Save money on back-to-school shopping with these smart tips

Back-to-school shopping for students of any age can be expensive, but with the right knowledge, there are plenty of ways to save time and money.

Posted 12:24 p.m. Aug 14, 2016 — Updated 1:05 p.m. Aug 14, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. — Whether your kids are school playground-bound or college-bound, the back-to-school season can be an expensive time of year.

Families with children in grades K-12 plan to spend an average $673.57, while college students and families with children in college plan to spend an average of $888.71, according to a National Retail Federation 2016 annual survey.

Where are their dollars going? The top five back-to-school supplies searched for are the Crayola ColorStudio iMarker, the BIC Pencil Xtra, the TI-84 graphing calculator, the Brita filtration water bottle and Crayola Washable Erase, according to Qmee, an online shopping companion.

So how can you save on these popular items and more when shopping?

“Whether it’s a calculator, backpack or dorm furniture, before making a purchase, it’s important to do your research. Educated shoppers always get the best deals,” says Jonathan Knight, Co-Founder and CEO, Qmee.

Shopping online is the best way to save time and be sure you’re getting a good deal, says Knight, who recommends a few strategies for how parents can get more bang from their back-to-school buck:

Price check. Price comparison tools can help you know for sure whether you’re getting the best deal on any given item. These tools automatically research what you’re searching for to show you the best prices available.

Use coupons. These days you don’t need to spend hours scanning the paper with scissors. Online coupons and discount codes can help you save big at checkout. Before clicking “Purchase,” always verify whether any such deals are available.

Connect. Brands are looking to connect with their consumers online. In some cases, you can earn cash for your everyday searches by clicking on relevant ads. Likewise, by sharing your valued consumer opinion through surveys, many brands will reward you with cash.

Use shopping tools. Download a free browser app which will automatically allow you to earn cash for your everyday searches and find the best coupon codes while you shop online. For example, online search and save companion Qmee unobtrusively becomes part of your browser to work with search engines and commerce sites such as Google, Bing, Amazon and Walmart, to help you search for what you want, compare prices, secure discounts and offer opinions while earning cash. It’s a good tool to help college kids stick to a budget while shopping for everything from books to dorm supplies. For more information or to download, visit Qmee.com.

Back-to-school shopping for students of any age can be expensive, but with the right knowledge, there are plenty of ways to save time and money.

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