Where to Buy Affordable School Supplies in the Philippines

It's that time of year again—everyone is gearing up for the new school year! Kids are excited about meeting new teachers and making new friends. If you're a parent, however, you're probably not too excited about the prices of school supplies.

Fortunately, you have plenty of affordable options for buying school supplies in the Philippines. Below, check out some of the best places to get great deals. We also covered a few budgeting tips and hacks to maximize your budget. 

Buying School Supplies in the Philippines: 8 Affordable Options

Wondering, “Where to buy affordable school supplies in the Philippines near me?” Check out these physical and online shops where you can buy supplies that won’t break the bank:

📍 Divisoria

If you want to buy wholesale school supplies at an affordable price, Divisoria should be the first place on your list. You'll find cheaper deals here than at malls. Plus, the area is known for its haggling culture, so you can get even lower prices if you're willing to negotiate. 

Divisoria is also centrally located and easy to get to. No wonder it’s a popular destination for budget-conscious parents and students! 

📍 Baclaran

Baclaran is one of the best places to buy school supplies in the Philippines, thanks to its wide range of options and competitive prices. The area is known for its many stalls and shops that sell everything school-related. Whether you're looking for affordable notebooks or discount pens, it’s worth the visit. 

Independent sellers offer even more variety and choice. Just like in Divisoria, prices are often negotiable, so it's worth taking the time to haggle for a better deal. 

📍 168 Mall Binondo

Aside from Divisoria and Baclaran, 168 Mall in Binondo is the best place to buy school supplies, especially if you want to get the most bang for your buck. It's packed with incredibly cheap deals on pens, pencils, notebooks, and other school materials, including handkerchiefs, towels, water jugs, raincoats, and more. 

168 Mall is also conveniently located near several major transportation hubs, making going to and from the mall easy. 

📍 Marikina Riverbanks

The Marikina Riverbanks Mall is one of the best places to buy school shoes. As the country’s shoe capital, Marikina is home to high-quality and durable shoes. 

Given their durability and craftsmanship, each pair is worth it. This is your chance to support local businesses as well. 

Prefer to shop for branded items instead? You’ll also find outlets inside the mall. 

📍 Commonwealth Market

Live in or near Quezon City? Commonwealth Market is one of the best places to buy school supplies since you can get almost everything you need and avoid hefty transportation costs. 

From stationery and books to uniforms and bags, there's a wide selection of school supplies. Like in Divisoria and Baclaran, you can haggle to get the lowest deals. 

📍 Sterling on LazMall

Don't want to brave the crowds at the spots above? Sterling LazMall is one of the best places to buy school supplies online. For one, it offers a wide variety of products and big discounts and deals. You’ll get even lower prices on bulk orders, from notebooks to pencils and pad papers. 

This online school supplies shop also provides free shipping on orders over a certain amount. Don’t forget to claim vouchers to save more on your purchases. 

📍 Faber-Castell on LazMall

Faber-Castell is one of the world's leading manufacturers of premium art supplies and stationery products. Whether you're looking for crayons, colored pencils, or other art supplies, Faber-Castell's LazMall store is an excellent place to buy art-related school supplies.

The store offers a wide selection of products at very competitive prices and provides affordable shipping on orders, making it easy to get the supplies you need for cheap. Buy in bulk and get all the vouchers to save more on items. 

📍 Dong-A on LazMall

Dong-A LazMall is an online school supplies store in the Philippines that offers a wide range of products at reasonable prices. It’s an excellent choice for affordable art and stationery supplies. The store also has a good reputation, so you can be sure you're getting long-lasting products.

If you buy products such as pens, crayons, oil pastels, and other art supplies in bulk, you’ll get discounts. 

Other School Supplies Stores in the Philippines 

The places below offer slightly higher mall prices on school supplies. But you'll likely save money on your purchases if you shop during payday sales or shopping festivals. Visit their physical stores or shop online—whatever’s convenient for you. 

📍 National Bookstore

National Bookstore has been around since the 1940s, making it one of the Philippines' most loved and successful establishments. It has over 200 stores nationwide and sells over 100,000 supplies and over 90,000 books, making it your one-stop shop for all school purchases. 

Shop with your Laking National card to earn Sulit Coins worth 1% of the total amount of your purchase. 

📍 The SM Store

Want to shop for all your supplies in one trip? Head to your nearest SM Store to buy all things school-related—bags, shoes, socks, inner garments, water tumblers, and more. Go to the stationery and school supplies section to tick off more supplies on your list, such as notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, highlighters, and more. 

Watch out for back-to-school sales and save money on select items. Also, present your SM Advantage Card (SMAC) to earn points, get discounts, and enjoy freebies.

📍 Office Warehouse

Office Warehouse has been in business since 1997, offering customers top-of-the-line school and office supplies, furniture, and products. It has over 70 outlets in Metro Manila and provides store pick-up and door-to-door delivery services. 

It also regularly offers Buy One Get One promos on popular and trusted brands, so you can enjoy significant back-to-school savings. 

📍 Expressions

If you need to buy a wide assortment of school supplies, plus arts and crafts materials, make your way to Expressions. Shop in-store in branches nationwide or online via Metromart, Panda Mart, or Grab Mart for a hassle-free shopping experience. 

7 Helpful Tips When Buying School Supplies in the Philippines

✅ Recycle Old School Supplies

What to buy for school supplies? Before anything else, make an inventory of your children’s school supplies from last year. If certain items are still in good condition, you don’t have to buy new ones. Sort those that can still be reused or recycled for another school year. 

• Recycle unused pages from old spiral notebooks. Remove clean sheets from their binding and sew them together to make a new notebook.
• Refill old pens and markers. Instead of buying new writing tools, save money by buying refills.
• Gather old pencils. As long as they aren’t broken, pencils can be sharpened so they’re good to use again.
• Don’t throw away old gadgets just yet. You can still use them for online classes.

✅ Set a Budget Based on Your Supplies List

Before shopping, wait for the official school supplies list. Once you have your final list, write down the estimated price of each item and get the total. This way, you have a realistic budget for your back-to-school shopping.

To start budgeting, check the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies^[1] for the complete list of suggested retail prices (SRPs) for school supplies in the Philippines.

✅ Watch Out For Back-to-School Sales and Promos

On the lookout for great deals on your school supplies shopping? These usually start around June or July. Aside from usual back-to-school student discounts, you can also join giveaways, raffles, and other promos. 

Check these out:

National Bookstore Panalo Balik 'Skwela Mo! Raffle Promo

Give your kids something to look forward to with National Bookstore's back-to-school raffle. Win a trip to Seoul or Osaka plus ₱100,000 in cash, a gamer package, or a Yamaha Mio Aerox Standard Motorcycle.

Until September 15, 2024, earn a raffle entry for every purchase worth ₱199 at any National Book Store, NBS Express, Art Bar, and Kids Ink branches. Meanwhile, Laking National QR and Laking National QR Plus members earn two raffle entries for every purchase worth ₱199.^[2]

Expressions Cash-Iyahan Raffle Promo

Need extra cash to fund back-to-school expenses? Until August 18, 2024, join Expression's back-to-school Cash-Iyahan Raffle Promo, where you can win up to ₱100,000. For promo mechanics, message Expressions on Facebook.^[3]

BPI Back-to-School Real Deals

Are you a loyal BPI cardholder? Shop for school supplies using your BPI credit, debit, or prepaid card to get up to 20% off.^[4] 

Don't have a BPI credit card yet? Check out your options below:

Credit Card	Minimum Annual Income Requirement	Annual Fee	Key Features
BPI Rewards Card	₱180,000	₱1,550	1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend
Petron BPI Card	₱180,000	₱1,550	3% fuel rebate at Petron  ₱200 fuel voucher welcome gift
BPI Amore Cashback Card	₱180,000	₱2,050	4% cashback on supermarkets, 1% on drug stores and utilities, 0.3% on other local spend
BPI Edge Card	₱180,000	₱110 monthly	1 BPI Point for every ₱50 spend
BPI Gold Rewards Card	₱480,000	₱2,250	1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend Up to ₱10 million free travel insurance
BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card	₱1 million	₱5,000	4% cashback on restaurants, 1% on supermarkets and other shopping stores, 0.3% on everything else
BPI Platinum Rewards Card	₱1 million	₱4,000	2 BPI Points for every ₱30 local spend and ₱20 foreign currency spend online or abroad
BPI Signature Card	₱1.2 million	₱5,500	2 BPI Points for every ₱20 spend 50% off Signature Exclusives

✅ Use a Credit Card for More Perks

Speaking of cards—if you have a credit card, use it when buying school supplies to avail of even more discounts or perks.

For instance, you can earn rewards points, which, depending on your provider, you can then exchange for annual fee waivers, cash credits, gift certificates, and more. Here are some options:

Credit Card	Points Earn Rate
UnionBank Rewards Credit Card	1 non-expiring point for every ₱30 spend 3x non-expiring points for shopping and dining here and abroad
Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®	1 point for every ₱20 spend 2x rewards points for dining, online, or department store purchases
HSBC Red Mastercard	Up to 4x bonus points for every ₱20 spend on dining and online transactions, shopping, and overseas spending 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
BPI Rewards Card	1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend Exclusive deals all year round
BPI Platinum Rewards Card	2 BPI Points for every ₱30 local spend 2 BPI Points for every ₱20 foreign online or overseas transactions

Meanwhile, with a cashback credit card, you earn rebates based on a percentage of your purchase. Compare your options:

Credit Card	Cashback Rates
Petron BPI Card	3% fuel rebate at Petron Maximum fuel rebate of ₱15,000 per year
BPI Amore Cashback Card	4% cashback on supermarkets and department stores 1% cashback on drugstores and utilities 0.3% cashback on other local spend
BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card	4% cashback on restaurants and online food delivery services 1% cashback on supermarkets and department stores 0.3% cashback on other local and international spend
Security Bank Complete Cashback Mastercard	5% cashback on groceries, 4% on gas, 3% on utilities, and 2% on dining As much as ₱12,000 cashback annually

✅ Buy Wholesale

Flea markets or tiangges in Divisoria and Baclaran are bargain hunters’ favorite shopping destinations, as they offer huge discounts of 10% to 50% for wholesale school supplies. Here are some tips when shopping at tiangges:

• Start shopping early in the morning. Many sidewalk stalls open as early as 7 a.m., with some vendors offering buena mano discounts to their first customers.
• Focus on areas that provide the best deals. These include flea markets along Ylaya and Tabora Streets, around New Divisoria Mall, 168 Mall, and Divisoria Market.
• Shop online instead. If you want to avoid the crowd but still save money, try shopping at online tiangges.

✅ Buy Only High-Quality Supplies

When buying school supplies, compare prices, sizes, and quality. You’re not saving money if you keep buying supplies and gadgets that will cost you in replacements or repairs. They must last at least the whole school year.

Also, make sure to buy only supplies that your kids can easily and safely use. When it comes to gadgets, don’t go for cheap, low-quality phones or tablets that children can easily destroy. If you want to save a few bucks, buy the flagship models from at least two years ago. 

✅ Label Your Child’s School Things

After buying all the school supplies on your list, put name labels on them. Write your child’s name using permanent markers or make personalized name stickers. It will prevent theft or loss and make it easier for your child to identify their school things. 

Buying School Supplies: FAQs

1. Where can I buy cheap school supplies? 

Check out the above places to find cheap school supplies that fit your budget. 

However, as mentioned, remember to invest in high-quality school supplies, even if they cost more. School uniforms, shoes, bags, and water bottles will be used for many years, so opt for quality over low costs. 

Also, remind your child to take care of their school things so they can last for many years. For instance, show them how to correctly put books and notebooks inside their bags to avoid folds and wrinkles. Or remind them to avoid tossing their lunch boxes or water bottles carelessly to prevent damage. 

2. When should I start buying school supplies? 

Do so at least a month before the school year begins. It will save you time and energy and help you get better deals. Plus, if you start shopping early, you'll have plenty of time to compare prices and find the best deals.

Read more education articles:

• 11 Scholarships in the Philippines: Eligibility, Requirements, More
• 14 Educational Plans in the Philippines to Secure Your Child’s Future
• How to Secure a Child's Future by Saving for Education Now
• How Much Money Should I Save for My Child’s Education in 2024?

Final Thoughts

With some preparation, you can save money while buying school supplies. 

Aside from taking note of the best places to purchase affordable supplies, don’t forget to set a budget based on your list. Watch out for back-to-school sales and promos. Lastly, buy only high-quality products that will last throughout the school year. 

We hope these tips help make your back-to-school shopping experience a breeze!

Sources:

• ^[1] DTI releases price guide for school supplies (GMA News Online, 2024) 
• ^[2] Panalo Balik 'Skwela Mo! Raffle Promo
• ^[3] Expressions on Facebook
• ^[4] BPI on Facebook