Ways to save on back-to-school shopping

Our lesson of the day? Savings is never too cool for school.

It's back-to-school shopping season and we've learned a thing or two on how not to burn a hole in your wallet. Time to whip out that No. 2 pencil. We've compiled a few ways to save without sacrificing the fun of the shopping season.

Organize
Make a list of the back-to-school supplies you need ... and don't shop without the list. This will eliminate over spending on items that are unnecessary. If you're not sure of the supples needed, e-mail the teacher or instructor. Maybe you don't really need that expensive calculator after all.
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Avoid chain electronic stores
Avoid large chain electronic stores for computers, a CBS news article reports. Instead shop around online for a better deal. Check out these sites for great deals on computers:
CompUSA.com: Great selection of laptops for school starting at $299
OnSale.com: $200 off Toshiba Satellite L355-S7905 Celeron only $399.99

Procrastinate
Wait to shop. The longer you wait, the better the sales. Putting a hold on back to school shopping may increase your anxiety, but in the end the savings are very rewarding. Kelli Grant, Sr. Consumer Reporter for SmartMoney.com says "buying basic items now while they're on sale, but wait until after school starts to buy the rest. Once the back-to-school rush has calmed down, retailers will often put traditional back-to-school items on clearance."

Ask for adjustments
If a purchased item goes on sale around two weeks after you bought it, bring it back with the receipt for a price adjustment. The store will refund or credit you the difference, which may end up being really helpful.

Don't forget Target
Don't rule out Target, Walmart and Costco. Big retailers such as these usually offer many discounts, especially for back to school shoppers. "Costco, right now, is offering up to $400 off Dell computers," says Grant. Walmart offers desks from $49, and Dell computers from $498.