Check out these top tips for saving on school supplies from the editors of Consumer Reports Money Advisor.

Start at home. Do you have a stash of stuff left over from last year? If so, gather it up. Many teachers and schools are more relaxed this year about their supply lists to give parents more flexibility, says Chuck Saylors, president of the National PTA.

Buy in bulk. When you do go supply shopping, go big. Notebooks, pencils, pens, and erasers are often sold in bulk.

Go for plain. While a preteenager might be convinced she'll die without that $6 Hannah Montana three-ring binder, a basic unadorned $2 binder serves the same purpose and can be used long after Hannah has been replaced by the next pop idol.

Get more tips for saving on clothes, computers, and textbooks in our back-to-school special section.