Experts Offer Tips To Save Money On College Expenses
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - College students and their parents will spend thousands of dollars going back to campus and first-time co-eds will spend even more.
Not just on the education itself, but on all that stuff for their dorm rooms.
KDKA's Kym Gable went shopping with a local mother and daughter at IKEA.
Dana Vento is a lifestyle expert who blogs about consumer issues. Her daughter, Kallie, will attend Chatham University in the fall.
"It's organization. It's making lists. It's thinking back on my day - what I used to do, thinking about what's efficient right now and what she has to do," said Dana.
Stores like Target, OfficeMax, Staples, Best Buy and IKEA have partnerships, promotions, apps and even college registries to help families get the best deals.
Jennifer Stockdale is an IKEA Marketing Specialist.
"We get so many students in. Pittsburgh's a pretty big college town," she said.
She advises not to buy everything before that first day of class.
"You need to remember, you are going to college, not a desert island, so there are stores there. The best thing you can do is just pick up the basics, and then spend a couple of weeks getting used to your dorm room and make a list of the things you really can't live without," said Stockdale. "Go on a shopping trip a couple weeks later, that way you won't over spend."
Matt Buettner, an assistant manager at Best Buy, says many retailers have partnerships with colleges to help families save even more.
"Parents get a little overwhelmed with the technology that's around, but that's why our guys are here to walk them through that, so we have a lot of that set up with colleges around us and we have student deals that represent savings for those students," he said.
"You can actually get a checklist from our website, that's going to save you some time, some energy," Buettner added. "They'll go over the different things you need for school, but also to stay connected to your family as well."
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