Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas Offers Back to School Savings Tips

Aug. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- According to the National Retail Federation, 84.8 percent of shoppers say the economy will impact how, what, when, where and why they shop for school and college items. With the first day of school fast approaching, retailers are gearing up for big sales and discounted prices for families looking to save money on clothing, school supplies and new tech gadgets.

This year, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas (CCCS of Greater Dallas) is encouraging consumers to be informed by shopping for savings to help stay within a budget and avoid overpaying on popular items. In addition, more than 50 webinars are scheduled for Aug. and Sept. to help parents and students navigate the beginning of the school year and beyond with a strong financial foundation.

“We know back to school shopping can get expensive, so we always strive to make sure our clients have the resources they need to make the best financial decisions not only for themselves, but for their families,” said Todd Mark, vice president of education for CCCS of Greater Dallas. “Through our free education classes and webinars, consumers are able to receive guidance, tools and support no matter what financial decisions come their way.”

Listed below is a sample of the 50 classes CCCS of Greater Dallas invites consumers to attend in Aug. and Sept. that will help with budgeting and planning for the school year and beyond. Consumers can register for the free, live educational webinars at www.cccs.net/webinars.

•   Tuesday, Aug. 21, Entering the Age of Acquisition at 8:00 p.m. CDT
•   Thursday, Aug. 23, Entering the Age of Acquisition at 9:30 a.m. CDT
•   Thursday, Aug. 23, Student Loan Affordability at 11:00 a.m. CDT
•   Thursday, Aug. 23, Little Kids and Money at 2:00 p.m. CDT
•   Friday, Aug. 24, Grocery Shopping and Coupon Savvy at 12:00 p.m. CDT
•   Tuesday, Aug. 28, Entering the Age of Acquisition at 7:00 p.m. CDT
•   Tuesday, Aug. 28, Student Loan Affordability at 8:30 p.m. CDT
•   Wednesday, Sept. 12, Entering the Age of Acquisition at 7:00 p.m. CDT
•   Wednesday, Sept. 12, Student Loan Affordability at 8:30 p.m. CDT
•   Thursday, Sept. 13, Conquering Credit Scores and Reports at 9:30 a.m. CDT
•   Thursday, Sept. 13, How do I Get Out of Debt? at 1:30 p.m. CDT
•   Thursday, Sept. 13, Surviving Financial Crisis at 7:30 p.m. CDT
•   Wednesday, Sept. 19, Psychology of Debt, at 12:00 p.m. CDT
•   Tuesday, Sept. 25, 4 C’s of Credit, at 8:00 p.m. CDT
•   Friday, Sept. 28, Couples and Money, at 10:45 a.m. CDT
•   Friday, Sept. 28, Grocery Shopping and Coupon Savvy, at 1:30 p.m. CDT
•   Friday, Sept. 28, Little Kids and Money, at 4:00 p.m. CDT

To help plan for back to school shopping this year, CCCS of Greater Dallas has also provided consumers the following tips to keep in mind before heading for the shopping cart:  

•   Take inventory. Before hitting the stores, look around your house for supplies you already have on your child’s school supplies list. From there, create a list of necessary items needed for the first day of school and purchase the remainder of the items as the year goes on.

•   Shop for supplies without the kids. When heading out to purchase back to school necessities, it is easy for kids to add additional items to the shopping cart. To help stick to your budget, leave the kids at home when you go shopping so they do not get distracted by shiny toys or other supplies that are not of immediate need. In addition, your school might put together a bundled school supply pack and this might be a good way to conveniently and cost-effectively purchase all necessary supplies at one time. If the kids are coming with you, be sure to use this as a learning opportunity for creating and following a budget.

•   Compare prices online before you buy. Save time and money by first comparing prices of school supplies online from one store versus another. This will ensure you get the best deal for your money and can sometimes offer coupons for additional in-store, or online only, deals.  

•   Take advantage of tax-free weekend. The 2012 tax-free weekend in Texas is August 17 – 19, which means families can save the tax on clothing and school supplies under $100. While this can seem like a steal, it doesn't justify the need for a spending spree when you consider these savings are less than 10 percent. A list of items that qualify for tax-free status can be found on the Texas Comptroller’s government website.

•   Utilize student discounts. Numerous stores now offer student discounts with a valid student ID. This can particularly come in handy when your child needs big ticket items for school such as a laptop, calculator, etc.

•   Buy in bulk. Shop warehouse stores with friends and split the costs of school supplies in bulk. You can also find great deals on lunch box items, clothing and shoes at many of these retailers.

With an eye for the right deals and a setting a strict budget, you and your kids can be ready for the upcoming school year without breaking the bank. For more information on budget or credit counseling, or one of our free classes or webinars, contact CCCS of Greater Dallas at 800-249-2227 or visit www.cccs.net.

About CCCS of Greater Dallas
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas, Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based credit counseling and debt management service. Established in 1974, CCCS of Greater Dallas and its affiliate offices provide financial education and counseling to consumers in-person, by phone, or Internet at 15 locations in four states. CCCS of Greater Dallas is a HUD-approved housing counseling multi-state organization and serves as one of seven counseling agencies supporting the 888-995-HOPE Hotline. The agency is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling network. CCCS of Greater Dallas is also a service partner of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. To learn more about CCCS of Greater Dallas’ free seminars or the agency’s services, call 800-249-2227, visit www.cccs.net or become a fan of CCCS of Greater Dallas on Facebook to receive updates on agency events and offerings.