How to save money on back-to-school supplies this year
MINNEAPOLIS — The National Retail Federation estimates the average family with kids in kindergarten through 12th grade will spend $875 on back-to-school supplies this year.
A significant portion of the budget will be on electronics, but if you're still waiting on a good deal, now could be a good time to check out the secondhand market for savings.
Trusted sites like BackMarket sell refurbished products from around the world for up to 70% of new product prices.
The site Decluttr works similarly but there could be opportunities to stack deals when using cashback apps like Rakuten and Ibotta.
Both sites also offer one-year warranties and trade-in-for-cash opportunities if you've got electronics at home that you don't use anymore.
Swappa allows buyers and sellers to work directly with each other when it comes to electronics, which provides opportunities to negotiate. The site operates on a strict policy of no cracks or broken products. Sellers are responsible for getting rid of all sensitive data and there is no warranty on products, although protection plans are available for purchase.
Textbooks for college students can also eat up a large portion of the back-to-school budget. Sites like BookScouter allow people to buy, sell or rent textbooks which could mean a savings of up to 70% on textbooks.