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Don't go broke on back-to-school supplies

Posted at 2:24 PM, Aug 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-09 10:42:07-04

It still seems like the middle of summer but it is time to start your back-to-school shopping.   At Vidler's 5 & 10 in East Aurora, school supplies came in a couple weeks ago and customers are following hoping to get items that go fast.

"Shop early and often at Vidler's," joked co-owner Don Vidler who said, seriously, it benefits parents to shop as soon as they get supply lists from schools.  The longer you wait, the more crowded stores become and the more challenging it gets to find specific items - like particular color folders and note books.

School shopping continues to get more complicated as parents need to find everything from pink erasers to high-tech calculators.  Don Vidler said he is already getting numerous requests for presentation boards (self-standing boards used for things like science fairs).

ViIdler said weekdays can provide a less stressful school shopping experience than weekends.

Of course, many parents will end up using credit cards to make the purchases.

"Don't over-charge and end up with a credit card bill that you cannot afford to pay off by your due date," warned Ashley Dull, Editor-in-chief for CardRates.com, a website that monitors credit cards.

"Credit card issuers make their money by charging interest," added Dull.

https://www.cardrates.com/

CardRates.com has compiled a list of school shopping Do's and Don't's for 2018:

-Don't open store credit cards just because you are promised a discount at the checkout.  Even deferred financing means you will pay full interest on the whole amount if any of it remains when the deal expires.

-Don't forget to check a credit card issuers website for money saving deals.  Many credit cards offer a range of coupons that can be applied to your credit card for in-store and online purchases.  Ashley Dull said people forget to also cash-in on rewards they are entitled to with a particular credit card.  "You are just leaving money on the table," cautioned Dull.

-Do keep track of your purchases

-Do use credit cards with 0% APR for big purchases.

-Do take advantage of your credit card purchase benefits, including perks like price protection, extended warranties and/or purchase protection that covers stolen or damaged goods.

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly has more in his report.

 

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