At Home with UAEX

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Back to School Shopping Tips

Smart shopping can save money!

by Katie Cullum

Shop Smart Strategies for Back-to-School

1. Shop during the sales tax holiday– August 3-4. Check out all the information including an itemized list and FAQs for consumers at the
   Department of Finance & Administration website.
   
   
2. Take Inventory. Do you really need ALL new items, or do you still have some items left from last year?
   
   
3. Plan ahead. Make a list of everything you’ll need. School supply lists are often available at discount department or office supply stores and on school websites. In addition to regular school supplies; you may also need items such as lunch boxes, art supplies, sports equipment, or clothing. Making a list helps you avoid impulse buys. Distinguish between needs and wants with your kids (a water bottle may be a need but the latest “it” cup is a want).
   
   
4. Comparison shop– Compare stores and brands. Watch for sales. Many stores promote back-to-school sales. Find the stores with the best prices on the items you need. Store brands and generic items are often less expensive than name brand products.
   
   
5. Spread out spending – While you can save money on tax free weekend, you may want to spread out purchases over multiple pay periods so it doesn’t seem so draining.
   
   
6. Take advantage of community resources – many communities and school provide free school supply drives. Check your school or other local resources such as churches or community groups.
   
   
7. Shop online – don’t forget that shopping online or with a pick-up order may be less stressful and save you time & energy (and even money).

Get them involved!

Parents can also involve children in back-to-school shopping AND budgeting. You can explain the many options for what they need. For instance, most kids need folders. The latest characters on the front may cost $2-3 while plain folders are much cheaper. Set limits on how much you can spend.

Talk about trade-offs in decision making. If your child wants the latest character items, then maybe they need to reuse their lunch box or backpack from last year.

For more information, check out your local county Extension office!