Back-to-school shopping can be daunting, so create a budget

With summer coming to an end, the start of a new school year is on the horizon. However, before the school year starts, families need to go backto-school shopping.

According to Deloitte, around 29 million households participate in back-to-school shopping. According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in elementary school through high school plan to spend an average $696.70, up from $684.79 last year. Families with college students are expected to spend an average $976.78, which is up from last year’s $942.17.

Better Business Bureau offers these tips::

■ Make a shopping list. Even if you don’t have a school supply list yet, you can still purchase other items early, such as clothing, notebooks and backpacks.

■ Start by “shopping at home” for items you may have already. If you have multiple children, check and see if any of the older child’s supplies can be passed down.

■ Create a budget and buy for durability. Spending a bit more on high-quality products that will last longer can save money in the long run.

■ See which stores have price match policies and which are running the best sales.

■ Check for educational discounts offered by computer and software companies.

■ Don’t forget to use coupons, discount codes and rebates programs.

■ Stay secure. Make sure the URL starts with “https” and includes a lock symbol when shopping online. The S in “https” stands for secure.

■ Make sure a sale is actually a sale. According to BBB’s Code of Advertising, the unqualified term “sale” may be used in advertising only if there is a significant reduction from the advertiser’s usual and customary price of the products or services offered and the sale is for a limited period of time. If you suspect something labeled “sale” isn’t actually a sale, contact your BBB.

■ Buy your basics (paper, pencils, erasers, glue sticks and tape) in bulk to stock up.

■ Understand return policies and save your receipts. Keep in mind some items may be non-refundable.

Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday is another great way to save. It began Friday and ends today at 11:59 pm. During the holiday, the following items are exempt from sales and use tax: clothing priced at $75 per item or less; school supplies at $20 per item or less; and school instructional material priced at $20 per item or less.

Ensure anyone you do business with is safe and trustworthy. Visit www.bbb.org or call 937-222-5825 or 800-7765301 for a list of BBB Accredited Businesses in the industry.