Well Played Staples, Well Played

Once again I will be waving my freak flag for yet another post.

See those pencils?

Those beautiful bouquets of shiny, new pencils make me smile.  They are bundled and ready to go for the new school year.  Since the photo was taken, my aide sharpened each one and labeled them with the students' numbers.  At the start of every month I break out a new bundle and disperse them to eager recipients.

The reason I am able to neurotically pre-bundle a year's worth of pencils is because of the Staples .01 cent sales.

Historically, Staples has offered items for a penny in the months of July and August.  Their plan is to lure you into the store for the penny items and then have you impulsively drop several ten spots on additional merchandise.  They didn't account for me and my pocket full of copper coins to hit the Staples circuit.

With an accomplice.  

Because there is an items per person limit rule, but there is no age limit.  So he counts.

We literally have 3 Staples within 5 minutes of our driveway.  I have some form of compulsive disorder that forces me to go to each of the stores and stock up on whatever they are offering up that week.

Daily.

As in 7 times.  

At least.

Let's do the math.  7 days x 3 stores = 21 trips.  21 trips X 25 item max for teachers = 525 items

When that "item" is an 8 pack of pencils, we are looking at 4,200 pencils per summer.

At least.  Admittedly, I sometimes hit the triad of Staples more than once a day.

Sometimes more than twice.  

Plus, the items my son and husband are forced to buy as well.  It's an illness.

The 2 pocket, pronged folders are my favorite, but it doesn't matter what they are giving away.  I'm taking it.  

So the big sales start tomorrow.

Except, this year they are not being quite so generous.  The new ad reads, "WITH A $5.00 MINIMUM." 

Hmph! Boo hiss!

Good move on their part.

I suppose.

For those interested this week's sales include:

STAPLES .01 cent sale:

2 pocket folders

8 packs of pencils

(don't forget to use your Staples teacher card to get 25 vs the published maximum)

eta:  packages of copy/printer paper w/ rebate

WALMART:

Composition Notebooks .25 cents

WALGREENS:

Sharpies (12 pack assorted colors) $3.99

Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils (10 pack - makes a good addition to a gift set for students) .39

Hand Held Sharpeners/Rulers .29 cents

Expo Dry Erase Markers (4 pack) $1.99

CVS:

child scissors - free with Extra Care Bucks

Feel free to leave a comment with additional deals if you find them.  Happy Sunday.  Happy Shopping.