Back to School List - Everything You Need for Only $10

Is the cost of back to school shopping worrying you? Would you believe you could get every school supply your child needs to put in his or her backpack for only $10 from the dollar store? It’s true! For $10, you can get every essential back to school item, minus the backpack.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for school supplies:

1. Shop with a friend. Many school supplies come in packs of multiples. For example, erasers come in a pack of 4 for $1. 1 or 2 erasers are plenty for one student, so you could purchase this package and split with a friend for even greater savings.
2. Wait. School supply items at the dollar store are ALWAYS available. All year long. Consider buying your school supplies after school starts. Many teachers send home a list with students on the first day of school, listing the supplies required. Don’t buy things just because you think they may be needed.
3. Leave your kids behind. At home I mean, not at the store. This one may sound a bit harsh, but if your child is with you, you are almost certainly going to spend more than if you are choosing school supplies yourself.

Back to School List

Many parents go overboard with back to school supplies - don’t do that this year. Save yourself some money! Here is a list of true essentials for most elementary students:

1. Pencils - $1 (for a 12-pack)

A teacher can never have enough pencils. I strongly suggest buying pencils for your child, and if your child is young enough that it will not embarrass him, label them with his name. Teachers will likely supply a pencil to each student, but often one is not enough. Buying a pack and sending your child with two or three is a great idea. Keep the others at home, and re-send when needed.

2. Erasers - $1 (for a 4-pack)

Again, an eraser may be provided, but the white ones available at the dollar store are really nice, and excellent for erasing large areas. $1 will get you a pack of 4.

3. Ruler - $1 (for a 3-pack)

Make sure the ruler you purchase measures in centimetres. These are sold in a 3 pack, so certainly consider splitting with a friend - 1 is plenty.

4. Glue Sticks - $1 (for a 4-pack)

A good glue stick is definitely an essential for most school age children. Caps are continually left off of class sets, and the sticky, liquid white glue? So messy. This is a purchase that will save that lovely back to school clothing!

5. Markers/Pencil Crayons - $1

Choose one or the other, it’s not necessary to buy both. Something to colour with is nice for your child to have, but whether it is markers or pencil crayons is up to you. If you do opt for markers, I strongly suggest Crayola (sold at Dollarama). The dollar store brand are not that great.

6. Pencil Case - $1

Whether you like the hard plastic totes, larger canvas bags, or smaller cylinder shape pencil cases – the dollar store has you covered when it comes to storing small school supplies!

7. Scissors - $1

This one was questionable for me to include. Often teachers have class sets, but there are always too many left handed ones (or sticky ones!). You may wish to save your child the hassle and get him his own paid.

8. Lunch Pail - $1-$3

Regular lunch pails with waterproof shells are available at the dollar store for only $1-$3, including name brand varieties. If your child is quite young, there are Disney lunch boxes with characters as well (the cost is $2-$3 for those ones).

9. Lunch Containers - $1 (and up)

I love containers for lunches. As a teacher, I see so much garbage unnecessarily filling up the can after lunch. For $1, you can get a pack of 3 small containers - a great place to start. These are ideal for small crackers, yogurt, fruit, or veggies.

10. Water Bottle - $1-$3

It’s a great idea to send your child to school with a water bottle for their desk. BPA-free water bottles are available at the dollar store, and will be labelled as such. Make sure to label the bottle with your child’s name.

Of course, each school, grade, and teacher may request specific school supplies for your child to bring, but the above list provides all materials for the vast majority of students. Most classrooms for elementary students (up to grade 6, older students may still require) are fully stocked with class sets of certain items. With a few exceptions for some schools and students, these items can easily be skipped:

Don’t buy these school supplies

• Calculators
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Pencil Sharpener

Having kids can be expensive, so saving money counts! Spending just $10 on your child’s back to school supplies is plenty. Put your savings aside for the day your child tells you he has lost his backpack. Again.

School supplies are items that likely need to be purchased each year, so make sure to check out your local dollar store to save money on those items.

What back to school items do you buy from dollar stores?