When I picture school shopping, I go back to being a kid. It was one of my favorite rituals each year.
Maybe it was my love of order — so.many.folders! — or maybe it was imagining the kid I could become with a fresh set of clothes for the next nine months.
Whatever the reason, I’m pretty sure my mom didn’t share that same enthusiasm.
For parents, back-to-school shopping often means hefty receipts, long waits and scanning that supply list while thinking, Seriously? The school isn’t providing its owntoilet papernow?
Luckily, stores understand your pain (and they definitelyvalue your return business). This season brings a slew of sales on everything your children will need to thrive this school year.
I rounded up some of the top bargains forschool supplies at Targetthis week to help you save and avoid the crowds while stocking up for your kids’ next chapter. (As for that toilet paper dilemma, you might consider getting involved in local elections.)
Note: These promotions are available online at Target.com. Verify with your neighborhood store whether they apply for in-store purchases.
1. Earn a $5 Gift Card When You Spend $50
Order your kids’ back-to-school items online and choose in-store pickup. You’ll avoid shipping fees (since the items go to the store), and you’ll receive a $5 gift card when your order totals $50 or more.
The promotion applies tothese school supplies and runs through Aug. 5. The gift card will arrive by mail after you pick up your purchase at the store.
2. Save 15% on School Supplies
A wide selection of school essentials for every grade is discounted at Target ahead of the school year.
Everything from scented markers for younger students to binders for teens is included — and you might even spot a few fun items for your own desk.
We don’t know how long these discounts will last, so monitor the items you need and grab them when the price is right.
3. Backpacks for $25 (or Less)
Target’s Mossimo Supply Co. backpacks are marked down to $25. It’s a modest reduction from their usual $26–$30 range.
You can shrink that price further by stacking offers.
- Start with the sale price of $25 — a small savings off the regular price.
- Enter this promo code at checkout: HANDBAGS20. That knocks an extra 20% off ($5). This code is valid through Aug. 5.
- Apply for Target’s RED debit or credit card to get 5% back on purchases (excluding prescriptions). That trims another dollar off the backpack cost. (If you spend $500 on school supplies, that’s $25 back.)
That brings the backpack down to roughly $19 — up to $11 in savings.
Also consider alternative savings tactics at Target to lower costs even more.
For instance, keep your email receipts and use an app like Earny to hunt for price drops.
Earny scans your inbox for receipts and monitors prices to find reductions, then pursues refunds from the retailer or card issuer on your behalf using price-protection policies.
4. Buy 3 Hanes Basics and Get a Free $5 Gift Card
You’ll want fresh socks and underwear for the school year — kids like starting off feeling clean. Hanes is a go-to brand for these basics.
Add a pack of T-shirts, undershirts, bras or any ofthese select Hanes itemsto your cart and you’ll receive a free $5 Target gift card.
These products are already discounted, so you can combine the sale with the gift card to maximize savings.
For example:
- 10-pack girls underwear — originally $9.99, now $6.49
- 10-pack boys boxer briefs — originally $13.99, now $11.49
- 5-pack boys T-shirts — originally $9.99, now $6.49
That’s roughly $9.50 saved off the original prices. Add the $5 gift card, and your total savings jumps to about $14.50.
The gift card is mailed separately after purchase, whether you choose home delivery or store pickup. Offer valid through Aug. 5.
5. Earn a $5 or $10 Gift Card When Buying Kids’ Clothing
Whether your children wear a uniform or express their own taste, you’ll find plenty of clothing options at Target.
Shop by Aug. 5 and receive a $10 Target gift card when you spend $40 or more on select kids’ apparel. Spend at least $25 and you’ll get a $5 gift card.
That’s effectively 20% to 25% back in store credit!
For more tips on stretching clothing budgets, check out frugal guides like back to school clothes on a budget.
6. Get a Free $5 Gift Card When You Buy 3 Always or Tampax Products
For older students (or for your household stock), this is a good week to replenish menstrual products — handy to tuck into a locker.
Buy three qualifyingAlways or Tampax itemsand receive a $5 Target gift card.
Add this to the other gift-card offers and you could walk away with $25 in Target credit simply by purchasing essentials — which helps when you pick up lunch supplies in Target’s grocery aisle.
7. Buy One, Get One 50% Off on Select Kids’ Shoes
My family wasn’t runway-ready, so I usually bought two pairs of shoes before school began: a casual everyday pair and a sturdier set for P.E.
This promotion fits that simple plan. Buy one pair ofselect kids’ shoesand get a second pair for 50% off — valid through Aug. 12.
The discount applies to the less expensive pair, so shop intentionally. For instance, grab these sneakers for $19.99, and you’ll pay about $9 for these adorable ballet flats.
Save More on School Supplies
If you miss Target’s deals this week, here are additional strategies to keep your back-to-school spending down:
- Check whether your state has a tax-free shopping weekend — several occur in August.
- Use deal-stacking techniques to get the most value no matter where you shop.
- Follow practical tips to manage your back-to-school budget.
- Remember to take advantage of education- and family-related tax credits next April.
- Buy basic supplies at dollar stores — don’t dismiss them; they can be surprisingly useful.
- And if you’re homeschooling, consider how retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon can help you save on curriculum.
Alex Rivera is a staff writer and newsletter editor at Savinly. She’s contributed to numerous outlets including Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com and Writer’s Digest, and she tries to sprinkle in humor wherever it fits.
