It's that time of the year again! Back to school sales and promotions have started and they are everywhere.

My top money-saving tip is to shop online. There are a few reasons for this:

1. You can compare prices easily online with various stores.

2. There are many options of online discount codes to help you save more.

3. You're more likely to stick to your list of products that you need.

4. You don't even have to leave the house (or the couch!) to get it all done.

With that being said, here is our splurge vs steal list of back-to-school items and where to buy them online. Enjoy!

Water Bottles

Splurge: CamelBak. You can never go wrong with a Camelbak water bottle. The insulated ones are my favourite, especially during the summer months and they have always withstood the test of time with my children.

Price: AED 120

Where to Buy? FirstCry (discount code FA35), Mumzworld (discount code DS10), NAMSHI (discount code DS), Virgin Megastore, Adventura HQ, and BabyStore.

Other recommended splurge brands include SkipHop, Thermos, and 02Cool. These can be purchased from online stores such as FirstCry, Mumzworld, BabyStore, Amazon, Adventura HQ, Noon, and Virgin Megastore.

Save: IKEA. When you need something that you know will do the job, IKEA doesn't disappoint. This water bottle doesn't leak, however might not be as easy to open or close for younger children.

Price: AED 7

Where to buy? IKEA online (or instore)

Other recommended saving brands include Lock&Lock that can be purchased from as low as 10dhs from Home Box, Carrefour, Mumzworld, Amazon, LuLu's, and Noon.

Masks

Splurge: Airinum. These masks are not only super cute (they come in a pink or blue pattern) they are equipped with elastic earloops for ultimate comfort and perfect fit, is hand-washable and can be used many times by replacing the filter, making it a truly next-generation high-performance mask. The filters are sold separately.

Price: AED 149

Where to Buy? Mumzworld (discount code DS10).

Other recommended splurge brands include Fine Guard at FirstCry (discount code FA35), Carrefour, Mom Store.

Save: ProMax. These handmade masks come in a huge range of patterns and prove that you don't need to spend a lot to have cute and fashionable kids' masks.

Price: AED 19

Where to Buy: FirstCry (discount code FA35)

Other recommended saving products include a generic disposable box of masks from Cartlow (7dhs per box) or Carrefour.

School Bags

Splurge: Herschel Supply Co. When it comes to bags I have always been of the opinion that it's worth spending more on a bag that you know will last. My kid's bags have lasted years, even after being thrown, dragged, and dropped hundreds of times. Herschel Supply Co. is definitely a quality bag worth investing in.

Price: AED 300 approx.

Where to Buy? Sivvi (extra 20% discount code DS), NAMSHI, Virgin Megastore.

Other recommended splurge brands include Kipling (Jashanmal, Kipling UAE), Pottery Barn Kids, Jan Sport, and Smily (Smily can be bought at Mumzworld (discount code DS10), also FirstCry (discount code FA35), Noon, Carrefour and Centrepoint).

Save: Parkland. I adore these bags for a number of reasons. The first one is that it is made out of recycled water bottles, the second is that it comes in a number of super cute designs and colours.

Price: From AED 35

Where to Buy? Brands For Less.

Other recommended saving products include Sports Brands such as Puma, Under Armour and Nike are often on sale and can be found on FirstCry, SIVVI, NAMSHI, Noon, Sun Sand and Sports.

Pencil Case

Splurge: Kipling. I adore these designs and quality of Kipling pencil cases as well as school bags. The only real negative is the price, but sometimes you can find them on decent sales online. I have also found them at the Outlet Mall at up to 75% off.

Price: AED 199

Where to Buy? Jashanmal, Kipling UAE.

Other recommended splurge brands include Herschel Supply Co. at SIVVI (extra 20% discount code DS).

Save: Smily

Price: AED 77

Where to Buy? Currently on sale at Mumzworld for AED51 (discount code DS10), also FirstCry (discount code FA35), Noon, Carrefour and Centrepoint).

Other recommended saving products include generic character pencils cases starting from around 10dhs that can be found at ELC (extra 20% witrh code NOW188), Mumzworld (discount code DS10), Firstcry (discount code FA35), Carrefour and LuLu's.

Lunchbox

Splurge: Omiebox

Price: AED 179

Where to Buy? Mumzworld for AED179 (plus a further 10% off with code DS10).

Other recommended splurge brands include SkipHop, Citron and YumBox (available at FirstCry, Mumzworld, Babystore, Virgin MegaStore, Tavola and Noon).

Save: Sistema. These lunch boxes are made in New Zealand and I have personally used these for years. They are great quality for the price and I would highly recomend them for a good quality alternatate compared to some of the higher priced similar products.

Price: AED 49

Where to Buy? FirstCry (discount code FA35), Mumzworld (discount code DS10), Ace, Mom Store, Noon and Amazon.

Other recommended saving products include Lock&Lock and Maped (available at Mumzworld (discount code DS10), Babystore, Carrefour, Ace and Noon).

Stationary

Splurge: Crayola. I have bought many pencils in the past and the one brand that I keep coming back to is Crayola. The reason why pencils is one item that I do splurge on is because some of the cheaper pencils always seem to break every time I sharpen them. The Crayolas don't often break and therefore less is wasted on constant sharpening.

Price: AED 39

Where to Buy? FirstCry (discount code FA35), Mumzworld (plus a further 10% off with code DS10), ELC (extra 20% with code NOW188), Amazon, Noon and Mom Store.

Other recommended splurge brands include Faber Castell, BIC Kids and STAEDTLER and can be found at FirstCry (discount code FA35), Mumzworld (plus a further 10% off with code DS10), Amazon, Noon and Mom Store.  

Save: Maped.

Price: AED 14.50

Where to Buy? Carrefour, FirstCry (discount code FA35), Mumzworld (discount code DS10), LuLu, Noon and Amazon.

Other recommended saving products include Hema (NAMSHI, 6th Street), generic products that can be found on FirstCry (discount code FA35), Mumzworld (plus a further 10% off with code DS10), Amazon, Noon and Carrefour.