Many consumers use the back to school season to shop for much-needed items for the year, but it’s important not to break the bank in the process. Before you hit local retailers to buy your children new clothes and school supplies, make sure it fits your overall budget. According to a recent survey conducted by Deloitte, 88 percent of households plan to spend just as much, or more, on back-to-school shopping this year as they did in 2021. However, the average price of goods has increased, so consumers may not get as much for their dollar.
Specifically, nearly 58 percent of respondents said the main reason they plan to spend more on back-to-school shopping this year is due to the rising cost of goods, not because their financial situation has improved. Meanwhile, 34 percent said they will have to spend more because their children require more expensive items.
A growing number of households also revealed they plan to have their children contribute to these expenses. The survey found that 68 percent of parents expected their children to spend $51 or more on back-to-school shopping. This is an increase of 18 percentage points from last year. In other way, you could find yourself using a personal loan program to cover your monthly expenses until your next paycheck arrives. However, even if you plan to have your children help pay for back-to-school shopping to take some pressure off your budget, there are still a number of ways to save more money.
Steer Clear Of Trends
Buying your children the newest styles and gadgets just so they go back to school sporting the latest trends is a quick way to break the bank.
Many trends are no longer seasonal. In fact, if you pick up the newest products for your child today, they will most likely be old news by the time the school year starts. If you still insist on buying your children the latest trends, try to hold off until the last minute, so you won’t have to go shopping again in a few months.
Look For End-Of-Summer Sales
Another advantage of holding off on your back-to-school shopping is you may be able to take advantage of end-of-summer sales. Most of the clothing you find on sale at the end of the season should be wearable well into the fall weather, so take advantage.
Additionally, if one of your children hits that inevitable growth spurt shortly after you buy all of their back-to-school clothing, you may find yourself on another shopping excursion if the first was premature.
Make A List And Stick To It
One of the quickest ways to exhaust your back-to-school shopping budget is to buy items you don’t really need. To prevent impulse purchases, create a list of exact items and stick to it. Some schools even create checklists for you.
Meanwhile, if your children are persuasive about buying an item off the list, try to sleep on the decision. You might wake of the next morning with a sense of regret if you act on your impulses.
Buy Generic
While it can be difficult to find generic clothing brands, there are usually a number of options when it comes to school supplies. Major office chains, such as Staples and OfficeMax, stock generic items that carry their own labels. Since many of these products are comparable to popular brand names, it could be worth comparing prices.
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