by Yusra » 17 Mar 2024, 17:45
As summer winds down, the back-to-school shopping season kicks into high gear. But this year, the process looks a bit different due to continued economic uncertainty. With inflation still squeezing budgets and mixed signals about a potential recession, many families are finding it challenging to prepare for the new school year. Here are some tips for smart back-to-school shopping during these uncertain times.
Take Inventory Before You Shop
Before hitting the stores, go through your kids' closets and supplies to see what you already have on hand. Taking inventory can prevent overspending on items you don't truly need. Make a list of the essentials that require replacement or replenishing.
Prioritize Needs Over Wants
With tighter budgets, it's crucial to differentiate between needs and wants. Focus your spending on necessary items like basic clothing items, school supplies, and education materials first. Hold off on trendier "want" purchases for now.
Seek Out Price Matching
Many major retailers will price match if you find advertised deals elsewhere. Check around for the best prices on big-ticket items like laptops or graphing calculators before purchasing. You can potentially stack discounts this way.
Buy Secondhand When Possible
This tip is environmentally friendly and budget-conscious! Seek out quality used items at thrift stores, online marketplaces, or hand-me-downs from friends and family. For quickly outgrown clothing or single-use workbooks, buying secondhand can provide major savings.
Take Advantage of Tax Holidays
Many states offer limited-time tax holidays around back-to-school season, suspending sales tax on clothing, footwear, supplies, and sometimes bigger purchases like computers. This can lead to significant savings on your total spending.
Buy Staples in Bulk
For general supplies that get used frequently, like pencils, paper, and basic calculators, consider bulk purchases for lower per-unit prices. Just be mindful of expiration dates for things like glue sticks.
Seek Cash-Back Rewards
Using cash-back credit cards, loyalty programs, and cash-back browser extensions and apps can help you milk the most value from your necessary spending.
While economic conditions remain tricky, going about back-to-school shopping strategically allows you to properly prepare for the year ahead without blowing your budget. A bit of savvy and advanced planning goes a long way.
As summer winds down, the back-to-school shopping season kicks into high gear. But this year, the process looks a bit different due to continued economic uncertainty. With inflation still squeezing budgets and mixed signals about a potential recession, many families are finding it challenging to prepare for the new school year. Here are some tips for smart back-to-school shopping during these uncertain times.
[b][size=150]Take Inventory Before You Shop[/size][/b]
Before hitting the stores, go through your kids' closets and supplies to see what you already have on hand. Taking inventory can prevent overspending on items you don't truly need. Make a list of the essentials that require replacement or replenishing.
[b][size=150]Prioritize Needs Over Wants[/size][/b]
With tighter budgets, it's crucial to differentiate between needs and wants. Focus your spending on necessary items like basic clothing items, school supplies, and education materials first. Hold off on trendier "want" purchases for now.
[b][size=150]Seek Out Price Matching[/size][/b]
Many major retailers will price match if you find advertised deals elsewhere. Check around for the best prices on big-ticket items like laptops or graphing calculators before purchasing. You can potentially stack discounts this way.
[b][size=150]Buy Secondhand When Possible[/size][/b]
This tip is environmentally friendly and budget-conscious! Seek out quality used items at thrift stores, online marketplaces, or hand-me-downs from friends and family. For quickly outgrown clothing or single-use workbooks, buying secondhand can provide major savings.
[b][size=150]Take Advantage of Tax Holidays[/size][/b]
Many states offer limited-time tax holidays around back-to-school season, suspending sales tax on clothing, footwear, supplies, and sometimes bigger purchases like computers. This can lead to significant savings on your total spending.
[b][size=150]Buy Staples in Bulk[/size][/b]
For general supplies that get used frequently, like pencils, paper, and basic calculators, consider bulk purchases for lower per-unit prices. Just be mindful of expiration dates for things like glue sticks.
[b][size=150]Seek Cash-Back Rewards[/size][/b]
Using cash-back credit cards, loyalty programs, and cash-back browser extensions and apps can help you milk the most value from your necessary spending.
While economic conditions remain tricky, going about back-to-school shopping strategically allows you to properly prepare for the year ahead without blowing your budget. A bit of savvy and advanced planning goes a long way.
