Do you mean ordinary letter size, every day paper. Or do you mean photo paper. Big difference. Almost every week Staples and probably all the big box office supply stores have specials on letter size paper and usually photo paper too. Walmart always has a low price (I consider anything under $5. a ream for singles a good price on 24#, bright white ink jet paper) on Georgia-Pacific printer paper. This week Staples has BOGO on 5-ream cartons of 24#, 97 bright Staples brand paper. Comes out to $3.50 a ream. If he doesn't need that much have some friends go in together on it or sell the extras later at $5. a ream (which would still be 1/3 or more off their regular price). And they're having a sale on Kodak's top line of photo paper too.
Office Depot has B2GO on hp printer paper (works out to under $5. a ream when you buy 3 reams) - IDK the weight or brightness on that.
Paper is heavy, buy it at B&M unless you get free shipping.
If he can't find something, he's just not trying.
.bh.