Staples wants your back-to-school business and this year is trying to compete with penny deals and freebies on school supplies. You can get report covers for 20 cents each, plastic binders for 25 cents each, pencil boxes for 50 cents, and plastic rulers and pencils for free.

You can find out all the details in the weekly circular and find out what else there is by visiting your local store.

Of course, once Staples gets you in the door, they're hoping you'll go home with a lot more in your shopping cart -- anything from backpacks to furniture to computers. So if you're only interested in spending a few dollars, stick to the penny bins.

Every day, WalletPop will be bringing you information about a fantastic freebie. Like what you see? Check back tomorrow for more!

It's back to school shopping time and, if you're like a lot of families in this era of $4-a gallon gas, you're looking to spend as little as possible.

WIth Staples, you'll be able to get rulers and pencils for free! You can get a free box of pencils and a free plastic ruler just for showing up.

Some other bargains mentioned in the flier include 20 cent binders and 50 cent pen/pencil boxes.

It seems like a day for hubris and comeuppance in the corporate world. Dethroned New York governor Eliot Spitzer may be starting a "vulture fund," to make investment in distressed real estate projects. Meanwhile, Kenneth Lay's widow settled some fuss over her distressed real estate, a dispute over condo dues as the Enron debacle continues to have impact on Texas communities. And Donald Trump is also in the news, defending a golf course he wants to build in Scotland.

News nuggets you need to know today:

• Staples Buys Corporate Express for 2.65 Billion
• Gap May Shrink Stores to Save Money
• Why Did Food Sellers Treat Tomatoes Like Hot Potatoes?
• Abu Dhabi to Buy NY's Chrysler Building
• Beef Protesters Take Aim at McDonald's
• Raid on Kosher Meat Plant May Spike Prices
• Gay Marriage May Boost Ailing California Economy

Elsewhere on the Web:

• Supply of Hybrids Runs Out of Gas as Demand Soars
• Geyser Peak, Six other Wineries Sold
• Organic Alcohol Sparks New Cocktail Trend
• 13 Dumb Job-Interview Moves
• Do You Know What's in Your Spouse's Wallet?
• St. John's Word Fails to Help Kids with ADHD
• Grow Your Own Tomatoes
• Six of the Coolest, Most Futuristic Car Gadgets fr your Car
• Rising Gas Prices are Hurting Non-Profits
• Four Alternatives to Summer Jobs for Teens
• Beloved Characters Reimagined for the 21st Century
  

When I was in middle school, I had trouble with fashion. A lot of trouble, according to my friends. I never thought about what I was wearing. I just threw something on and went to school, and for whatever reason, I was fond of wearing flannel button down shirts. And at some point, since this was before the grunge days of the 1990s when flannel became fashionable, someone pointed out to me that I looked like a nerd. From then on, I spent the rest of my middle and high school days always worrying about how I was dressed.

I've always liked the fact that ever since going to college, I've never had to really think about whether I'm in fashion or not. In college, you tend to dress down, and since I've worked in my home office for years, I can mismatch socks without a crisis erupting. That said, I get out into the world sometimes, interviewing CEOs, consultants and the like. I can't be completely fashion clueless.

All of this is preamble for the fact that Staples is unrolling what they see as fashionable accessories for the business person. They're calling their line M by Staples.

I'm sure if I had any sense of fashion, I'd know what the M refers to. Perhaps it's a parody of another fashion designer? As it is, all I can think of is that James Bond likes to hang around letters, like his gadget guru Q. But I have a feeling I'm getting off topic.

Staples is celebrating "Customer Appreciation Week" through April 26th and is providing a coupon for 12% off your purchases (pdf). The coupon excludes computers, gift cards, phone cards and stamps; but is valid for just about anything else. You can only use the coupon in store, so you'll need to print it out and trek to your local brick and mortar location to enjoy these savings. Some stores may require that you have a Staples Rewards account to use it, but you can sign up for free in store.

This week would be a great time to stock up on office supplies for around the house or for use in your small business. Some other items to look for include monitors and external hard drives, for which 12% is a pretty slick deal. If I hadn't just bought a three pack of ink I'd also plan on using this coupon. I guess what I am saying is, this is a nice deal for anything in the store, and it only comes around two or three times a year so get going.

Recently, I got a fantastic lesson in the limits of digital storage. Searching for a paper that I wrote years ago, I tore through piles of CDs and zip disks. Still missing it, I dragged out my external hard drive, which is formatted for a Mac, got my friend Katie to loan me her computer, and performed all sorts of arcane searches in my quest for the missing document. Although I found a few other useful documents that I didn't know I needed, I was unable to access the paper in question. Finally, desperate to find the damned thing, I dug into a storage container that was full of old work and publications that I had written years earlier. At the bottom, tucked into an archival folder, I found what I was looking for.

This horror story aside, I love digital storage. Cheap scanning and storage have made it possible for me to save thousands of family pictures, endlessly reproduce valuable documents and generally organize large, unruly parts of my life. That said, there's definitely a value to having hard-copy backups of important documents. After all, as wonderful as digital storage is, it can still be somewhat fragile. Worst yet, it requires a functional computer, which isn't always available.

This is why I'm currently a big fan of Staples. On April 15, 2008, Staples Copy & Print Centers across the country will provide free xeroxing of up to 20 pages of your tax returns. While you're there, pick up an archival folder or a resealable envelope. When you get home, just tuck it into your filing cabinet, and you'll be good to go if an auditor comes calling!

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He loves Staples today, but his emotions are easily bought.