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According to a recent retail survey by Deloitte, this year the average household will spend $661 for clothing, accessories, school supplies, computers and other electronics for their children this year.
Consumers who shop earlier will spend more, with shoppers starting in July projecting 26 percent more than those beginning in August.
In-store shopping will continue to dominate the back-to-school season, with two-thirds of the budget for clothing and school supplies being spent in a physical store.
Digital technologies and social media will continue to shape the shopping journey, with 61 percent of consumers researching online before they make an in-store purchase.
$488 – wow that’s a big chunk of money, and if you have more than one child it gets even worse.
How on earth can you send your child to school without looking like a pauper and having what they need?
Here’re a few strategies that can have your subtracting from the total spending pot instead of adding to it.
Table of Contents
How To Save On Back To School Shopping
Avoid One Stop Shopping
The best way to save money is to establish your list of supplies, clothing, and accessories. Then create a reasonable budget. Once you’ve completed those tasks, it’s time to shop around.
Space out your buying at different stores for the best savings. Check circulars. You might see a great deal on pencils when you’re out buying something else. So keep your list handy and with you at all times.
Do The Research
Before you step out the door make sure you go online and scope out the scene. Get a sense of what each retailer is offering for prices and deals. If you don’t go into this with a sense of who has the best prices for what you’re looking for you’ll pay higher prices than you want to.
Look For Tech Savings
Look for vendors that offer education savings and discounts. Many will offer them as long as you have an ID or transcript proving the student’s current status.
Consider buying refurbished electronics too. Just be sure to shop at a reputable seller like Amazon or Best Buy and verify that the item was tested and has a warranty.
Don’t overbuy either. No teen needs a $1000 laptop to do research, troll Facebook and write essays.
Keep Your Smartphone Nearby
There are so many deals hunting apps out there, find one that you like the best!
When in store use RedLaser (Android) or ShopSavvy (iPhone) to scan an item and see whether it’s cheaper somewhere else. For online shopping use honey or PriceBlink – it will alert you to lower prices and coupons while you surf the net.
Read: How To Find The Best Price When Shopping Online Guaranteed
Look For Discounted Gift Cards
Head over to cardpool.con or giftcards.com and grab discounted gift cards to your favorite retailers up to 35% off. This way if your kid has to wear a certain brand of clothing you can save more money than if you paid cash. If the store offers rewards when you buy, like a coupon or credit to redeem later, save them and stock up on items like socks and underwear. You’ll have to buy them anyways so why not save big on essentials!
Shop Secondhand – Online
Buying clothes at a discount have never been easier. Thrifting websites like Schoola and ThredUP make it simple. Items on these sites are inspected by hand to ensure they are free from stains, fading, holes, and pilling. Searches can be done by brand, size, and price to make the process as painless as possible. There’s even a “new with tags” section for kids who ay be turned off by the idea of used clothing.
Read: 3 Crazy Good Sites To Get Kids Clothes Free
Put Teens In Charge
Give your children the budget and let them go! You’ll be amazed how creative your child can be when given the parameters from which to buy for back to school.
If you’re concerned on how they’ll hand the money, give it to them in installments.
Don’t want back to school shopping to break the bank? Use these strategies to get the best deal out there and save as much money as you can this year!
