Shoppers were at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls over the weekend.
A national survey says those families with elementary to high-school aged children expect to spend an average of $875 a child on clothing, shoes, electronics and school supplies this year.
According to the National Retail Federation, that is almost matching last year’s record high of $890. And this is just as many parents recover from the hangover of summer camp expenses.
We decided to ask local parents their thoughts on back-to-school shopping.
Simone Atlas of Neptune said she often dreads back-to-school shopping because it is one more expense on the long list of bills she has to pay involving her three children.
“If you are a parent you know there is so much money spent when you have kids. A lot of times I feel like I can’t get ahead. But what can you do…I try to be smart with my spending and where I buy the supplies. Dollar stores and backpack giveaways are great and for clothes I go to Walmart or Target because they have good sales,” she said.
Drew Mallory of Tinton Falls said she has two young sons who don’t care about what their backpacks look like at this point so she keeps ones from the prior year.
“As long as they are in good condition, I reuse them. I buy ones that are better quality so that they hold up better instead of the cheaper ones that don’t last,” she said
Heather Mannion of Belmar said she does not believe in last minute shopping.. She buys items throughout the summer or whenever she sees supplies on sale.
“I will say that I am organized. I’m not a last minute type of person. I have four kids, preschool through middle school. I have to strategize how I am spending my money,” she said. “I look for sales all year. That is the only way for me to do it.”
In a recent survey, 43 percent of parents say that they will buy pre-owned back-to-school products such as tech and apparel. That is up slightly from 40 percent last year with these shoppers saving about seven percent compared with those who plan to buy new.
Jerry Rawlings of Neptune City said he leaves most of the shopping up to his wife when it comes to clothing and shoes. But he helps out with any tech or school supplies shopping.
“I know more about technology than she does and the supplies are pretty easy to get. We spend probably about $600 to $700 for everything. I hate to think about what it costs when they go away to college,” he laughed.
“Back to school is a hectic time. I am going back to work as a teacher’s assistant after being off for the summer. I am not sure what we will spend yet since I haven’t started,” Kim Donnelly of Bradley Beach said. “I hope to keep my spending down and am planning on going wherever the sales are.”
