5 Great Back to School Deals: Where to Find the Best Prices

(This post was written by Senior Field Editor Linda Hersey)

Where's the best place to find deals on back-to-school supplies?

This weekend is Florida's tax-free holiday shopping weekend on school supplies. But aside from tax savings, where are the deepest discounts on essential supplies for the kids?
 
According to Consumer Reports' "ShopSmart" issue, Walmart and Target have the best prices on school supplies among major retailers. But each retailer is offering special sales on some items.

Here's where to find the deals:

1.) Walmart: Prices already are low at Walmart. The retailer is offering sales on most all school supplies, as compared to other department stores, which just target certain items. Here's a link to Walmart's school supplies page, divided by grade. 

2.) Target: The popular retailer is offering deep discounts on school uniforms – $5 polos and $12 pants. Check Target's back to school page for other great deals on clothing.  Check Target's coupons before heading off to the popular department store.

3.) Big Lots: Find backpacks for $9-$12 and Paper-Mate pens and pencils for $1-$3 per pack. Big Lots is reliable for its low prices on the available inventory. Better arrive early before shelves are cleared out. Here are the sales on school supplies.

4.) Sears: Always dependable, Sears is offering 50 percent off  on a lot of kids' clothing, from girls' and boys' tops to jeans and pants. There also is a 50 percent off discount on school uniforms.

5.) Staples: There's is a one-cent sale on some school supplies at Staples when customers purchase at least $5 in other items. Check the store flyers, but school glue and some folders are a penny a piece this week. Staples also lists school supplies by price.

More Tax-Free Shopping Holiday Coverage

• Tax-Free PCs, Tablets Highlight Tax-Holiday Shopping:…