SAN DIEGO, Calif., (August 12, 2021) -- San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), one of California’s largest locally-owned financial institutions, has six great tips everyone can follow to help cut costs when back-to-school shopping this year.
Take inventory of supplies on hand - You might find that a lot of the supplies you need are already on hand in your house. Ensure you don’t make an unnecessary purchase by taking the time to review what supplies you already have.
Exchange with friends - Organize a swap party with other parents, friends and family members. Gather items you know your kids won’t use, and trade them with the other parents who have the supplies you’re looking for. This is a great way to repurpose clothing and other items, and save a lot of money at the same time.
Create a budget and shopping list - Make a budget for what you want to spend on back-to-school supplies. Next, create a list of the supplies that are essential needs, and those that are just wants. Prioritize the essentials, and evaluate how the budget lines up with the list. If your children are old enough, consider giving them a budget to shop for their own supplies and any money left over is theirs to keep. It’s a great lesson in learning and introducing how to budget.
Shop the sales - There are great back-to-school sales online or at stores, and many retail stores offer codes or coupons that can help you save a bundle on your purchase. It’s important to do your research to make sure which ones are really worth your time. Look through fliers, check websites and keep an eye on key store social media feeds, because a little bit of prep work can save lots of money.
Ask for price matching and price adjustments - Take advantage of stores that offer to match competitor’s deals or even beat the price by a cent or more. Keep in mind to check the matching guidelines, i.e. the product is the same model and size. Most retailers will only price match a product purchased within the last 30 days. Price adjustments are similar to price matching. Many big-box stores will refund the difference of a recently discounted item as long as the product was originally purchased at full retail price and a receipt is provided. Price adjustments do vary from store to store, so always review their policy and keep the receipts.
Shop discount and thrift stores - Shopping at discount stores is a great affordable option for tight budgets and ideal for stocking up on small supplies like pens, pencils and other similar items. Consider thrift stores because just like exchanging lightly used items with friends, upcycling clothes and accessories is a great alternative to buying brand new. Backpacks and lunch boxes are great items to look for at these stores if the new ones are not in your budget. Additionally, research free back-to-school supplies in your area, as some local organizations like the YMCA or Boys and Girls Club hold school supply drives.
To learn more about these money saving tips for back-to-school shopping, please visit our blog, Six Money Saving Tips for Back-to-School Shopping.” For more blogs and financial education visit SDCCU’s Financial Knowledge page.
SDCCU is one of the nation’s top credit unions, proudly serving the financial needs of customers in Southern California counties including Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. SDCCU has assets of $10.3 billion, more than 422,000 customers, over 40 convenient branch locations and 30,000 surcharge-FREE ATMs. SDCCU provides breakthrough banking products that meet the demands of today’s lifestyle and delivers banking services that save customers money. SDCCU is leading the way, offering FREE Checking with eStatements, SDCCU mobile banking, mortgage loans, auto loans, Visa® credit cards and business banking services. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity. For more information, visit www.sdccu.com.