BBB Chief Exective Jim WinsettQ: I can’t believe it is already back to school time, and that means the start of getting the supplies and school items together, but with three kids it can add up quickly. Does BBB have any tips on saving money for school items?
A: School bells will be ringing before we know it. Now is the time to take advantage of annual back-to-school specials on supplies. Whether you plan to shop at your favorite retail store or in the drawers and closets of your home, Better Business Bureau recommends sticking to a budget to avoid the common overspending on school supplies.
According to the National Retail Federation, this year parents will be shopping earlier before classes start (around now), will be looking for more online deals, and given the economy is still on a rebound families are overall looking to just buying the necessities and save money where they can. Almost 37 percent of families say they will do comparative shopping online (compared to 32.1 percent last year), and 18.5 percent of families will do more of their shopping online (versus 17.9 percent last year).
Many retailers offer back-to-school “freebies” to entice shoppers. Coupons, deals, and giveaways are always nice, but make sure you actually need the items first. There is no need to spend money on new crayons, colored pencils, and notebooks if all it takes is a good sharpening or tearing out a few used pages from the previous year.
BBB recommends considering the following when it comes to back-to-school shopping: