A new semester begins with the excitement of many students and college students, even though back-to-school shopping is always a “headache,” especially for parents. 

In the face of today’s explosive economy, SwapNow offers a few simple tips to help you build a reasonable back-to-school shopping plan without necessarily spending too much.

Economic context in back-to-school shopping

In the context of the economy recovering from the pandemic and suffering from substantial inflationary impacts, Most people, including students, parents, and teachers, are choosing the “temperance” solution in back-to-school shopping.

As inflation soars, forcing people to spend more on gas and bills, low-income consumers begin to feel financial difficulties. This puts pressure on people when they have to choose to buy new stuff for school and still have to ensure consumption costs for the whole family.

After the holidays, back to school is the second biggest retail shopping season in the US. The shopping market for back-to-school items is diverse, with various products such as electronics, clothing, school supplies, and more. In fact, shopping for school is costly.  If you have kids in school or are a college student, it’s easy to see these school essentials are numerous and growing.

In the 2022 back-to-school season, according to a recent survey conducted by Deloitte, 57% of back-to-school shoppers expressed concern about increased spending. The average spending per student will be $661, an increase of 8%, precisely $53 compared to last year, the academy year 2021-2022.

Besides, it’s time-consuming for many people to learn more carefully about the quality and price of each product type and school supply. Therefore, they have to accept the trade-off with expensive spending levels to save time shopping, ensure the quality of their work, and study for their children. According to a survey by Credit Karma, 42% of parents said they plan to take out a loan to cover these costs.

Separating needs from wants in back-to-school shopping

The mistake many people make is to start shopping for everything instead of wondering if they actually need them or not. This can incur a lot of costs for unnecessary items.

Therefore, you need to take the time to review and make a detailed list of products to buy to serve your needs. To avoid wasting, you should order by importance and prioritize essential products first. This way, you can easily control and separate your needs and only buy stuff when you have no other choices.

After listing your back-to-school products, you’ll also need to specify the maximum cost for each item. By establishing a spending budget for shopping for school supplies, you will avoid “overstretching your hands.” Moreover, this helps parents and students plan their expenses to choose and buy products more reasonably priced and quick.

Inventory and reuse old school supplies

One of the most effective ways to save money is to minimize the number of items you buy in the first place. Take an inventory of every “nook and cranny” of your home and assess the conditions to see if they can be reused. 

Typical items such as backpacks, briefcases, pen cases, etc., in good scenarios, can be used for a long time, helping to reduce shopping costs.

College students can also save money by shopping for used or refurbished items. For instance, Instead of buying a new computer or smartphone, college students can shop for certified used models from reputable sellers. This way, they will have a product that meets their learning needs at a lower cost.

Some reusable stuff such as books, notebooks, and pencils can continue to be used for a very long time without wasting money on buying new ones. In good condition, we won’t be able to tell what’s new and what’s used.

Exchange your back-to-school shopping needs at SwapNow

People are gradually paying more attention to sustainable consumption trends; In particular, the option of exchanging school supplies is considered an environmentally friendly solution. For instance, college students can swap clothes and reuse books, electronic devices, and school supplies from family members and friends.

Getting the increasingly popular online consumer trend, SwapNow was born with many accompanying items to help meet the needs of convenient exchange. Using the application helps optimize time and maximize savings for parents, students, and teachers in terms of money and effort in finding necessary items for the back-to-school season.

To save time and money, Download the SwapNow app to find and exchange items quickly and conveniently.

SwapNow helps you “clean” the house, freeing up living space and fulfilling all your shopping needs.

In summary, you need to make a reasonable shopping plan, fit the budget, consider reuse and participate in exchanging school supplies. SwapNow hopes the above consumer tips can effectively help you control the cost of back-to-school shopping during high inflation.