Searching for Back to School Savings in Southern New England

Article and photo (of Benny's) by Eric H.

Hard to believe that the school season is upon us, but that's strictly "academic" now.

With the abundant early season rain and oppressive late summer humidity making it hard to ever get any vacation momentum going for many of us in New England, the summer did indeed seem to go by too quickly. Now, with local school budgets unable to pay for many of our supplies, it's up to us to feed another retail cash cow in the form of back to school merchandise. In a recession, many people grumble about this extra cost -- as well as wonder, once again, what our tax dollars are going.

After an informal investigation into what local stores offer the best savings for back to school items, we found Benny's, a southern New England chain, to lead the pack. That's not to say that Benny's offers the best savings as we only checked out a handful of stores, but computing a list of several back to school necessities did suggest that Benny's is a strong contender. Plus, we like the small chain, personable feel of Benny's. It almost feels like shopping at a downtown department store from yesteryear!

Here is a list of items that schools typically require a child to have before returning to school, with an amazing total price following:

Two boxes of tissues
Two boxes of sanitizing wipes
A box of crayons (64 count)
A box of pencils (20 count)
A package of highlighters (three count)
A package of 10 markers (10 count)
Pencil sharpener
Cap erasers
Two lunch boxes

Total: $26.52 (not including tax)! That's a savings of about $10.00 from some other stores selling similar merchandise.

We certainly have no vested interest in Benny's -- nor are they advertiser's or personal friends -- so know the following statement to be "pure": time after time, we have found Benny's to offer what we are looking for at the right price. We also appreciate the old-fashioned friendly general store look. We generally like the hired help that prioritizes customer service and displaying the ability to speak and listen well. It's really no surprise that this southern New England chain survives quite well after being in business around 85 years!

You can find out more about Benny's (including store locations) by clicking on the link above.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Good Eeeevening!: A Perspective on New Hampshire Meteorologist Al Kaprielian

Article by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com Somewhere in the 1980s, my esteemed Arlington High School journalism teacher Len Tammaro tipped me off about a New Hampshire television weatherman that he called "Crazy Al Kaprielian." That night, I couldn't believe what I saw: this nerdy-looking guy with a high-pitched voice flailing his arms all over the weather map, contorting his face in every direction, and squealing, "Good Eeeevening!" and "HIGH PRESSURE!" (his future trademark phrases)." All that boundless energy and the myriad antics left the viewer laughing, yet enervated at the same time. In this world of slick, Ken and Barbie television meteorologists, Al Kaprielian has been the antidote to the standard, unctuous television personality. Twenty-five years later, Al is still going strong on MyTV New England with his unique style --perhaps validation that he really loves his job. No doubt, Al has always been an unconventional, unique-looking a
Read more

Visiting My Grandmother Had That Antiques in Wrentham, Mass.

Image
My Grandmother Had That...Antiques  in Wrentham, Mass., is one of those "hidden gem" antique stores that is jam-packed with antiques, collectibles and other items from the past. Located in a charming, two-story old red barn at 446 South St. (Route 1A), My Grandmother Had That...Antiques certainly lives up to its name. You'll find furniture, lamps, desks, chairs, plant holders, fine China sets and just about everything your grandma had, and also didn't have -- like a web address, Facebook fan page or any hint on the Internet that this place exists! Unless you're a Wrentham native, one familiar with the antiques industry, have driven by the red barn on South St., or somebody that just reads maps of Wrentham all day, My Grandmother Had That...Antiques is as hard to find as the rarest antique. You won't even find the name, "My Grandmother Had That," on the building, just a sign that states "Antiques." The My Grandmother Had That name is on
Read more

Where To Live In Connecticut That Has A Small Town Feel?

Image
Noank, Conn. Editor's note: We recently received an email from one of our readers looking to possibly move to Connecticut. Here is her inquiry, followed by our response... Hi, my name is Courtney and I found your website completely truthful and helpful. I talked to my cousin who lives in the northern part of the east coast and she described exactly what you did! I am currently in Orange County, California, and don't like the "ingenuinity" (we're assuming the word is"disingenuous") and mindset of the people. I have found that Connecticut is a place with great weather and has a lot if cities with a small town feel. I was wondering if there was any way that you could help me specify my search in CT? I would like a city with a small town feel where your neighbors are sweet, but it still has a high quality of life. Essex and Stonington caught my eye, but I've never been so I can't say! Thank you for your time. Thank-you for your inquiry. We d
Read more