It may still be July, but parents, it’s already time to start thinking about back-to-school shopping. According to a recent Back-To-School Spending survey, families with children in grades K-12 will spend $630.36 this year, which is actually less than last year, with $68 billion expected to be shelled out overall.
And back-to-school shopping isn’t as simple as you think. A Staples poll found that 81-percent of parents feel immense pressure when shopping so their kid is “prepared to succeed right from the start.”
So, what can a parent do to make back-to-school shopping easier, and more cost effective. Well, here are a few tips:
Relax – Sure, you want your kid to get everything they need, but there’s no reason to stress out about it. According to consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow, the best way to do that is to rid yourself of things that can bring on anxiety before you shop, like hunger, fatigue, crowds and time constraints. Also, he suggests talking with your kids about what they want before you go to avoid arguments in the store and so you can set specific goals.
Keep Priorities in Check – Parents should stay focused on purchasing education-related items, like a calculator or even glue sticks, and forget about simple things like tissues and hand sanitizer which you can pick up anywhere and for cheep. Also, it’s important to remember what you already have at home so you don’t waste money buying them again.
Stay Organized – Everyone wants a deal, but it can be really time consuming shopping around. Instead, try making your back-to-school list early and keeping it on your smartphone so you can keep checking on key items during sales. Also, try downloading an app that consolidates store circulars so you’ll be advised of price drops.
Source: USAToday.com
