FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwired - Aug 13, 2013) - As the summer nears its end, the high costs associated with the back to school shopping season are on the minds of parents everywhere. And with this shopping season being one of the most expensive seasons, taking second place to the winter holiday season, it is important to utilize pre-planning as a way to insure a successful spending experience.
Howard Dvorkin, author of Power Up: Taking Charge of Your Financial Destiny, (Wiley, September 2013) notes the importance of building a budget to cover expenses associated with back to school shopping. Dvorkin stresses that preparation is the key ingredient in avoiding post-shopping season debt.
"The end of July is a great time to start budgeting for and building your child's back to school shopping list," Dvorkin said. "With so many deals and savings being advertised, it is easy to shy away from the usually high spending costs associated with this time of year."
Consolidated Credit recommends these following money saving strategies to help prepare for the back-to-school shopping experience:
Get your kids involved so that you know what items are needed.
Make a list to help you stay on target while shopping.
Cut spending day-to-day to increase your cash flow.
Generate extra funds by selling items on Ebay or at a yard sale.
Additional ways to save:
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Check last year's inventory for leftover supplies that can be used this year.
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Browse retail websites to look for coupons, price matching, and savings offers.
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Use social media to get exclusive offers and receive updates on sales.
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Check tax-free shopping days through your local or state government.
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Don't be trend happy. Buy things that can be used for several years to come.
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Know when to say when if your kids demand expensive items like a $150 pair of jeans.
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Use gift card websites such as giftcards.com or plasticjungle.com.
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Wait for clearance sales if you can afford to start the semester without an item.
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Shop consignment stores to save money on clothes kids will outgrow fast.
About:
Consolidated Credit (www.ConsolidatedCredit.org) is one of the nation's largest credit counseling organizations and has helped over 5 million people over 20 years with financial issues. Their mission is to assist families throughout the U.S. in ending financial crisis and solving money management problems through education and professional counseling.