Now that another school year is about to start, children are very excited to start their new journey while parents are getting anxious with the expenses that the family might incur for their kids' school supplies. To save when shopping for your children's school supplies learn the following tips:
1. Be knowledgeable about the state's tax-free, back-to-school shopping.
There are 17 states that hold sales tax holiday and 13 of them will begin theirs this weekend to win the back-to-school crowd, according to ABC News. Check if you are living within any of these states and take advantage of the tax-free spending limitations. For instance, Florida will start theirs this Friday until Sunday, August 16.
Kyle James, founder of Rather-be-Shopping.com, disclosed that the tax-free holiday is an opportunity for parents to save for as much as six to nine percent, depending on the state.
2. Plan your budget before shopping.
One of the best methods to control the expenses for back-to-school shopping is by developing a budget. According to U.S. News, the number one mistake most parents do is shopping without a detailed budget.
Regina Conway, consumer expert with Slickdeals, told ABC News the importance of making a list and encourage parents to do a price search online before heading to the store. For parents to enjoy the cheapest price she advised, "When in store, do a quick search on your mobile phone before making the purchase to confirm that you're getting the best deal."
3. Stick to the list.
Since the list contains the necessary items the kids need, parents should stick to it. When parents go shopping without a list, they are more prone to buying unnecessary things which could increase the back-to-school shopping expenses. It should be every parents motto to only buy what is necessary, especially if they want to save.
4. Cut back-to-school cost, if possible.
In another report from U.S. News, it would help if parents check their closet for unused or barely used materials like notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders and envelopes to name a few. With these parents won't be spending for materials that their children already have.
5. Do not procrastinate.
According to U.S. News, deal hunting takes time and when parents resort to online shopping it will cost another waiting time. When parents start to do their research about school supplies deals earlier, they have more chances to find discounts and coupons if they do extra digging.
