Early sales on items ranging from headphones and chairs to a shoe rack and speakers can help ease the transition<\/p>\n
Squishies and \u2018a fuzzy book\u2019: 20+ things tweens want for back-to-school season, according to tweens<\/p>\n
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If back-to-school sales seem to have kicked off earlier than usual this year, you aren\u2019t imagining it: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Nordstrom and other big retailers have already started advertising deals. Shoppers are electing to spread out spending over time to better manage their budgets amid the higher cost of everyday necessities such as food and gas. According to a poll by PwC, students and their families plan to spend upwards of $922 on back-to-school shopping this year, with 47% of families planning to spend more than last year.<\/p>\n
The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re among them, we found grade-A sales on the best back-to-school staples to help smooth you or your student\u2019s transition into the new academic year. They\u2019re all products we\u2019ve tested and loved from brands such as Apple, Bose, Herschel and more.<\/p>\n
Nike socks are popular with the school-aged set, according to fashion experts at the Filter UK. This rainbow-hued pack of six pairs, now 29% off, promises to pack some joy into your rotation, and they\u2019ve got moisture-wicking technology and breathable mesh for a cool look and feel.<\/p>\n
Heading to the water fountain each lecture to quench your thirst? Stay glued to your seat \u2013 and armed with info to help you prepare for that exam \u2013 with our all-time favorite water bottle, now 20% off in multiple colors and the best price they have ever been. \u201cWhat sets the FreeSip apart is the spout \u2013 you can sip your drink through a straw or gulp it from the free pour,\u201d according to contributor Zo\u00eb Phillimore.<\/p>\n
Between analog note-taking and leaving yourself little reminders, it pays to keep a set of pens on hand, especially when it\u2019s 12 of them at 21% off. \u201cThis is one of the world\u2019s most ubiquitous pens, adored for its cushioned grip and rollerball that glides across paper,\u201d said Hannah Jane Parkinson, a Guardian columnist.<\/p>\n
These cozy and cooling bamboo sheets first put Cozy Earth on the map in 2010, and you can now outfit your dorm bed for a deal using code GUARDIAN20 until 7 August. In my experience with the set, I appreciated its feel of a \u201cwell-worn T-shirt with a semi-slick texture\u201d (to quote myself) and fitted sheet that\u2019s remarkably easy to fasten thanks to helpfully labelled tags.<\/p>\n
Ugg stand at the foundation of many students\u2019 uniforms, but they are also a wise buy ahead of the early fall rainy season. \u201cRain and suede don\u2019t usually go hand in hand, so try a leather Ugg boot for a harder-wearing cozy boot,\u201d said Charlotte Gornall, a Guardian fashion assistant, of this mini pair, now up to 35% off.<\/p>\n
With this Filter-approved backpack, now 15% off with code GUARDIAN15 until 20 August, you\u2019re set for the school day, weekend trips and beyond. Equipped with built-in compartments and sleeves for your laptop, tablet, notebook, keys and more, it\u2019s no wonder contributor Tim Stevens calls it \u201ca great companion\u201d.<\/p>\n
For a bed worth dreaming about, grab this pillowy and breathable cotton-shelled down comforter that\u2019ll have you feeling \u201cas though [you\u2019re] sleeping on a literal cloud\u201d, a newlywed told us of this registry- and dorm-worthy bedding essential. Use code GUARDIAN25 to get 25% off until 7 August. The discount also applies to Brooklinen\u2019s best-tested linen shower curtain.<\/p>\n
Laundry day is a necessary evil, but this best-tested hamper for 26% off makes it easier with its compressive design. \u201cWhen folded, it\u2019s the size of a small card tabletop, and about 3in thick, making it perfect for an apartment, dorm room or any other cozy space,\u201d said Margaret Eby, a Filter tester.<\/p>\n