USA TODAY International Edition
Keep cool for school
3 tips for stress- free shopping,
Back- to- school shopping can be an emotional time, and when stress levels rocket, we’re prone to spend too much, says consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow. “Kids get panicky about getting a certain item — they feel a lot of pressure to show up with the right equipment,” says Yarrow, author of Decoding the New Consumer Mind: How and Why We Shop and Buy. Parents feel pressure, too: 81% get all their child’s school supplies by the first day of school so their child is “prepared to succeed right from the start,” according to a survey of 1,006 parents by Staples.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be indulgent. Instead, take three steps now:
1 ELIMINATE STRESS When shopping under stress, you may rush to get home — even if it means shelling out more, Yarrow’s research shows. So, if savings is your top priority — and 86% of parents told Staples it was — steer clear of anxiety triggers like hunger, fatigue, crowds, time constraints and yes, arguing with cranky kiddos.
Chat with your children before setting out — not in the store — to set the agenda. Decide on one or two special splurge items together and make a point of spending time picking them out. Reminding kids of their treats can diffuse tantrums later on and curb debates about other items.
“This is a good opportunity to teach your kids a valuable life lesson on only buying the necessities instead of buying ‘ stuff’ just because their classmates’ parents did,” says Jeff Rose, financial planner and author of Soldier of Finance.
2 WATCH OUT FOR COMMON PITFALLS Dan Montgomery is a father of three and has taught high school English for 18 years. “The priorities for parents should be on education- related things,” he says. “Kleenex, paper towels, hand sanitizer — that’s where you can pinch pennies.”
Another common mistake: Forgetting what you already have at home, says Rose.
Yarrow warns of a third money suck: The loss leader. That’s when a store advertises a great price on a popular school supply to lure shoppers in, with the hope they’ll load their carts with extra, more expensive items once they’re in the door.
3 GET ORGANIZED Deal- hunting can be timeconsuming, says Bryan Leach, CEO of rebate app Ibotta. To streamline, he suggests keeping your shopping list on your smartphone all summer, so you won’t forget to check prices each time you hit the sales.
Or, better yet, download one of many apps that consolidate circulars from different stores, and keep your list there so you are alerted when a price drops nearby, Leach says.