August 1, 2008
Wise back-to-school spending
Since the spotlight seems to be on back-to-school shopping lately, with Virginia's sales tax holiday beginning today, here are some tips to help guide you in making wise spending decisions. They're suggestions from the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Also, if you do shop this weekend, comment here about how much you do or do not end up saving by not paying the 5 percent sales tax. I want to hear your stories!
Back-to-school shopping tips aimed at parents of school-aged children:
1) Before heading to the mall, do a closet inventory. Perhaps your child's khaki pants still fit. Or one sibling can wear hand-me-downs from the other.
2) Set a spending plan. Leave the house with a shopping list in hand to guide your purchases and keep you from impulse buying. Also, have in mind exactly how many pairs of shoes, socks or pants your children need.
3) Remember that buying mix-and-match clothing can be less expensive in the long-run, rather than buying pants that only go with one shirt, for example. Also, be sure to consult the school's dress code.
4) Look for deals year-round. Your child doesn't have to start off the school year with a closet full of new outfits. Buy necessities before school starts and look for sales at other times.
Share your own tips here, too!
Comments
[August 1, 2008 11:35 AM]
Heather FroeschlI already plan to overspend. Getting both kids to agree on a store to start in is enough to worry about. However, the problem with shopping now is that my son will outgrow his new sneakers before the second week of school, and the fall styles that will be available now won't be worn until October. It is just too hot to wear sweaters and corduroy at the beginning of the school year. If you're lucky, you'll find the reduced rack of summer T's and capris that the kids can wear until then. It's a weird time to shop, and I do wish the tax holiday was just a little bit closer to the beginning of school.