Shopping Savings: Back-to-School Shopping

Getting ready for the start of the school year can add up, between school supplies, textbooks, new wardrobe and more. July is a great time to get a head start on the best savings for school supplies and to avoid the last minute rush.

One way parents can save on all their kids’ school needs is with cash back sites. Splender, a cash back shopping site with more than 875 leading retailers, is increasing its cash back percentage at some of its top retailers through August. 

I had a chance to interview Erin Warren from Splender to get more tips.

Q: Why is it important to save on back to school supplies?

Erin Warren: Back-to-school shopping is always a large investment at the beginning of every school year. Parents continue to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars each summer on school items, so why not cut this amount in half by exploring savings options? Most school supplies – pencils, notebooks, binders, etc. – don’t even make it through the end of the year, therefore it’s important to weigh savings options instead of spending a big chunk of money multiple times throughout the year.

Q: What are some ways that parents can save and still make sure their kids get good quality items?

EW: Saving on supplies doesn’t have to mean skimping on quality. Parents can buy things in bulk from stores like Sam's Club, where they’re still getting quality products, just at a higher quantity and lower price. Another way parents can save is by looking for discounts at online retailers. Websites like Groupon offer wonderful deals for back-to-school shopping on things every student needs. Parents should also look into book drives at their local schools or libraries. Many times, parents can find supplies at a much lower price, some even with the school logo and branding.

Q: How do cash back rewards come into play?

EW: Cash back rewards come into play when parents use online shopping to purchase their supplies from retailers they know and love such as OfficeMax and Staples. Shopping through a cash back site, like Splender, allows parents to search for the coupons, discounts and other specials on supplies and back-to-school necessities, while also getting a percentage of purchases as money back in their pockets. A cash back site is a smart shopper’s way to maximize every deal and earn rewards at the same time. Another added bonus of using cash back sites is you can ”stack” or combine cash back with sale prices, coupons, credit card rewards, & even store loyalty points to increase your savings. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the savings can add up.

Splender is a unique online cash back shopping site paying members monthly for online purchases at more than 875 leading retailers. Joining Splender is free, and members can shop for the latest fashion and beauty trends, household items, office supplies, travel, electronics, sports and recreation equipment and more – all while earning a percentage of every qualifying purchase made. In addition, Splender provides access to coupons, discounts and special deals. Splender is offered by Cartera Commerce, the largest provider of company-based online shopping loyalty programs for banks, airlines and other loyalty programs. To learn more or join Splender, visit http://www.splender.com or follow on Twitter @ShopSplender.