Be a Smart Cookie - Back-To-School Shopping With RetailMeNot.ca | Toronto Teacher Mom

Be a Smart Cookie - Back-To-School Shopping With RetailMeNot.ca

Monday, August 31, 2015


Ever since I was a kid, I loved back-to-school season. It meant a new backpack, a fresh set of school supplies and reconnecting with old school friends. Then I became a teacher and I traded in my backpack for a briefcase and school supplies for teacher supplies. But never once did I dread back-to-school shopping. Until I became a mother of two. Then it all changed. As much as I wanted to buy all the coolest school supplies for my kids, I had to be realistic and stick to a budget. This year isn't any different. However, I am taking advantage of some great sales that I happened across while browsing RetailMeNot.ca

With the hopes of sharing my savings journey with you, my readers, RetailMeNot.ca provided me with a back-to-school shopping spree as well as some savvy spending tips from Sandra Hanna, Smart Cookie and RetailMeNot.ca spokesperson. Below, I highlight my three favourite tips.

Cheapest Isn't Always Best

When it comes to items your kids will use all year round, like backpacks, it pays to invest in quality. Think about price for longevity and factor that into your cost comparison. However, don’t forget that you can still find a great deal on a high quality backpack for about $40, especially if you stack your savings. Doing a quick search on sites like RetailMeNot.ca will help you find promo codes for some of your favourite retailers and brands, saving you a few dollars on that backpack. 


Keeping this tip in mind, I knew I wanted to invest in a quality pencil sharpener for my office. I teach over 150 students on a daily basis and often keep extra pencils and pencil crayons on hand whenever they need them. I also keep a manual sharpener both those never seem to last. Nope. I wanted a heavy duty electric sharpener and preferably one that didn't result in the loss of precious decibels. Luckily, through RetailMeNot.ca., I came across some back-to-school savings up to 75% at Amazon.ca and found just what I needed - an X-ACTO Quiet Electric Pencil Sharpener at 20% off. Reading the reviews I was confident that it was a good investment. In addition, I found an amazing deal on my favourite brand of pencil crayons - PRISMACOLOR Scholar Art Pencils at 63% off! I plan to share these with my daughter who is an art fanatic and loves to draw. These quality pencil crayons will be perfect for her. I also grabbed some nifty Sharpie pens at 37% off. Because a teacher can never have enough pens. In total, I spent just over $112 at Amazon.ca and got free shipping, which amounts to almost $80 in savings.

Deals Aren't Just For the Kids

Despite 43 per cent Canadians feeling back-to-school can be a financial burden, the shopping season can also bring a ton of sales! While you're stocking your kids up for the school year, don't forget to take advantage of the lowest prices of the year on computers and other office equipment. If you're in the market, now is the time to save on that new laptop you've been eyeing from top retailers like Best Buy.

On my personal list of back-to-school must-haves is a new pair of runners. Not so much for running but rather to slip into on those days when I need to kick off my heels. I teach à la carte which means I am always on the go, walking up and down flights of stairs and room to room. Luckily, I found a deal at Reebok through RetailMeNot.ca. I found a pair of Women's Reebok Crossfit Nano for almost half price. These will also be perfect for our after school bootcamp that some of the teachers participate in at my school.

Share Your Shopping

Forty-four per cent of Canadian parents agree back-to-school shopping is stressful, so why not share the stress and costs? You can save money by buying school supplies in bulk especially if you split the cost with another parent. Compare shopping lists with friends and neighbours to see what you both need. By buying in bulk at stores like Costco and splitting the cost, you can save money for the more expensive items.

This is such a great idea. I don't have a membership at Costco, though, so if anyone wants to take me shopping...


And on a final note to my teacher friends, you may have noticed the deal on RetailMeNot.ca highlighting Teacher Appreciation Days on September 3 and 12. Save 15% on most in-store purchases and for the first time save 10% off all in-store electronics purchases. And don't forget your free gift!

As if finding all these deals in one place wasn't good enough, RetailMeNot.ca has offered to give away a $100 Visa gift card to one lucky reader. Simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. Open to Canadian residents only, excluding Quebec.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I am participating in the #SpendToSave Back-to-School campaign with RetailMeNot.ca and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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145 COMMENTS

  1. New clothing for my kids! I find that is the most expensive to get!

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  2. I am still on the hunt for some rainboots and matching raincoat for my Son.

    Lori R Jackson is my rafflecopter name

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  3. For back to school, a new laptop case is at the top of my list

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  4. New shoes, school supplies and backpack..need everything…haven't even started yet

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  5. A backpack is on the top of my list

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  6. It's a backpack for us this year!

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  7. School pants are on the top of my list

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  8. school clothes and school supplies

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  9. New fall clothes were always at the top of my back to school list.

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  10. Clothes and footwear is at the top of my back to school list.
    Florence C

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  11. Clothes and footwear is at the top right now.

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  12. Back packs are on the top of my list

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  13. Clothes, one of the kids just finished a growth spurt.

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  14. New shoes for indoors and out. Thanks!

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  15. definitely new clothes and shoes!

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  16. At the top of our list is purchasing new scarves and hats for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

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  17. Hoodies, shoes, bag, and new lunch bag

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  18. I still need to get some new BTS clothes for my kids.

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  19. New leggings for my daughters, summer is hard on them.

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  20. I don't have children in school any more, but when I did, new clothes to replace what was outgrown during the summer was always at the top of my list.

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  21. I'd like to get a new tablet

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  22. clothing for kiddo, and stationery :)

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  23. Backpacks, shoes and school supplies.

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  24. Shoes are at the top of my list. Four kids and two pairs for each!

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  25. Running shoes and backpacks were at the top of my list for my grandchildren.

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  26. The grandkids wanted new foot wear and neat back packs-one got Frozen from Grammy

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  27. He needs new running shoes

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  28. The top of our list is a new laptop and a new tablet, we all need to be connected to do school work and work stuff.

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  29. A new laptop that is more up to date is on the top of our list.

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  30. New shoes is at the top of the list. Hard to find good quality shoes.

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  31. New boots!

    billiondollarprincesss @hotmail.com

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  32. It looks like a new laptop.
    (Debbie W)

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  33. Definitely new fall clothes. (Judy Cowan)

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  34. A new laptop at the top of my back-to-school shopping list! :)

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  35. Shoes, always shoes need a pair for everyday and plus a pair for indoors and then next is boots for winter

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  36. Alarm clock for my teenager, cool backpacks and shoes

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  37. My kids are already back to school, so our shopping is all done :) I have 4 in school this year: kindergarten, grade one, grade three, and grade 12. So we needed everything from paper plates and crayons to binders and calculators plus shoes, clothing, etc.

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  38. we don't really clothes shop for back to school, so it was simply supplies
    jan

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  39. I still need to get sneakers for my son

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  40. Sports gear, everything is worn and outgrown.

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  41. Clothes and school supplies are on the top of my list.

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  42. A new backpack is at the top of the list.

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  43. Im currently hunting for deals on laptops for my kids, my son is starting high school and needs his own computer, the 4 of us sharing one laptop is becoming a pain :)

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  44. My son needed shoes, he's been in flip flops or barefoot most of the summer so he needed runners and like actual shoes for school

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  45. Some clothes and all the supplies, ran out if everything .

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  46. clothes for fall/winter and shoes for my kids is on my back to school list

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  47. Indoor running shoes are top of my back to school list this year! Everyone is growing so much; time to go up a size!

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  48. I'm pretty much done, but might need to buy one more pair of running shoes soon.

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  49. Fortunately, my kids are grown but I've bought a few extra school supplies for my granddaughter

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  50. School supplies & new outfits for the first day.

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  51. I still need to buy scissors, graph paper, & a USB Stick for my daughter's back to school list.

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  52. New shoes and clothes are at the top of my list.

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  53. A new printer for the piles of homework ;)

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  54. Pants for both my kids....they must have grown at least 3 inches over the summer

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  55. Indoor shoes that my son can get on & off easily himself

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  56. Indoor shoes and school supplies

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  57. Bailey dexter Shoes for all the kids, are on the top of the list! Seems like if I pick them up to earlier they are to small, so I always have to wait!

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  58. New shoes and clothing. We are desperate for them!

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  59. Foot wear top of the list in our house

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  60. New shoes are on the top of our list.

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  61. New clothing is at the top of the list.

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  62. I'd like a new pair of shoes for work!

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  63. Sneakers were at the top of my list. Luckily, I found some great deals!

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  64. pencils and pens!

    rafflecopter name is aarone mawdsley

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  65. Right now we all need shoes& winter coats! & markers!

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  66. Shoes, especially sneakers, and rain boots! :)

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  67. At the top of my back to school list are school supplies - paper, pens etc, can never have too much of them! Thanks for the giveaway, good luck all.

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  68. Top of the BTS list was shoes, backpacks and new clothes
    Sorry if this is a repeat didn't see my post

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  69. New clothes are at the top of the list.

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  70. At the top of my list: art supplies.

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  71. New sneakers are at the top of my list.

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  72. Long sleeve tops and pants are always on my list.

    Besos, Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo

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  73. Trainers and new boots.
    Cheers.

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  74. Shoes, and winter essentials likr scarfs, hats.

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  75. Shoes and clothing are on my list.

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  76. A new backpack and stationary are on my back to school list!

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  77. fall boots and a jacket would be nice!

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  78. New shoes for my grandson are at the top of my list.

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  79. Definitely some new pants for school

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  80. New clothing, mostly - they grow so fast!

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  81. shoes and pants....the boy never stops growing!

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  82. Back to school priorities: clothing, backpacks & lunch bags. :)

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  83. A new laptop and clothes are at the top of my back-to-school shopping list.

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