SaneShopping.com, the web's premiere shopping advice service, has six helpful tips for parents who want to save time and money this Fall.
"This year, families will be more conservative with their Back-to-School spending," says SaneShopping CEO Mikhail Seregine, "and we want to help everyone get the school supplies they need without breaking the bank."
To help families save cash--and sanity!--this year, Seregine and his team of shopping experts at SaneShopping and The SaneShopping Magazine offer six solutions for a stress-free Back-to-School shopping experience.
1. Set a budget. Overspending is often the result of poor planning. If you embark on your shopping adventure without an itemized budget, you will likely move from store to store wracking up receipts and spending more than you realize.
2. Separate "Needs" from "Wants." Parent must help children prioritize and distinguish between items they NEED (as in, "My teacher requires me to have a graphing calculator for Algebra.") and items they WANT (as in, "All my friends are getting $100 jeans, why can't I?").
3. Have kids contribute to shopping expenses. Parents, it's OK to require your kids to pay for a portion of their Back-to-School shopping. Studies show that kids feel more satisfied with purchases when they use their own money.
4. Take stock of what you already have. It's essential to assess which items from previous years are still viable for reuse and which seriously need to be replaced (Note: most families don't do this!). Don't waste money buying things you already own.
5. Don't do it all in one day. Families are often inclined to tackle all Back-to-School shopping in a single, exhausting day. Why? Cramming everything into one afternoon is often chaotic and inefficient. Instead, parents should divide and conquer by breaking up their shopping into separate outings.
6. Use online tools. The Internet offers a wealth of shopping tools and money-saving resources, such as:
SaneShopping.com, a free online service that allows parents to describe exactly what their children want ("Cheap Hannah Montana school supplies"). Real people scour various websites to compare prices and find the best deals.
DealCatcher.com offers hundreds of online discount codes, printable coupons and rebates. Search by store name (Old Navy, Zappos, Best Buy) or by category ("girls backpacks") to find extra savings on Back-to-School essentials.
Wishpot.com allows anyone to create a free online wish list, similar to a wedding registry, for any occasion. Web savvy kids can compile and organize their Back-to-School must-haves, print detailed shopping lists, and even share their finds with friends and family.
More Back-to-School shopping tips are available online at The SaneShopping Magazine. To schedule an interview with a SaneShopping expert or obtain additional quotes, please contact Darcy Camden at 206-349-3401 or darcy@clayvalet.com.
SaneShopping, formerly ClayValet.com, is the web's premiere shopping advice service, created specifically to help people save time and money. At SaneShopping, real people answer your shopping questions and provide useful and personal recommendations. Sign up is free at SaneShopping.com
