It’s Never Too Early to Start Your Back-to-School Shopping
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We’re still in the thick of summer, but the back-to-school deals start earlier and earlier each year, and it’s never a bad idea to get ahead of the rush. Whether you need to replace a lost lunch box, re-up on school supplies like notebooks and mechanical pencils, or find a fresh pair of sneakers for gym class, I’ve rounded up some of the best sales of the week so your kid(s) will have everything they need before the bell rings.
To make sure you don’t miss anything as you prepare for the new school year, sign up for the Strategist Deal Freaks Daily newsletter to have each day’s best sales sent straight to your inbox and sign up for the Strategist Kids’ Department newsletter to receive our babies’ and kids’ coverage.
Deals I personally think are the best
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I'm loyal to Paper Mate's pens for their smooth ballpoint tip and vivid ink.
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Use our exclusive code STRAT25 to take 25 percent off sitewide at Bentgo.
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There are plenty of sizes left in all four colors of these striped Hanna Andersson tees.
School supplies
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Pilot’s G2 pens have a cult following for a reason.
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Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Bold Point (1.4mm), Assorted Colors, 12 Count
I’m also a fan of Paper Mate’s ballpoint pens, which come in unexpected shades like magenta and spring green.
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Always handy to keep some mechanical pencils in the rotation too.
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The gold standard for nontoxic, quick-drying glue sticks.
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Don’t forget to pick up some pink erasers as well.
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These cute craft scissors create fun scalloped edges.
Backpacks and lunch gear
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Through July 15, use code STRAT25 to take 25 percent off sitewide at Bentgo, which makes some of our favorite lunch boxes.
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This Pottery Barn lunch bag can be personalized with a name or initials.
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Space Mackenzie Water Bottle
You can choose from different sizes and cap styles for this space-themed water bottle.
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Packit lunch boxes have a freezable gel lining, so you won’t need to keep track of an extra ice pack.
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Owala FreeSip Sway - 30 Oz.
Owala’s FreeSip Sway bottle is cupholder friendly with an ergonomic bucket handle that makes it easy to shuttle between school and sports.
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Lots of kids’ backpacks in a panoply of patterns are currently half off at Lands’ End.
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For older kids, keep it simple with a clean, classic JanSport backpack.
Clothing and sneakers
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Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro says almost every baby or toddler in Brooklyn owns a pair of Saucony Jazz sneakers.
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Ro’s son Augie loves wearing On’s Cloud Play sneakers.
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From seventh to 12th grade, I wore a school uniform that consisted of khaki and navy bottoms, and I got all of my pants from Old Navy.
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There are lots of stylish kid’s clothes marked down at Hanna Andersson’s clearance sale, including these striped tees.
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These nice-looking athletic shorts are comfy and can handle a little roughhousing.
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Gap’s soft cotton-rib T-shirts come in lots of colors and graphics.
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A classic denim jacket for when summer starts transitioning into fall.
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The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
