Get your kids back to the classroom in style without sacrificing your budget with these from a financial expert mom.
Though it feels like summer break just began, retailers are gearing up for the highly-anticipated back-to-school shopping frenzy thanks to the excitement of kids returning to the classroom in-person in much of the country this year. According to a recent survey from Mastercard, consumer sales from mid-July to early September are expected to rise 5.5 percent year-over-year and 6.7 percent compared to 2019. Among the hottest ticket items, apparel sales are likely to surge as both adults and children finally return to the classroom and office in-person.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the return to our new normal and overspend to make up for the tough times your kids endured, but taking on debt will only hurt you (and them) in the long run. Instead, try these mom-approved tips from an on-air money expert.
Shop at home first.
Before heading to the store, search around your home for leftover school supplies that can be used for the upcoming school year such as pencils, folders or even half-used notebooks. This is also a good time to go through your kids’ clothing to figure out what fits and what doesn’t. Then, keep a running list of what you have and what you need to buy to stay organized and avoid doubling up.
Swap instead of buy.
Chances are you have piles of outgrown clothing, unwanted school supplies and used sporting goods. Instead of letting these items go to waste, swap them for like-new items your kids need to limit your spending. For instance, trade kid’s clothing at Swoondle Society, swap sporting goods at Swap Me Sports and join a buy-nothing group for families on Facebook (or start one for your area!).
Opt for used or refurbished.
Whether you’re looking for clothing or a laptop, stretch your dollars by purchasing gently used or refurbished options. Head to your local consignment store to shop teen fashion on the cheap or peruse fashion resale sites like Poshmark or thredUP. You can even find refurbished tablets and laptops to help you save on school tech needs, but review warranty details and return policies before buying.
Dodge sales tax.
There are 17 states, including Alabama, Florida and Texas, which will be hosting tax-free sales on certain school purchases in July and August, making it a good time to shop and save more. For instance, Florida is waiving sales tax on clothing, school supplies and computers from July 31 to August 9. Check TaxAdmin.org for details on the 2021 Sales Tax Holiday to see where and when you can enjoy tax-free shopping.
Stack savings.
Review store ads to see who has what for the best price, then apply coupons on top of sales to stretch your dollars even further. Sites like CouponFollow.com aggregate all the best back-to-school coupons all on one page to help you pinpoint the biggest savings quickly. You can find deals like 25 percent off at Office Depot and apply that on discounted supplies. Continue tracking prices even after you shop since deals can fluctuate and you may qualify for a price adjustment. Apps like Paribus will notify you when they detect a price drop and even ask for money back on your behalf.
Earn more cash back.
Review your credit card rewards program to see if there are any bonus reward deals for shopping at certain stores in August and plan your school purchases accordingly. Don’t forget to sign up for free store loyalty programs to earn rewards that can be applied to future school supply purchases. For example, Staples loyalty members get 2 percent back and Dell Advantage loyalty members get 6 percent back on purchases. Finally, download a cash back plug to your browser like Cently to earn cash back when shopping online. Currently, you can get 2.5 percent cash back at Office Depot, up to 1.5 percent back at Dell, and up to 4 percent back at GAP.
Consider getting a new card to earn a signup cash bonus to apply toward a pricier school item like a new laptop. For instance, Capital One’s Quicksilver credit card offers $200 when you spend $500 within the first three months. Before signing up, use a credit card matching tool like GigaPoints to find the best cash back card based on your purchase patterns.
Wait it out.
Tame the temptation to go all out on shopping before school starts–some items are actually cheaper later. For instance, Labor Day will bring clearance sales on summer clothing basics like tees and tank tops, which can be worn with layers throughout the year, even in winter. Denim typically goes on sale in October, along with other fall clothing as retailers try to move inventory to make room for holiday merchandise. Plus, Black Friday will offer a wide selection of deals on laptops, tablets and other school tech so try to make do with what you have for now.
Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized money-saving expert, writer, speaker and frequent on-air contributor who is passionate about helping American families find simple ways to save more without radically changing their lifestyle. Andrea has appeared on hundreds of popular shows across the country including Today, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, CNN, Inside Edition and ABC World News, plus hundreds of regional shows across the country. Her advice and articles have been featured in the New York Times, Time, Money, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Huffington Post and more. Andrea also writes a bi-monthly column for US News and World Report and hosts a monthly money segment on KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles. Andrea resides in Bakersfield, California with her husband and two young daughters.
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Get your kids back to the classroom in style without sacrificing your budget with these from a financial expert mom.
An on-air money expert money gives her best tips for back-to-school shopping, from how to find the best sales to ways to up-cycle what you already have.
