1. Back-to-School Supplies

Believe the hype! Back-to-school sales are generally the best time to stock up on things like pens, pencils, notebooks and backpacks, according to Brooke Kalein, the deals editor for Wisebread.com, a community of bloggers who aim to "live large on a small budget."

"It actually is," she said. "They run the lowest prices right at the beginning of the school year."

So stock up on recycled paper, notebooks, pens and backbacks now.