Most kids get excited, and maybe a little nervous, about the first day of school. But for parents it's the back to school shopping that can cause nervousness . St. Joseph public schools start classes August 19th this year, so it's definitely time to start getting ready.

To help make your back-to-school shopping a little easier, St. Joe NOW compared school supply prices at four area stores: WalMart, Target, Walgreens and K-Mart. At each store, we priced several common items listed on the SJSD supply list.

Here's how the stores measured up:

WALMART

*3 boxes Kleenex: $4.41

*crayons: $1.67

*markers: $.70

*pencils: $.50

*eraser: $1.00

*watercolor paints: $1.00

*scissors: $.74

*pocket folder: $.15 each

*ruler: $.35

*wide-lined notebook paper: $.75 (150 sheets)

*colored pencils: $1.00

TOTAL: $12.27

TARGET

*3 boxes Kleenex: $3.79

*crayons: $1.79

*markers: $.79

*pencils: $1.77

*eraser: $.97

*watercolor paints: $1.97

*scissors: $1.49

*pocket folder: $.15 each

*ruler: $1.08

*wide-lined notebook paper: $.75 (150 sheets)

*colored pencils: $.79

TOTAL: $15.34

WALGREENS

*3 boxes Kleenex: $4.17

*crayons: $1.99

*markers: $.99

*pencils: $.19

*eraser: $.29

*watercolor paints: $2.49

*scissors: $.99

*pocket folder: $.50 each

*ruler: $.29

*wide-lined notebook paper: $2.99 (285 sheets)

*colored pencils: $2.19

TOTAL: $17.08

KMART

*3 boxes Kleenex: $5.00

*crayons: $1.00

*pencils: $.99

*eraser: $1.69

*watercolor paints: $3.99

*scissors: $1.50

*pocket folder: $.39 each

*ruler: $.32

*wide-lined notebook paper: $.50 (150 sheets)

*colored pencils: $2.00

TOTALl: $20.38

These prices don't include tax, and all of these items are eligible items to purchase without tax under Missouri's Tax-Free Weekend. The tax free weekend starts August 7th and ends August 9th.