According to the National Retail Federation, the average American household spends $685 on back-to-school shopping for children in elementary through high school and $943 for young people going to college. Here are 10 ways to save this fall and throughout the year.
Before you begin shopping, empty your kids’ backpacks to see what was left over from the previous year. Mark them off your checklist and then buy only the items still remaining.
Some states hold tax-free holidays multiple times of the year for particular products. Check out www.taxadmin.org/sales-tax-holidays to see if your state is one of them.
They’re more likely to fall for the strategically placed items stores want you to buy. Backpacks and notepads with your kids’ favorite superhero or Disney character can be 30% or more expensive than generic kinds. If your children insist they need an expensive, trendy backpacks, buy stickers and have them decorate their less expensive gear themselves.
You’ll save on time and gas money.
You decide what items they must have, then with the remainder of the budgeted money, let them choose what they want.
Websites like Dealnews.com, Bensbargains.com, and thekrazycouponlady.com will let you know when coupons or great deals are available for specific items.
Although you’ll have a large initial expense, in the long run the supplies will be cheaper, and you’ll have them on hand for several months.
You’ll be one of the first to find out when they’re offering deals and special promotions.
Websites like Garagesalestracker.com, yardsalesearch.com, and Craigslist.org are great online resources for finding bargains in your area.
That’s when the prices drop significantly. You can even buy for the following year.
Want more tips on saving money and smart shopping? Check out KOFE’s financial education tools. These resources are free for La Cap members and can help you tackle a range of issues, from budgeting to getting out of debt.
mbrservice@lacapfcu.org
