Monday, August 18, 2008

5 Ways to Save for Back-to-School Shopping

  1. Find bargains online

    Before you waste time and gas, get online to find competitive prices and store coupons from websites like fatwallet.com. During this time of the year, many shopping sites offer free shipping as well.

  2. Take inventory

    See what your children already have from last year that could still be used this year and see what still fits before buying new clothes. Shop for clothes that do not easily go out-of-style so that they can be worn by younger siblings in the following years.

  3. Make a list

    Creating a shopping list in advance will help you to not forget items or feel compelled to buy more than what's needed. Websites like target.com provide an online shopping to-do list.

  4. Don't ignore thrift or discount stores

    There's nothing wrong with saving money on brand name staples like jeans from retailers like Wal-Mart and TJ Maxx. Thrift stores are another place to get great bargains (and you don't have to pay $$$ for brand new clothes to look vintage).

  5. Set a reasonable budget

    Try to stick to an achievable budget. Be careful not to rack up too much on credit cards. Use credit cards that offer something back like our Visa Platinum with ScoreCard, and keep track of your spending with convenient and instantaneous tools like online banking. Keep in mind overlooked expenses like year book photos, science projects and extra-curricular activities.