This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cincinnati chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
With the rise of online shopping and Amazon’s quick delivery, I can honestly say that I spend a ton of money ordering clothes and supplies. But something that I’ll never do online is back-to-school shopping. There’s just nothing as satisfying (or exhausting) as spending the whole tax-free weekend going from Target to Staples to the mall, making sure every item on my list is crossed off.
Keep reading for my top places to get all of your college & school essentials in Cincinnati.
Dorm essentials
- Target: I love Target’s dorm setup during August/September because they have so many great basics, like plastic plates, cozy blankets, and sturdy laundry hampers.
- Walmart: Similarly, Walmart also has some great options. There aren’t many conveniently located in the Cincinnati area, so I’ve had the best luck driving to Eastgate.
- IKEA: I love my ALEX Drawer system for all my makeup and skincare products. Even if it was a pain to assemble, it’s my most-loved storage item.
- TJ Maxx & HomeGoods: For little trinkets and decor, I always look to HomeGoods first! TJ Maxx usually has good beauty organizers, too.
- The Container Store: I like to shop here when there’s a sale or coupons since it can get a bit pricey. But I love their organization systems, and they have so many stackable bins that are great for moving and closet storage.
school supplies
- Staples: This is usually my first stop for notebooks, pencils, and other desk necessities. During back-to-school season, they usually have discounts going on.
- Kohls: I feel like Kohls is slept on for school shopping, but they have such great rewards, so you end up saving so much money when shopping there.
- Michaels: They may not have everything you need, but they always have some great coupons online or sale items in-store, so it’s worth checking out. For creative or art majors, this may be cheaper to get pens/pencils/sketchbooks than ordering on Amazon.
- Walmart: Similarly to dorm furniture, Walmart has cheap options for most school supplies, too. They usually just don’t have as much of a dedicated section as Target.
- Target: Speaking of, this is another favorite of mine for cheaper supplies. You can’t wait to shop in stores, though, because they’re usually picked over by the end of August.
clothing
- Kenwood Towne Center: I love the Kenwood mall because there are so many great clothing stores, like Garage, Free People, Hollister, and Pacsun, to name a few. I have to prepare myself before I go because it’s usually an expensive trip!
- Thrift Stores: To save money, I try to thrift as many fall clothes as possible before shopping elsewhere. Cincinnati has so many options for thrift stores, shopping secondhand, or vintage.
- Walmart: Usually, I hear people shopping for clothes at Target, but I rarely hear about Walmart. Their juniors’ “No Boundaries” line has had the cutest clothes lately, and I got a good pair of jeans for only $16!
- H&M: I think it’s worth the drive out to Liberty to shop at H&M, especially if I need going-out tops or business casual attire. I prefer shopping in-store because I have a hard time guessing the sizing and fit online.
- Old Navy: This is my absolute favorite for any type of clothing shopping. They have such great basics, athleisure, cozy sets, and professional staples, too. They also typically have coupons through the app or sales in stores.
Online shopping will never be as satisfying as carrying all my bags out of the store, and back-to-school shopping is one of my favorite activities. Don’t miss out on all of the options for any back-to-school essentials right here in Cincinnati!