Tips for Back to School Shopping

Thursday, August 4th, 2022 -- 10:01 AM

Back-to-school season means shopping, whether your children learn at home or head to school in person. 

Before determining what students may need for the year, set a budget. Planning ahead as much as possible will help keep expenses to a minimum and help everyone involved stay on task. BBB recommends the following tips when looking for school-related items, either in person or online.

If in-person, most retailers have dropped mask mandates, but some pharmacies or local stores may still have them. Supply chain issues could also impact shopping. Research big ticket items.

Whether your children are learning in-person at school or online from home, technology has come to the forefront over the past two years. When buying new equipment, check with your child's school to learn about any technical requirements and determine if any changes are necessary to the home's high-speed internet.

Before purchasing an expensive laptop, tablet or another computer accessory, research the brands, warranty, customer reviews and prices at various stores to make sure the best deal can be had. Also, look up the retailer's reputation on BBB.org.

Shop smart with sales. Ask for discounts. Many stores and software companies offer discounts. Some are available to students with either a ".edu" email address or a student ID.

Consider buying in bulk. If meeting in person, some teachers may ask parents to buy bulk items (paper towels, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer) for the entire classroom to use throughout the year.

Shop wisely and safely online. When shopping online, be wary of "click bait" ads that feature items that imply that you may want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying to drive you to a different website to potentially steal personal information.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.