Be A Conservative Spender This Back-To-School Season

The beginning of a new school year is a chance to start over again.

Those attending school have a fresh start of academic challenges, and those that purchase the supplies necessary to accomplish those challenges have the opportunity to plan ahead and spend wisely.

“Back to school expenses can add up quickly,” noted Mel Stiller, CEO of Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Southern New England. “Consumers who plan ahead will likely spend less and enjoy the process more.”

To help, CCCS offers the seven C’s of Back-To-School Checklist:

Comb the house for usable supplies left over from previous school years. Most households with school-age children have bottles of glue, pencils, crayons and spiral notebooks hidden away somewhere that could be reused for another school year. Do a thorough search and make use of any supplies you can.

Clean out the closets to get a better idea of what clothing will be needed. Have your child try things on to make sure items still fit. As an incentive, promise your child a favorite clothing item in return for cooperation in going through the closet. Don’t forget to recycle clothing in good condition that is too small, either through a younger sibling or a thrift shop.

Create a list of needed supplies. Make sure to include items including gym clothes, combination locks for school lockers, sports and physicals as well as notebooks, pens and paper, clothing and shoes.

Craft a spending limit. It is important to use the list of supplies you compiled and determine a spending limit for your back-to-school shopping. Without a list and a limit, spending can get out of control quickly. To help, you might break down things into categories such as clothing, supplies, fees, etc, and assigned a dollar amount to each category.

Comparison shop. The money you have to spend will go farther if you take the time to research area stores’ sales and promotions.

Child crazy for an out-of-budget must-have item? Don’t let them be. Your child may insist on the latest brand name craze in shoes, clothing, and school supplies. If the “must have” item is not in your budget, give your child the opportunity to make up the difference with his or her money. A compromise of this nature is a great lesson for your child to learn about budgeting.

Carry and pay with cash or debit card whenever possible. Studies have proven that consumers spend more money when shopping with credit in lieu of cash. To avoid overspending, pay with cash or debit card if possible. If you do use a credit card, have a plan in place to pay off the balance within 90 days.

For more information on finance management while on active military duty, help with debt problems, or other concerns, contact CCCS at 800-208-2227 or visit the company’s website at www.creditcounseling.org. CCCS is a nonprofit, certified housing counseling agency with offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Connecticut offices are located in cities including Danbury. CCCS is accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc, and is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).