Cost-Cutting Tips for Back-to-School

Randy Craig, Editorial Manager for the National PTA makes great suggestion in his article which we reprint for you here.

As expected, the economy will have an impact on back-to-school spending. The National Retail Federation says the average family with students in kindergarten through 12th grade will spend an average of $548.72 on back-to-school merchandise, down 7.7 percent from last year, according to the group’s annual survey. The survey goes on to say four out of five Americans have made some changes to back-to-school spending plans. More than half (56.2 percent) will hunt for sales more often. Nearly half (49.6 percent) will be spending less and more than 40 percent will be using coupons or purchasing generic products more frequently.

Consumers might be feeling pinched by the economy, but these tips can relieve some of the pressure. Check out these cost-saving measures:

Online Coupons
Coupon sites are valuable, but there are hundreds of them on the Internet. This only breeds confusion. SmartMoney analyzed the slew of coupon sites and recommended these five:

In addition to online coupon sites, customers can often do their comparative shopping online to find the best bargains. Look for free shipping deals. These might make it less expensive to buy online than buying at the physical store.

Tap into your networks
Whether it is your circle of neighborhood friends or an online community, your social networks can be a good place to start. Ask if anyone has an item you need and be willing to swap for something they need. These swaps can be for clothes or supplies or both. If someone has a membership at a discount club, you can all go in on bulk purchases.

Prioritize
What really needs replaced? Sure, junior probably wants a new bookbag, but will the old one last one more year? It might be possible to let the child choose which item he or she wants to be brand new this year (a new bookbag or new soccer shoes, for instance). Also, set a budget and stick to it. Resist the urge to buy impulse items. Identify what is truly needed.

Stock up
Don’t just buy for back-to-school during the summer. Take advantage of sales throughout the year on common items such as pens, paper and folders. The same concept applies to food for healthy lunches. Shop at discount and club stores for staples like chicken, apples and foods that will keep for a long time or can be frozen.

New shopping venues
Goodwill stores, consignment shops and even yard sales can house incredible bargains. Don’t be misled by your perceptions…these outlets often have plenty of items in perfectly good (even brand new) condition at incredibly low prices.

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Columns

Was Pope Francis the Worst Pope Ever?

It has been said the recently passed 266th Pope...

LGBTQโ„ข Roundup: Groomers Gone Wild, Pt. II

Trans activist gets triggered by BBC reporter telling him he can't use womenโ€™s toilets, according to UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of women.

In Trade War, Chinaโ€™s Chokehold on US Medicine Moves Into Spotlight

Chinaโ€™s iron grip on supply of critical drug ingredients has been years in the making, driven by Beijingโ€™s strategic plan to dominate the pharma industry

College Footballโ€™s Spring rite

The Blue-White game, with the antiquated press box and a large section of the west stands now history and under renovation, marches on, but for how long?

Everything We Know About El Salvador Deportee Abrego Garcia

For more than five years, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an adjudged illegal immigrant living on borrowed time in the United States.

News

24-Year-Old Highland Park Shooter Sentenced to Life In Prison

A man who shot and killed a slew of people at a 2022 Fourth of July parade north of Chicago was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Man Charged With Arson in New Jersey Pine Barrens Fire, Officials Say

Authorities have charged a man with arson for allegedly sparking a large fire currently ongoing in the New Jersey Pine Barrens area.

Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Allow Prohibition on Troops With Gender Dysphoria

Trump admin is asking Supreme Court to halt federal judgeโ€™s order preventing it from implementing policy disqualifying individuals with gender dysphoria.

New Mexico Supreme Court Bans Former Judge From Exercising Judicial Authority

NM Supreme Court barred former judge from exercising judicial authority in future amid reports alleged TdA gang member was arrested living on his property.

Former US Army Officer Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Selling Sensitive Military Information

Former U.S. Army intel officer sentenced to 7 years in prison for conspiring to collect and sell national defense info to individual affiliated with CCP.

DHS and Country Star John Rich Team Up for Urgent Livestream about Protecting Kids from Online Predators

Know2Protect hosted a livestream featuring DHS Special Agent Dennis Fetting and country music star John Rich on protecting children from online predators.

US Manufacturing Shows Signs of Improvement as Factory Output, Orders Tick Higher

U.S. manufacturing showed modest but meaningful improvement in April, according to data by S&P Global, which showed factory output and orders ticking higher.

Trump Admin Sued by a Dozen States in US Trade Court Over Tariffs

A dozen states on April 23 filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade over its recently announced tariffs.
spot_img

Related Articles