Save money when you’re back-to-school shopping this year

(WFSB) – Channel 3 is your back to school authority, and with everything costing you more money nowadays, we’re taking a closer look at how to save on your back to school shopping.

Caitlin Nuclo has more on how to cut costs on clothing.

“They grew so quickly from year to year they needed the shoes, the clothes.”

With two teenagers at home, Katherine Rosania knows that the back to school budget only grows as her kids do.

“Both of my kids they are a year apart so we hand me down everything,” Katherine Rosania of Wethersfield.

The National Retail Federation says this year, families are expected to spend $874 on back to school this year. And about $253 of that, is on clothing.

“I’m a mom of 4, back to school season has the potential to be very expensive for me,” said Bethany Hollars of the website www.brickseek.com.

Hollars is a money-saving expert – who shares tips.

She says she always starts shopping on a cash back site like Rakuten.

“Choose your store that you were already going to shop at, it redirects you over to the stores website, you complete your purchase like you normally would,” Hollars said. “But because you started it with the cash back site in a few days you’re going to get a percentage of that purchase back to your rewards account. This money adds up.”

And she also never forgets a coupon code.

Connecticut is also one of 20 states that has a tax-free holiday – so she says – stack these savings and buy your clothing august 18 through the 24th. Or august 10th and 11th in Massachusetts.

“You’re going to do this shopping anyway why not do it when you don’t have to pay tax on the stuff you’re buying,” she said.

She also checks out second hand stores, and Facebook Market Place.

But her best budgeting tip, is thinking and buying ahead…

She says end of season clearance sales will save you the most…so look for the deals once they start slashing prices on this years back to school clothing…and just save it for next year.

“I save so much money buying at 70 to 90 percent off last year that allows me to stretch my budget,” Hollars said.

“This is the way I can do my back to school shopping for 4 kids and truly keep my total budget for each child including clothing, shoes and jackets to $100 to $150 – per kid especially with the economy the way it is is incredible.”

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