Back to School Shopping - FOX 25/48 - WLAX/WEUX La Crosse & Eau Claire News

Picking out school supplies is almost like shopping for Christmas presents, and now they have one more thing in common. Saturday August 11th is being called "Back to School Saturday" and many retailers are hoping to get the same results as a "Black Friday" by offering all kinds of deals.

• Head to OfficeMax and Old Navy this August to coordinate your school supplies and your wardrobe. From Aug. 2 through Aug. 15, OfficeMax back-to-school customers will receive a register receipt coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase1 at Old Navy stores nationwide. The coupon can be redeemed at Old Navy stores Aug. 2 through Aug. 22. Additionally, shoppers loading up on back-to-school fashion at Old Navy will receive a coupon at checkout good for $10 off a $40 purchase at OfficeMax stores nationwide or online at officemax.com through Sept. 30.

Throughout the season OfficeMax is offering 25-cent, 50-cent and $1 value deals on a variety of supplies that appear on many school shopping lists, including markers, composition books, glue, scissors and more.

• Sears customers can shop to stop bullying on Sears' "Super Back-to-School Saturday" Aug. 11. Customers can download a one-day-only savings pass online at sears.com/TeamUp for 15 percent off on in-store purchases of apparel, footwear and fine jewelry. Sears will donate five percent of in-store purchases using the savings pass (up to $70,000) to its non-profit anti-bullying coalition of partners.

• Staples will be promoting its Back to School Savings Pass. The pass costs $10 and it offers 15 percent off school supplies. On Saturday Staples will be giving $5 off a purchase of $25 in store. Also look for Staples' "Back to School Extreme Deals" where you'll find school supplies like note cards, notebooks, erasers, and filler paper at up to 90 percent off.

• Since JCPenney has rethought its "Fair and Square" low prices all the time strategy, they are offering clearances on back-to-school items also including 50 percent off Arizona Jean Co. tank tops and Juniors Arizona Colored Skinny Jeans for only $17. Backpacks are on sale for $10 to $15 in a variety of styles. They are also offering free kids haircuts promotion for the month of August for children up to 6th grade.

But with all the sales money is still tight for many families and store manager Terry Willer says his customers aren't indulging as much as they used too.

"Just really buying the basics and not going overboard on extra frivolous things. Pens, paper, and crayons and all that," said Willer.

According to the National Retail Federation parents are spending an average of more than $600 per student on back to school supplies. Onalaska Middle School Principal Jed Keys says when he makes the school supply list, he takes into consideration that some families can't afford many new supplies.

"We try to make it a list of what is truly necessary after considering what we can help provide through our resources and community resources. The last thing we want to do is put a hindrance on any kid's education," said Keys.

Anyone who wishes to donate supplies to a school may drop off the materials anonymously at the front desk.