(ABC News Photo Illustration)
Getting the kids prepared to head back to school can be a pricey proposition. The average family is expected to spend up to $600 this year on back-to-school supplies and clothes -- but there are ways to slice into that cost.
Here are seven tips that can help you send your kids to school in style while protecting your wallet.
Leave the kids at home when you shop. Studies show a shopping trip with kids along for the ride can cost 30 percent more because they have so many needs and wants.
If you cherry-pick sales, you can get some amazing bargains. Scan the circulars for these deals, and don't be tempted to buy other things at these stores if they're not great deals. That's what the stores are counting on.
Another way to save is to buy in bulk and split up the supplies with other families to share the cost. One purchase can save money for a lot of people.
If your friends have older kids with outfits that they've outgrown, ask for them. Of course, offer your clothes to younger kids to pay the favor forward.
This pertains mostly to college students, but go online and go used. Trolling the Internet can help you save a lot of money compared to the infamously expensive university bookstore. Lots of people sell their used textbooks on Amazon too.
Another creative option is taking the digital route. You can download the book instead of buying a hard copy. While you may not be able to sell the book back when you're finished, it can cost up to 50 percent less than a regular book.
Find out more at www.textbooks.zinio.com.
Second-hand stores are a great option. Teenagers love to be bohemian and many are eco-conscious. This is the ultimate form of recycling and you get some fabulous, fashionable finds.
A word of caution: Sometimes it's best not to second-hand shop in your own neighborhood. When I was in high school, a friend had lots of thrift shop clothes and another girl at school recognized one of the tops as something she had donated. Teens can be status-conscious, so that's tough.
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
