Released August 14, 2009
MARION, Ark. - Families are expected to spend nearly $300 this fall on clothing and shoes for school, making it a good time to learn a few money-saving tricks, said VeEtta Simmons, Crittenden County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
According to the National Retail Federation's forecast for the 2009 back to school shopping season, families were expecting to spend an average of $204.67 on clothing and accessories and $93.59 on shoes.
With the tough economy, shoppers are looking for deals.
"Americans will be looking far and wide for the best back-to-school deals, using newspaper ads, online promotion codes, and a lot of comparison shopping before making decisions," said Phil Rist, executive vice president-strategic initiatives for BIGresearch, a consumer market intelligence firm.
Arkansas shoppers are no exception when it comes to searching for good deals.
"With the current economic situation, many parents are forced to change their school shopping habits and are looking for ways to cut spending and save dollars," Simmons said.
"Whether you're shopping for school supplies or clothing, the first step is to start at home and inventory what you have on hand, make a list of the things you need and know how much money you have to spend," she said.
Simmons offers tips to shop smart and save money while preparing for back-to school.
- Know what you have. Before shopping, check the closets and storage boxes to see what clothing needs to be updated, or replaced.
- Use coupons. Check out newspapers, sales fliers and retailer websites for on-site and online promotions.
- Check garage sales and resale shops. Yard sales and resale shops often have great buys at bargain prices. Shop early because back to school can be a busy time and shop carefully, since most garage sales and consignment shops won't take returns.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/august2009/0814schoolclothes.htm
Editor: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu
