought spiral notebooks last year for 8 cents. Copy paper was $1 per ream. Crayons were 24 cents for a 24 pack. Notebook paper was 10 cents per 50 sheets.

School supplies are always cheapest in the "Back to school" sales. And my kids often come over to "shop" at grandpa's store.

Good luck to you and yours.

Your post made me smile :)

I don't because I love taking my kids school shopping. I bring them on different days and we go out to lunch, get our supplies, back packs, lunch boxes etc, then pick out a couple new outfits.

You sound as though you just like to plan ahead, be prepared and share with people who need your generousity-nothing wrong with that!

Oh my goodness you are wonderful!! If you lived near me I would take you out to lunch. How kind of you to donate. We are always spending money out of our own pockets to supplement the children's supplies and I'm happy to do it because it is frustrating if they don't have things. I have been a sub and an assistant for many years and even this year my stockpile helped in summer school because the new teacher was a young man who hadn't taught anyone yet! He really appreciated it.
Oh you want an answer? I have been hundreds of things for years and it is never wasted only shelved for awhile.

i sure do. Everything is so cheap and you can use them through the year. i also donate to my church school supply drive. i must admit it is a rush to get crayons for 50 cents. lol

yeppers! In fact I just went on a hayday purchasing boxes of baggies that were a dollar a box because my kids have to supply those also! I do not purchase folders ahead because our school requires specific colors which is annoying!

I stock certain things.
My kids will be in 1st grade and 5th grade.
By now, I have realized, how much money I "waste" by buying too much in order to stock-pile. Lot of it just does not get used.
But I did buy these things on sale.

And sure, you can donate your stockpile to disadvantaged schools or kids/organizations. That is always good.

I don't have to worry about it yet, but I think it's a good idea! :)

Oh no, I'm swimming in school supplies!! My son is only 3, and I've got loads of supplies. We are an art loving kind of family, and I feel like we could never have enough. My son went through a box of 24 crayons in a week! I bought supplies last week, and plan to buy more this week for a local supply drive. I also like donating.

I'm just like you. I have a cabinet in the basement that's filled with supplies and all of them were bought on sale or clearance. Usually arround January, my kids need to replace and restock so there's no need to go out and buy more.

When the girls were younger and I needed a gift for a grab bag or last minute birthday party, I could always count of my supply cabinet (crayons, markers, colored pencils and I kept a few activity books on hand)

I homeschooled for 4.5 years.....

Um.

I have two 4 drawer filing cabinets, an eight cubby bookcase, and a 2 shelf bookcase.

All full of school supplies.

I stock up when they are on sale. I never buy anything that is not on sale! I also don't replace items that can still be used, just because it is a new school year. They can use the same stuff they brought home in June if it still works. Our libraries collect donations of school supplies to distibute to areas where there are disadvantaged students and I usually throw some extras in the bin.

Oh my goodness...I've found my people! ;) I was an elementary school teacher before I became a SAHM and honestly, I get all sweaty and flustered when back to school sales start...I LOVE IT! Just today I started buying fun little things in the aisle at Target and I know it will only grow bigger as the weeks pass! In fact, if anyone is interested Target had these adorable little packs of crayons for $0.99 that were themed colors...like princess colors, pirate colors, outer space, neons, etc. Adorable! I just bought 2 packs as a surprise for my kids on our road trip next week!

Anyway, I digress (see how easy it when I talk about school supplies!) I do hoard them as well and my kids aren't even in school. They are 2 and 4 but I keep a healthy supply of crayons b/c we go through them quickly and I buy markers, glue, and other fun stuff (see above ;) that I find as I go. The best part about my kids not being in school yet is that a lot of the supplies go even cheaper after school begins b/c they just want to get rid of them! So I can get notebooks and other random goodies for even less!

And I think it's great you donate supplies. I taught in an area that was incredibly impoverished and as a classroom teacher I was always so thankful when someone else had donated extras. Don't forgot about tissue, hand sanitizer and ziplocks either...those were always appreciated as well. And sending in a new round of stuff after Christmas break would be a big help as well. Things start to get lost, broken and used up and old, so don't forget about mid year!

T.:

Our school supplies are already purchased for my youngest. Since my oldest is going to middle school, my girl friend, whose son just left the same school for HIGH SCHOOL (OH LORD!!) told me to wait until the teachers give you a list - they went out and bought a ton of stuff and ended up not needing it.

And middle school supplies are different than elementary school supplies...binders, loose leaf, 3 hole paper...etc. and unfortunately, those aren't always "on sale"...

However, I am with you!!! We have a 4 drawer plastic storage bin that I keep in the kitchen next to my sideboard - it has crayons, markers, scissors, pencils, erasers, construction paper, et al and it's the school supply "location" in the house. I still like to color so I buy 3 or 4 boxes of the crayons when they are on sale.

I order my daughters' school supplies through the school, they have them ready for them on the 1st day of school. That way I don't have to hunt down the hard-to-find items!

I don't any more but I cleaned out my "catch all" drawers and had a plastic tub full of pens, pencils markers and stuff. It didn't help that a job I had I had to have pencils and pens and then took algebra in school recently (at work at a university). There's even a container full of crayons because I like to have things for kids that visit.

So no you are not alone. I look at them in the aisles in the store and have to walk quickly away without putting them in my shopping cart.

The other S.

I have one going into her senior year and one going into 8th grade. We won't even see a list of needed supplies until after the first few days of school for my older daughter, so I definitely stock up on 3 subject spirals, composition books, notebook paper, good quality pens and mechanical pencils, graph paper and notecards. I ordered supplies through the PTA for my 8th grader, but she will run out and I like to have the basics handy. I also contribute to "room" supplies at open house if teachers have asked parents to help. You're right, it does make me feel warm and fuzzy knowing that I helped not only another student but the teacher! I would do anything to let a teacher know I appreciate them!

Not yet, but I'm sure that I will. I love office supplies, and I DO stockpile those!

I shop ads or ad match @ Walmart or Target I buy what I need first then buy extras to store at home but not too much I don't want to toss it out if the glue dries out befire use or the paper turns yellow from age (it'll become doodle paper)but yes I do stockpile

As a teacher, I have to stock up.

Nah, I just wait for the list on Back To School night & get the suggested items.

I bought so much binder paper last year when it went on clearance I dont think I will hever have to buy more! I think I got if less that .25 a pack! lol'

Updated

I bought so much binder paper last year when it went on clearance I dont think I will hever have to buy more! I think I got if less that .25 a pack! lol'

I used to. Then last year I realized i didn't need to buy a single thing for either my 7th or 4th grader to start school, as we had so much left over from prior years. And they ended up bringing home half of that still!

I may be able to get by another year, as it seems 8th graders only need paper and pens/pencils and 5th graders the same with a glue stick or colored pencils added in.

No, not really....we will pick up some stuff like mechanical & regular pencils, erasers, etc. but our school supplies most things.
The O. thing I grab in multiples is the stretchy book covers because they become scarce come late August. (Walgreens is good for them though!)