If you plan to get your back-to-school shopping done this weekend, hopefully this will help you. Patch shopped a St. Louis area 8th grade school supply list at a local Walmart and Target.

It's complicated, of course, because of the vast array of options in every category. At both stores, supplies can be found in office supply and special school supply areas.

(For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.)

 Patch looked for the most economical options, keeping in mind what is on the school list. You might make different choices from what Patch found, for instance, you might want to buy a box of 50 colored pencils, or 10. 

So take this research with a grain of salt, but if it makes your shopping any easier...Great!

Target has supplies compartmentalized with signage above each category in the school supplies area. Both stores had plenty of helpful employees.

Walmart vs. Target school supply prices