CALENDAR OF SAVINGS

SUNDAY SUNDAY THIS MONTH: Save on back to school MONDAY TUESDAY deals WEDNESDAY $1,965 IN PRIZES! 4 {tip} DON’T MISS A DEAL Use a comparison shopping Starting on the date the prize appears, log on to womansday.com/giveaways to enter for your chance to win. tool like hukkster.com to track prices. Download the Hukk It button and you’ll See page 142 for details and go online for official rules. receive an email when the item you want goes on sale.

8 {tip}

STREAMLINE YOUR SCHEDULES

Free calendar apps like Cozi (cozi.com) let you sync family events, so you’ll never get hit with no-show fees for missing appointments like the dentist.

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9 SAVE 20% on your first purchase from afterschool.com, where you can find kids’ sports gear, dancewear and more. Enter WD2013 at checkout.

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WIN IT!

23 Five readers will win a Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System in bright red—perfect for a dorm room or home office. Value, $99.

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WIN IT! 17 Three readers will win a $100 Kohl’s gift card to spend on new clothes and more. Value, $100.

24 {tip}

FOLLOW RETAILERS

“Like” your favorite stores on Facebook to learn about sales and contests. Last year

Target held a student video contest with prizes ranging from a printer to dorm decor. 11 {tip} Shop secondhand Need a costly gadget like an external hard drive or a graphing calculator? Order a gently used or refurbished one from Amazon Warehouse Deals to save up to 40%.

and freebies

THURSDAY 5 One reader will win a $300 Staples gift card, plus a backpack of supplies. Value, $467.34.

WIN IT!

19 SAVE 25% on everything from bookbags to art totes at stephenjosephgifts.com.

Enter WD2013 at checkout.

26 12 readers will win Mabel’s Labels Ultimate Back to School Combo, an assortment of fun tags for school supplies, clothes and more. Value, $42.

WIN IT!

FRIDAY

{tip} Wait for penny deals Retailers like OfficeMax often run back-to-school deals on supplies like spiral notebooks and highlighters, ranging from just a penny to 20¢. Check weekly circulars to see what’s on sale.

SATURDAY SATURDAY

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{tip} ASK FOR A COUPON CODE Online customer service agents can share discounts and promotions that you might not know about. Chat with a representative before you click to purchase.

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WIN IT!

28 One reader will win a Twin-Star Tresanti Amherst Desk, complete with a top that locks to keep tech items safe. Value, $199.

SOURCES: Kati Chevaux, editor, cozi.com. Candace Corlett, president, WSL Strategic Retail. Jodi Furman, author, livefabuLESS.com. Julie Mayfield, author, thefamilyceo.com. Andrea Woroch, consumer savings expert. Jeff Yeager, author, The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches.

COLLEGE CO SAVINGS PLAN You may not be able to trim tuition, but you can save on other costs with these smart tips.

Choose a meal plan that works with your child’s schedule. If he’s enrolled in evening classes, select a plan that allows for takeout bags or lets you convert unused meals to campus cash.

Keep more money in your pocket by checking the school’s housing website for the rules on allowable appliances and furniture. For instance, some dorms don’t allow microwaves or the building of loft beds.

Many retail stores offer price breaks when you present a valid student ID. (Save 15% at J.Crew and up to $200 off a new Mac at Apple.) If a discount isn’t advertised, just ask!

BUDGETING 101 Send your student off to school with a prepaid Visa gift card to use for incidentals. When the funds run out, you don’t have to worry about overdraft fees!

“What I like most about change is that it’s a synonym for ‘hope.’ If you are taking a risk, what you are really saying is, ‘I believe in tomorrow and I will be part of it.’”

LINDA ELLERBEE American journalist