Tips for smart back-to-school shopping
Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2019 17:11:10 +0000
The new school year is right around the corner. Whether your children are in first grade or high school, you can find plenty of ways to reduce costs. From school supplies, sports equipment, clothes and footwear and electronics, we are all looking for those few good deals.
Ask yourself a couple of important questions before you decide to go shopping. One, do you already have those supplies in the basement from previous years that you’ve forgotten about? And two, have you connected with those in your circle to see if you can do a ‘back-to-school’ swap? A ‘back-to-school’ swap is where you can exchange valued but no longer used good with other families and friends in your neighbourhood.
Below are a few simple but very useful tips from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to help you be a savvy back-to-school shopper.
Create a list – jot down everything you need and stick to the list! Impulse purchases can increase your overall bill very quickly.
Research big ticket items – Before purchasing that expensive laptop or tablet, research the brands, warranty, customer reviews and the prices at various stores to be sure you are getting the best deal.
Shop smart with sales – Compare prices between different retail stores, save your coupons, sign up for email alerts and redeem any cash-back or rebate offers. This will help you get the best deals.
Ask for student discounts – Many stores and software companies offer discounts to students that have a student ID. Even if you do not see a discount advertised at the store, it does not hurt to ask.
Know the return policies and save your receipts – Children can be fickle. They can love a new shirt today and hate it tomorrow. Ask about the return policies before making your purchase. Be sure to save your receipts just in case you have to return the item later.
Be careful of online scams – From reading the fine print to doing your research, making sure you are shopping on legitimate sites, and not providing personal information (like your Social Insurance Number) to access special deals make sure to use caution when shopping for back-to-school deals on the internet.