ORLANDO, FLA. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Back-to-school shopping is the second biggest retail shopping event in the US, outside of the holiday season. In fact, more than 40 billion dollars will be spent getting kids ready to go back to class. With inflation costs and shortages, experts say this year is expected to be especially expensive. Back-to-school shopping tips
From clothes, backpacks, pencils, pens, and new tech, the average family will spend 864 dollars on back-to-school supplies. To lower costs, experts say create a budget and stick to it. Practicalmoneyskills.com provides a free budget worksheet that can help you stay on track. Consider buying clothes from a second-hand store or an online site like Poshmark or Facebook marketplace. On average you’ll save 50 percent on designer brands. Bookfinder.com will compare prices for books and freecycle.org features tons of items that people in your town are giving away, including desks and computers.
Apps like school supply list helps you compile a list of supplies and note which stores offer the best deals. Snipsnap converts photos you take of coupons into digital images that cashiers can scan right from your phone’s screen. Rakuten is an app that lets you earn cash-back for shopping at major retailers.
Some organizations like the Salvation Army, the United Way, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, and local churches offer free school supplies to those in need. And one more, Operation Homefront has a back-to-school brigade helping children of military families get free back to school supplies. Back-to-School Shopping Tips
Sources:
https://www.care.com/c/7-ways-to-get-free-school-supplies/
https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/blog/save-big-on-back-to-school-essentials/
https://www.consolidatedcredit.org/financial-news/budget-buster-back-to-school-shopping/
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/school-supply-list/id320916483
https://www.rakuten.com/r/CLEVER631?eeid=28187
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/
https://freefinancialhelp.net/back-to-school-supplies/
https://operationhomefront.org/back-to-school-brigade/
Contributors to this news report includes: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer and Editor.
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