One month after summer begins retailers are already pushing back to school supplies. Several parents in our couponing group said they don’t mind early back to school deals. While myself and the rest of us, who may be procrastinators would much rather enjoy buying patios and other things instead of school supplies.
As a deal hunter I still want to buy the best deal possible and if that means getting back to school supplies at the beginning of July I’m down.
If you asked me two years ago if the back to school supplies were worth buying at BJ’s I would have told you no, but year after year BJs continues to impress me with the expanding selection of school supplies.
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY STOCK UP PRICE LIST HERE
After my price comparison, BIC items and dorm items are cheaper at BJ’s. Target is your go-to store for smaller school supply items. BJs has a couple pens and other items that are unique to the wholesale club. I couldn’t find similar items at Target.
Scroll down for pictures and prices of Target and BJ’s Back to School Supply List.
QUICK SHOPPING TIPS FOR BJS:
You can save an extra 5% on purchases at BJs if you use the Perks Rewards membership. You can check out the different membership options that give you a percentage back from what you buy at BJs here.
Shop the times there are coupons for these items. You can check the coupon database, or follow our blog to see when items have a new coupon.
If you really want to learn how to read sales, stack coupons, and just be a smarter shopper at BJs, grab my brand new Ebook here. Right now it’s on sale for a limited time $7.99! It’s 87 pages AND comes with freebies!
One of those is a PDF of the Pricebook. It shows you items at BJs with their prices and how many barcodes an item has for the right amount of coupons to use.
QUICK SHOPPING TIPS FOR TARGET:
You can save an extra 5% on your purchases with the Target Redcard. Red card holders get 2-day free shipping online.
Just a reminder that the Target Redcard is awesome. I have the debit card so I can still save 5% on everything I purchase there! Sign up for your debit or credit card here and you get free shipping online.
Target Cartwheel is now inside the Target App. It’s a must to download. You can scan barcodes through the app and see if there are any additional offers to save more.
Target has clearance on many items. You can use coupons on clearance items. Look for the yellow stickers and see how much you are saving.
Let’s take a look at what BJ’s has to offer currently in stores compared to Target for school supplies.
When you head into your local BJ’s look to the center aisles in the seasonal area for the white cardboard bins stacked up. Most of the items are $5.
They have added several new items this year 2018 compared to last year.
Manual Bostitch pencil sharpers come in a two pack. These are $5 a pack.
Compare to Target:
$0.50 for Target brand pencil sharpener.
The better price is Target.
Packs of assorted supplies like markers, notepad, kleenex, pencil sharpener, pencils were only $5. This could end up being a deal if you needed all the items in it.
I immediately saw this $5 pack for the child who watches their older sibling get school supplies. This $5 pack could keep the younger ones occupied and feeling like they have school supplies too.
I didn’t see any packs like this at Target.
Five-star pencil pouch $5 at BJs.
Target sells the same pouch online but no price is available.
The magnetic board doesn’t have to be for the student. This can be a great way to leave messages to other family members or put in your own office at home. $5 for a mini marker board with magnets and a marker.
I personally love using smaller marker boards for our weekly meal menu.
In comparison to Target their board is similar at $5.39.
Post It Extreme sticky notes $5.
In comparison to Target, their price is $4.99
6 pack Stretchable Jumbo Book Covers $6
Target’s 3 pack Stretchable Jumbo Book Covers $2.50
There are a couple colors to choose from with this pushpin pack $5 each.
Target didn’t have a pack like this to compare to.
Cute 6 pack gel ink pens at BJs for $5. Target didn’t carry any gel pens that looked similar.
2 Multi-Purpose LED Clip-on lights is $5 or $2.50 a light.
Target’s price is $14.59 for one.
This is a clipboard and opens up to put paper inside or may even have a pad of paper. I didn’t look too closely! $5
Target didn’t have anything close to this.
This to Do List notepad set was in the $5 bin but wasn’t marked. I’m going to guess it’s $5 or $6.
This exact set wasn’t at Target but you can find notepads in the One Spot ( dollar section) of Target frequently.
Now the BIC section has the prices right on the outside of the box. A price tag was hanging above this box with prices for all items in the bins.
The 18 ct. Extra Fun pencil pack is $3.29 at BJs. 18 cent a pencil.
Target’s price is $5.99 for 24 pencils.
BJ’s is the winner for Bic items.
BIC Velocity Mechanica Pencils 5 pack with extra lead $3.99.
Target’s Bic Velocity Pencils 4 pack with some extra lead $2.89
BJ’s is the best buy for BIC items.
This is a nice deal for crafts a 25 count of brushes for $5.
The most similar one with variety at Target was the ALEX brand 50 ct for $20.99.
SHOULD YOU BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES AT BJs OR TARGET?
The answer is both. This quick comparison of back to school supplies shows the power in shopping a couple different stores. In our area Target is a 30-second drive from BJ’s so it is worth shopping for both stores.
If your stores aren’t close to each other try to think of other stores near your local BJs or Target where you need to pick items up from. If you can incorporate making the trip to both stores worth it, you’ll be saving more money.
BJ’s is a great place to buy dorm items, especially furniture. ( post coming on college items soon!)
Target is your go-to place for the basic items needed for many students back to school lists. Target will be running sales and cartwheel offers at various times now until Sept.
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Don’t forget to download your FREE Back to School Supply Price Point Checklist here.
CHECK OUT THE WEEKLY TARGET COUPON DEALS IN OUR LIST HERE
CHECK OUT THE MONTHLY BJ’S DEALS IN OUR LIST HERE
My Weekly Grocery Shopping Haul! How I Saved 55% ( Tops & BJs)
I recently bought a single bostitch pencil sharpener like the one pictured here from Walmart for a little under $3.00. So BJ’s 2 pack is a little more affordable.