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ALBANY, GA --
While kids are savoring the last few weeks of fun in the sun, parents are making lists for the upcoming school year - but there are plenty of ways you can protect your wallet on the upcoming back-to-school shopping spree.

"Start generally in the middle of the school year because that's when school supplies are at their all-time-cheapest," says Montrez Rambo, a student who was out shopping for the new school year.

Rambo also says his mom buys a little bit each month so that it's not one big bill all at once. Others recommend going armed with a strict list for those trips.

"Buy in quantities, make sure you stick to the school list so you don't buy extra things that you don't need and check sales," said Danielle Norris, a stocker at Fred’s Store.

No matter what tricks you use when browsing the aisles for this year's supplies, everyone's trying to reach the same goal: saving money.

"Right now you've got to try to save all you can because times are not going to get better, I think they're going to get harder," said Doretha Dandy, who tries to get the best deals for her grandchildren.

"It's just important to save because everybody needs a little bit of extra especially in these times and the economy," said Cory Perkins, an employee at Fred’s Store.

Shoppers also recommend browsing competitive prices online and say if you don't mind hand-me-downs, Craig's List is a great site for getting cheap supplies – but no matter if it's online or in person, it's always best to be prepared.

"If you wait until the last minute, you might still save a little bit but not quite as much as you would if you did it ahead of time," said Norris.