Contact 6 shops three big box stores, seeking back-to-school deals
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Getting the kids ready to head back to school can be expensive -- but FOX6's Contact 6 has some tips to help parents with school aged children ready for a new school year, without breaking the bank!
Contact 6 reached out to My Milwaukee Mommy blogger Ann Heinzel for some back-to-school shopping tips.
Heinzel says her back-to-school shopping is done -- and get this? She spent $20 TOTAL on three children!
Heinzel has dedicated herself to finding the best deals for moms in Milwaukee -- including back-to-school shopping, which she starts earlier than most.
"Right after the 4th of July. That's when the ads start coming out with back to school, already. July, the beginning of July. And it seems to be getting earlier and earlier, actually!" Heinzel said.
Heinzel and the Contact 6 team visited three big box stores: Walmart, Target and Walgreen's, with the Milwaukee Public Schools fifth grade school supplies list in hand!
The team shopped during the same week of sales, and tried to buy the exact, or close to exact items at each store.
The team looked for the lowest-cost item to match what the list requires.
Heinzel says to look for generic products, which can be cheaper than name brand, just as long as the list doesn't require brand-specific items.
The team had a hard time finding some items at Walmart, because the store is so spread out, but the price was reasonable, totaling $47.83.
"Without coupons, that's a good deal," Heinzel said.
At Target, the team had to search high and low for similar items, since not every store carries the exact same quantities and brands.
Heinzel utilized Target's app, called "Cartwheel," which provides a direct link to online coupons.
At the register, the cashier scanned the phone -- and with Cartwheel and Target's customer rewards card, the total price was $40.85 -- nearly $8 less than Walmart, and the shopping trip was four minutes faster than Walmart.
The team found Walgreen's to be extremely convenient, with nearly everything needed found in one aisle.
However, the prices did not impress the Milwaukee Mommy!
Walgreen's was the most convenient, with the shopping trip taking less than 25 minutes, but it was the most expensive, with the total coming to $70 -- and that's with the weekly coupons and a store reward card.
Heinzel says when looking to save money on back-to-school supplies, it's all about research, shopping around and finding the best combination of cost and convenience.