Simple ways to save on back-to-school shopping

Happy multiethnic children using mobile phone for vlogging

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Parents, get those shopping engines started.

With Prime Day around the corner, it is time to start thinking back-to-school, even though your son’s or daughter’s school supply list may not even be available yet.

Dee Lundsford is not waiting.

“I like the sales,” she said while checking out at Walmart. “July is always a good month to really go shopping.”

She’s right. If you need school or office supplies, you’ll find the best deals of the year starting right now. And inflation has finally leveled off with last month’s consumer price index reaching the lowest it has been in a year.

Walmart regional manager Matt Goans says the chain is working hard to keep prices at last year’s levels.

“We have backpacks under $20, a great value,” he said, showing character backpacks priced at $19.99.

Some laptops are even cheaper than last year, he said.