Back to School Shopping Tips from the Better Business Bureau

The first day of school on Martha's Vineyard is Sept. 9. By then, Island parents will have spent significant sums of money outfitting their youngsters for the return to school and sports: According to the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Massachusetts,
 
In 2012, $83.8 billion dollars were spent on back-to-school shopping in the U.S., according to the National Retail Federation. That breaks down to the average person spending around $688.62 on their children in grades K-12. 

The BBB recently posted a blog on Patch with some back-to-school shopping tips to help parents get their kids ready for school without breaking the bank:

Make a shopping list. "For some items, it’s worth spending a bit more (a high quality backpack will last for years)."

Create a budget. "Do a quick price search online for the items on your list and add them all up ... If your goal is to reduce spending, now is the time to decide how much you want to cut."

Set up email alerts at your favorite stores. "These alerts will assure you don’t miss out on the hottest, and/or limited, opportunities."

Take advantage of discounts. "Retailers will be trying to make room for fall fashion and the newest models, so there are incredible savings to be had on older items."

Source: Better Business Bureau of Eastern Massachusetts, bbb.org.