The 7 rules of top school-supply shoppers

Shop for school and save money

Get ready—it's that time again! Shelves are stocked with everything from crayons to calculators, and just like every other year, you don't need top marks in math to realize those scholar dollars can add up quickly. In fact, last year the back-to-school buying period for K-12 and college combined was the second biggest consumer spending season after the winter holidays—with sales calculated at $68.8 billion, says the National Retail Federation. Your homework this fall: keep more money in your wallet by shopping wisely.