6 Things Grownups Should Buy at Back-to-School Sales

Now is the time to nab deals on shoes, bedding, laptops and more

Donna Fuscaldo and Daniel Bortz,

Updated August 27, 2025

AARP

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En español

Published August 11, 2023

/ Updated August 27, 2025

a collage of items included in many back to school sales, including shoes, electronics, bedding and more

AARP (Getty Images, 9)

You don’t need a student ID to score back-to-school bargains — and many retailers are running sales through Labor Day.

“The great thing about back-to-school shopping is that it encompasses several different categories, many of which are useful to older adults,” says Julie Ramhold, a senior editor at DealNews, a daily deals website. “If there’s something that even remotely could fall into a back-to-school category, it’s worth seeing if it’s on sale.”

The biggest savings are on school supplies, clothing and gear for teens, tweens and adolescents. But retailers often slash prices on adult sizes and items, too. And who doesn’t need to stock up on office supplies from time to time?

Here are six categories of products that are on sale this back-to-school season.

1. Shoes and apparel

As summer winds down, retailers slash prices on warm-weather footwear and clothing to make room for fall apparel and shoes.

Take Nike, Reebok and Adidas as examples. All three are running back-to-school or Labor Day sales for shoes and apparel. Sure, they may not be the kicks trending on social media, but you can get a pair of running sneakers or leggings from these brands on the cheap.

If you’re in the market for fall clothing such as sweaters and jeans, hit the stores during Labor Day sales, suggests Vipin Porwal, founder and CEO at shopping rewards app Smarty.

2. Office supplies

If you need pens, paper, envelopes, tape and other office supplies, now is a great time to stock up. “This is the time of year when the variety of office supplies is greater. Retailers make sure their assortments have all the possible products — in all the variations,” says Deborah Fowler, professor of hospitality and retail management at Texas Tech University. Older adults “can pick up all the office supplies or children’s supplies they keep on hand for young visitors for the year.”

Staples, Target, Walmart and Office Depot are just a few examples of retailers with office supply sales during back-to-school season.

3. Backpacks, lunch bags and food containers

Ready for a new backpack, lunch bag or food container? You’re in luck — these products are on sale during back-to-school season. Many retailers, including REI, L.L. Bean and Bentgo, are offering significant discounts, with some products marked off by double-digit percentages.

4. Bedding

Sheets, comforters and pillowcases typically go on sale as college-bound students shop to outfit their dorm rooms. Look for deals online on Wayfair and Amazon and in-store at Macy’s, Target, Walmart and Kohl’s.

5. Computers, tablets and other electronics

Sales on computers, laptops, tablets and other gadgets needed for school abound. Among the companies and retailers offering back-to-school deals on electronics are Apple, Lenovo, HP, Best Buy, Walmart and Microsoft.

6. Water bottles

Hydration is important, especially for older adults, and now is a great time to save on water bottles. Many retailers, such as Target, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and REI, are running back-to-school sales on a variety of water bottle brands.

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Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.

Daniel Bortz is a personal finance editor at AARP, where he writes and edits money content for the website, from saving and budgeting to building wealth and money management skills. His work has been published by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Entrepreneur, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Money and other national publications.

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