(ARA) – The back-to-school lists mean one thing – it’s time for parents to start shopping. But shopping doesn’t have to mean you spend every cent you have in your pocket.
Here are some tips to make sure you check everything off your child’s school supply list, and keep some money where it belongs – in your pocket:
* Look over your supplies.
Let’s face it: Your child didn’t use all his crayons, pencils, erasers and rulers last year. Admittedly, they might not be in the greatest shape, but by taking careful inventory of what he already has and can reuse, you can put a check mark next to one or two items on the supply list.
* Take advantage of online discounts.
Online shopping is growing in popularity – it saves time and gas money, plus you don’t have to take your kids to the store with you. A great site to visit before you start your online shopping should be Ebates.com, where not only can you find coupons and discount codes for more than 1,200 online stores, but you will also get a check back in the mail for a percentage of your purchases.
For example, if you shop at Kohls.com through the Ebates site for school clothes, you not only can use the discount codes and coupons, but you also get a 2 percent total purchase rebate put into your account. Once a quarter you’ll receive a check in the mail for all your rebates. An added advantage – there are no rebate forms to fill out or points or miles to redeem.
“It’s a great way to save time and money,” says Nikki Laff, a Chicago-based mom of a teenage girl and avid online shopper. “I go in through Ebates to do my shopping and get everything from textbooks to clothing to the basic school supplies and I get cash back. I just do my shopping, I check out, and every three months I get a check, it’s really that simple.”
Retailers recognize that parents are looking for sales when it comes to back-to-school shopping. And by combining coupons, discounts and sale prices, you can get some pretty good deals. Check the fliers for your favorite Macy’s or Sears’ sales, go online and compare everything.
* Tax-free holidays.
Clothes are usually the big expense on your back-to-school shopping list. Many states offer tax-free holidays in recognition of this. If your state doesn’t offer a tax holiday, make sure you get the most out of available rebates and sales.
Soon you’ll be waving goodbye as your children once again head off to school. This year, you can sit back with a huge sigh of relief, knowing that you outfitted them for the coming year with some great bargains.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
