Coupon Queen: Back-to-school shopping on a budget

It pains me to say that I have officially started back-to-school shopping. Honestly, I love summer break as much as my boys, and with them getting older, I know I only have a few short years left. If you want to get a jump on your back-to-school shopping but still want to save a little dough, here are a few tips that help me keep my budget in line. Assess Before you pull out an ad or head to the store, grab last year's backpacks and sort through them. You may be surprised by how many supplies you already have. I did this last week and found three-ring binders, three cases of unused pencils, multiple highlighters and pens, a calculator and several packs of paper. Be sure to rummage through your desks, closets and drawers to see if you can find any extra supplies you may have bought last year as well. Shop online You can save time by doing your shopping online and choosing free in-store or curbside pickup. Stores such as Walmart and Target are popular places to shop for back-to-school supplies, and both offer this option. On top of this saving you time, it can also save you money by keeping you from any impulse shopping inside the store. Stick to your list, click and add to your cart. Leave the kids at home If you have younger children and can leave them at home with another adult while you do the shopping, I highly suggest it. I personally found that when my children were younger, they'd often choose the more expensive items even though there were other less expensive options nearby. I've found that many essential items such as rulers, notebooks and folders can be much less if buying the store brand over the name brand and the quality is still good. If you still want to bring the kids along, choose a shopping trip where fewer decisions are needed. For instance, picking out the lunch box or book bag. Shop now You'll find rock-bottom prices and the best selection in July since many retailers stop restocking most supplies by early August. If you wait until Labor Day to shop, you may not only be stuck paying retail but also have a hard time grabbing everything on your list. Quality It won't matter if you buy the store brand for many items, but some may be worth spending a little more. For instance, my son has used the same name-brand book bag for more than three years, and Ticonderoga pencils are the brand I reach for the most because they sharpen the best and teachers prefer them. If it's something they can use year after year, you may save in the long run by paying a little more. Shop around Many shoppers head to Target and Walmart to do the bulk of their shopping, but don't forget Walgreens, CVS, Discount Drug Mart, Rite Aid and Staples, too. These stores offer many weekly deals, and their prices can be competitive. Buy extras Your kids will inevitably run out or lose some of their supplies by the end of the school year, so grab a few extra items while prices are the lowest. If they don't use them this year, you'll have a jump start next year. This week's deal Here are a few deals that you can get at Staples. Composition notebooks, 2-pocket folders and Crayola Crayons (24pk) = $0.50 each Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.