Paper (Yes, I know I shouldn't sweat the small stuff...)

I know, I know...my following gripe is probably going to come across as frivolous because I really do have more important things to fret about.

Anyhow, the increased price of lined filler paper is absolutely shocking to me. Although I theoretically could get my note-taking needs accomplished in a paperless manner with my laptop, I tend to retain five times as much material when I take notes by hand with my good old pen and paper.

In previous years I've stocked up on filler paper during the month of August due to the back-to-school sales at every other store. Places such as WalMart, Big Lots and other discount retailers have traditionally sold the 100-pack bundle for $0.50 to $0.75 each during this time of the year to draw in the back-to-school crowd. However, this year I've seen the same 100-packs sell for $1.99 and up.

Although it's no big deal, I felt like sounding off. If you've read this far, thanks for listening. By the way, have any of you been caught off guard by higher prices this year?

EVERYDAY!!!!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Have you bought a pound of hamburger lately? I mean really!

Oh, and I retain anything I've written by hand as well. I myself am a legal pad devote'.

Have you bought a pound of hamburger lately? I mean really!

Oh, and I retain anything I've written by hand as well. I myself am a legal pad devote'.

Seriously! I used to spend $100 a week at the grocery store and recently it's been more like $140. I buy pretty much the same thing week to week so omgwhatishappening?!

Seems like school supplies are rising in cost and also other things associated with being a student.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Going shopping today I'll let you know.....

Nice to know others prefer pen and paper! I am frequently the only old fogey in my classes writing my notes the old-fashioned way -- in cursive, nonetheless.

As for the prices, do you have access to a Sam's Club or Costco? Haven't checked mine for paper, but I would guess they have some.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Going shopping today I'll let you know.....

Could you pick me up some paper and a couple pounds of hamburger??????

This is why I bought a bunch of the .15 notebooks instead but I'm a lefty so its easier to use the filler paper. I don't even think they had filler paper on sale with the other school supplies.

[Stitch3296]

I noticed that this year as well. Kept hoping it would go on sale and it never did. I also used to be able to spend $160 a week on groceries, now can't seem to get out without being around $200. And don't even get me started on gas $!!!!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

As for the prices, do you have access to a Sam's Club or Costco? Haven't checked mine for paper, but I would guess they have some.

I've got a Sam's Club membership and I live near Costco. Sam's Club had plenty of deals on the plain white 8x11 all-purpose printer paper for use in copying machines, fax and printers (the 750-sheet reams of plain white paper were about $3 each). However, the lined filler paper was not on sale. Inflation is a witch...

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

This is why I bought a bunch of the .15 notebooks instead but I'm a lefty so its easier to use the filler paper. I don't even think they had filler paper on sale with the other school supplies.

Fellow lefty- use the spiral notebooks backwards- start from the back! That's what I do- you should see my kids' heads almost explode every time they look for a recipe in one of my notebooks!

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I am a huge pen and paper writer. If I don't write it down, I won't remember. It's honestly how I remember everything. My school supplies were super expensive. But I might also add, I don't go for the plain stuff, I have to have the fancy polka dot notebooks and pretty folders. I have really cute binders too. So I thought maybe it was just me and the stuff I was buying that had gone up. Lol. Me with a plain notebook? Oh the horror!!!!!

I wait until target puts it on clearance (they probably will here in a couple weeks) and buy several packages) and yes it used to be so inexpensive but I noticed it was like twice the price or more this year

[SeattleJess]

Staples had some dollar packs in my area. College ruled notebook paper and composition notebooks.

I'm a stationeryaholic. I can't complain about the basics because it's the super-duper bright colored printer paper and the other optional bells and whistles that blows my budget. Colored paper clips. Fancy tape. Erasable dividers....

[amoLucia]

Have you bought a pound of hamburger lately? I mean really!

Oh, and I retain anything I've written by hand as well. I myself am a legal pad devote'.

Have you looked at the price of bacon???

I use spiral notebooks for daily memo jotting things. Past couple years they were 10 cents on sale. This year, 20 cents, thank you!

was at walmart yesterday and here they are putting excess supplies on clearance - lose leaf paper packs 50cents and 1 subject notebooks 25cents.. l loaded up.

About five years ago, one of our local stores was renovating and pretty much cleared out the school supplies. Somehow I bought two cases of loose leaf filler, figuring it would get used.

I donated a case to the local school in January. I just found a stash of scribblers that my boys need when they were learning to print (did I mention that my oldest has been in the Army for five years). They are getting dropped off at the elementary school next week.