Back-to-school season is here. You know the time has come when Staples airs their commercial depicting a gleeful dad jumping for joy with his depressed children slowly following behind him, to the tune of Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”  This time around, many parents are monitoring their budget more closely, so we probably won’t see them happily tossing random glitter pens or a high-end stapler into their shopping cart.  Better yet, taking your child(ren) back-to-school shopping can still be a fun adventure while staying within budget as well.

• Stores such as TJ Maxx or Ross have name brand backpacks, shoes, and clothing for prices lower than retail.  For the college bound, they also carry kitchen utensils, wall décor, bedding, cookbooks, coffee, etcetera.
• Visit locally-owned clothing consignment stores such as Buffalo Exchange to put together trendy outfits for the new school year.  If your teenager has clothing that is still in good condition you may be able to trade them in for cash or store credit.  To find a local consignment store near you, check out Local First Arizona.
• For the tech-savvy who may be looking to upgrade their iPod, try Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange. Bookman’s base each of their store’s inventory solely on what their customers turn in. College-bound students may be able to find all their needed textbooks in one location and maybe even have some cash leftover to purchase a few CDs or find an old issue of Fangoria featuring one of their all-time favorite movies!

Do you have any other ideas for saving money during the back-to-school shopping season? Share your thoughts by commenting on this article.

Stephanie Nishioka is the Marketing Coordinator for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since March 2008. She is an Arizona native and currently resides in Surprise with her fiancé and Shiba Inu.