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Back-to-school shopping: Buying online vs. in-store

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Back to school is around the corner, which means time to buy those school supplies.

The question for parents is, do you buy online or in-stores? The basic options are Target, Walmart and Amazon.

Checking out websites for basic school supplies, Amazon actually ended up being 15 percent higher than Walmart and Target. Walmart was the online winner, averaging about $32.

Now if you wanted to head to a store, the key is planning. Experts at Meijer say it's a weeks-long thing for them, so buying it all at once isn't always the best option. Track those sales and buy the supplies over time.

Also, try shopping at different stores, and don't forget those dollar stores! They have essentials like scissors for $1.79 or composite notebooks for $1.29.