Back to School on a Budget

We here at Patch started asking ourselves, just how much does it cost to fill a backpack full of essential back-to-school products on a budget?

Amherst Patch Editor Robert Michaelson decided to take a deeper look. Using a back-to-school basics list obtained from , Robert visited Web site and started filling his online cart with value-priced supplies. Here's what he found:

• Backpack - 24.99
• Lunch bag - 8.00
• Pencils - 4.99
• Erasers - 1.79
• Pencil box/pouch - 2.29
• Pens - 1.29
• Crayons - 1.29
• Colored Pencils - 2.59
• Ruler - 2.49
• Blunt tip scissors - 2.79
• Glue stick - 2.49
• Markers -- waterproof = 3.79
• Book covers - 3.99
• Composition notebook - 3.29
• 1 Subject notebook - 1.50
• Folders - 6.49
• 3-Ring Binder and filler paper - 4.29
• Tissues - 2.99

Total: 81.34

Check back with Patch over the next couple days to discover more unique back-to-school tips and ideas.